Penetration Tester

Join Leidos to support an enterprise IT program by delivering high-impact penetration testing and ethical hacking. This onsite role in Herndon, VA helps senior decision makers understand risk and make strategic investment choices, with documented findings and actionable results. Salary range: $131,300 - $237,350 per year.

What you’ll do

• Provide highly technical, in-depth penetration testing in support of enterprise cyber security objectives.
• Specialize in penetration testing and ethical hacking to target, assess, and exploit risks and vulnerabilities in information systems.
• Deliver documented and actionable data to senior decision makers to support strategic investment decisions.
• Document identified system risks, planned test procedures, and results; analyze vulnerabilities found during testing; and review program-level documentation such as requirements specifications, system architecture and design documents, test plans, and security plans.
• Recommend changes to program-level documentation to help reduce system vulnerabilities; create and document penetration testing plans and procedures, including approved plans used to conduct hands-on testing.
• Analyze test results, document risks, recommend countermeasures, and support or lead technical exchange meetings and application review boards. Capture and document action items, results, and brief management on status and outcomes.

Skills and experience needed

• Active TS/SCI with Poly to be considered
• 10+ years of relevant experience in cyber security or a related IT field
• Experience with cyber penetration testing and applying computer attack methods and system exploitation techniques
• Working knowledge of cyber security principles for Linux, Windows, and virtual platforms
• Experience designing, testing, or implementing IT security architecture
• Experience performing network security analysis and analyzing network architectures
• Experience using network management tools
• Experience leveraging adversarial tactics for hands-on security testing
• Experience developing risk management methodologies and analyzing test results to develop risk and threat mitigation plans
• Experience testing or reviewing system configuration, development, and design for enterprise systems and hypervisors
• Experience designing, testing, or implementing complex Windows installations

Relevant technologies

• Linux
• Windows
• Virtual platforms
• Hypervisors

Benefits

• Health and Wellness programs
• Income Protection
• Paid Leave
• Retirement

Preferred qualifications

• Experience participating in public and private information security groups and organizations
• Experience communicating vulnerability results and risk posture to senior executives
• Experience researching, evaluating, and developing security policies and guidance
• Experience performing complex technical tasks with minimal direction

Education

Bachelor’s degree or Masters in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or other related scientific or technical field.

Additional information

Original posting: June 26, 2026

Pay range: $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

Security and privacy notices

• Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during the employment application process, nor will it advance money as part of hiring.
• Leidos will communicate through emails generated by the Leidos.com automated system, not via free commercial services or messaging apps.
• If you receive an email requesting payment-related or other personal information, contact [email protected].
• If you believe you are a victim of a scam, contact local law enforcement and report to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Non-discrimination commitment

Leidos provides equal employment opportunities without regard to protected characteristics and will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.