Lead Penetration Tester

Salary: $160,000 - $180,000/year

Work location: Remote with possible ad hoc on site needs in Washington, DC.

Lead vulnerability assessments and penetration tests of Federal Student Aid information systems. The Manager applies advanced knowledge of computer and network forensics, vulnerabilities, data-hiding techniques, encryption, testing tools, countermeasures, and threat trends to identify exploitable weaknesses and deliver actionable remediation guidance.

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead full-scope and targeted vulnerability assessments and penetration tests of information systems.
• Develop assessment plans, rules of engagement, test methodologies, schedules, evidence requirements, and reporting approaches.
• Perform or direct reconnaissance, vulnerability validation, exploitation, privilege escalation, lateral movement, attack-path analysis, and post-exploitation activities within approved boundaries.
• Apply computer and network forensic knowledge to preserve evidence and support analysis of complex technical findings.
• Research and maintain proficiency in penetration-testing tools, techniques, countermeasures, vulnerabilities, data hiding, encryption, and emerging trends.
• Validate findings, determine exploitability and business impact, eliminate false positives, and recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare technical reports, executive summaries, risk statements, and prioritized remediation recommendations.
• Coordinate testing and remediation validation with system owners, developers, engineers, security operations, assessors, and risk personnel.
• Support security assessments, High Value Asset assessments, authorization decisions, POA&M development, and finding closure validation.
• Provide technical and management leadership, direct testing personnel, and brief client and senior-management stakeholders.

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• More than 10 years of experience in the subject area.
• Bachelor's degree.
• Senior industry professional certification such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or equivalent.
• Demonstrated domain expertise and technical or management leadership on major tasks or technology assignments.
• Experience establishing goals and plans that meet project objectives and directing activities to ensure technical requirements are met.
• Experience interacting with clients, conducting negotiations, and interfacing with senior management.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Advanced experience testing web applications, APIs, cloud services, identity systems, networks, containers, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code.
• Experience testing federal information systems or other high-impact regulated environments.
• CISA Assessment Evaluation and Standardization qualification or equivalent experience for High Value Asset assessment support.
• Advanced hands-on certifications such as OSCP, OSEP, OSWE, GXPN, GPEN, GWAPT, or equivalent

Clearance Requirement: Ability to obtain and maintain a High Risk Public Trust suitability determination.

The salary range for this position depends upon multiple factors including location, the individual's knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, and contract-specific budget constraints and organizational requirements.
Gunnison Consulting Group's total compensation package also includes bonus and profit-sharing opportunities, depending on company and employee performance. Available employee benefits include:

• 3 weeks of Personal Leave your first year
• 11 paid Holidays each year
• 5 days of Flexible Time Off each year for approved training or certifications (self-study is ineligible)
• 401(k) company match at 50% up to 10% of your salary
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Public Transportation Subsidies
• Certifications and Training Allowance - Up to $5,000/year!

Why Join Gunnison?

• Gunnison takes on ambitious projects. We target fun, challenging work that requires creative thinking and innovation.
• Quality is our top priority.
• Gunnison employee benefits meet or exceed what other companies in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area offer.
• There is a great sense of camaraderie at Gunnison. This is an atmosphere we will maintain as we continue to grow.
• We are growing rapidly and the opportunity for individual professional growth with Gunnison is outstanding.
• We hire for careers at Gunnison, not to fill a position.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Must be eligible for employment in the United States. We are unable to sponsor candidates at this time.
In 1994 Gunnison began serving the greater Washington, D.C. metro area, focused on tackling our customers' most ambitious technology projects. By creating a culture dedicated to enabling our customers and employees to achieve more than they ever thought they could, the company has thrived for over 25 years.