At a Glance
- Tasks: Conduct hands-on penetration testing and investigate vulnerabilities in real customer environments.
- Company: Dynamic security firm based in London with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Hybrid working model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a small, focused team and deepen your expertise through challenging projects.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in cybersecurity while collaborating with experienced professionals.
- Qualifications: Hands-on experience in penetration testing and strong problem-solving skills.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
We are looking for a hands-on Penetration Tester / Red Teamer to conduct security testing in customer environments, investigate vulnerabilities, validate findings generated by autonomous security agents, and help improve their effectiveness.
This is a mid-level role based in London, with a hybrid working arrangement requiring three days per week in the office.
You will work closely with security researchers and engineers to reproduce vulnerabilities, demonstrate their real‑world impact, and turn your findings into actionable improvements.
The role combines practical offensive security with technical investigation and product development.
We value practical skills, sound technical judgement and a methodical approach to security testing over certifications alone.
Previous experience with AI is not required.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct penetration tests across web applications, APIs and infrastructure, with support on more complex engagements.
- Support red‑team exercises by identifying attack paths, investigating weaknesses and contributing to exploitation activities.
- Manually investigate and validate vulnerabilities identified by autonomous security agents, distinguishing genuine issues from false positives.
- Develop and execute proof‑of‑concept exploits to demonstrate reproducibility, exploitability, impact and attack prerequisites.
- Identify and investigate common security weaknesses, including access‑control flaws, authentication vulnerabilities and injection issues.
- Produce clear, concise technical reports documenting findings, reproduction steps, supporting evidence, risk and remediation recommendations.
- Develop and adapt Python scripts, tooling and repeatable test cases to support security assessments and improve testing efficiency.
- Collaborate with engineers and researchers to improve agent behaviour, vulnerability detection, testing coverage and finding quality.
- Translate security research and practical testing experience into improvements to the product and its underlying capabilities.
- Work responsibly within agreed testing scopes, communicating findings clearly and exercising sound judgement in customer environments.
- Required Skills and Experience
- Hands‑on experience in penetration testing, an internal offensive‑security team or substantive bug‑bounty and vulnerability research.
- Strong understanding of common vulnerabilities, exploitation techniques and manual testing methodologies.
- Practical experience investigating and exploiting vulnerabilities, rather than relying solely on automated scanners.
- Experience testing web applications and APIs, with an understanding of authentication, authorisation and access‑control mechanisms.
- Exposure to infrastructure security testing, with the ability to investigate weaknesses beyond the application layer.
- Familiarity with offensive‑security tools such as Burp Suite and Nmap, including the ability to interpret, verify and challenge their results.
- Ability to write or adapt Python scripts to automate tasks, develop testing utilities and support vulnerability investigation.
- Ability to create reproducible proof‑of‑concept demonstrations and explain the technical conditions and impact of a vulnerability.
- Strong technical writing and communication skills, including the ability to document findings and provide practical remediation guidance.
- A curious, analytical and persistent approach to problem‑solving, with the judgement to work independently and seek guidance when needed.
- Experience in one or more of the following areas would be advantageous:
- Red teaming, adversary emulation or attack‑path analysis.
- Active Directory security and privilege escalation.
- Cloud security assessments.
- Internal and external infrastructure penetration testing.
- Exploit development or deeper vulnerability research.
- Security tooling, automation, public research, technical write‑ups or contributions to the security community.
What Matters Most
Practical offensive‑security ability is more important than formal qualifications. Certifications such as OSCP are welcome but not required.
Previous AI or autonomous‑agent experience is also not required.
What matters is your ability to investigate targets methodically, validate vulnerabilities, demonstrate impact and communicate your findings clearly.
An interest in how autonomous agents can support offensive‑security testing is a plus.
What You Can Expect
- Hands‑on security testing in real customer environments.
- Close collaboration with experienced security researchers and engineers.
- The opportunity to influence the development of autonomous offensive‑security capabilities through practical testing and research.
- Meaningful responsibility within a small, technically focused team.
- Opportunities to deepen your expertise through challenging engagements, vulnerability investigation and continuous technical development.
You do not need experience across every area. We are interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong practical skills and a willingness to develop further.
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Penetration Tester in London employer: Optimyze Consulting
Join an innovative early-stage technology company in London, where you'll have the opportunity to take ownership of your work and directly influence the development of cutting-edge autonomous security technology. With a strong focus on employee growth, a collaborative work culture, and the chance to work with advanced AI and cybersecurity solutions, this role offers a meaningful and rewarding career path for passionate software engineers looking to make a real impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Penetration Tester in London
✨Get Involved in the Cybersecurity Community
Diving into the cybersecurity community is key for landing that full-time gig. Join forums like Reddit's r/cybersecurity or attend local meetups to connect with industry veterans and other job seekers. Networking is everything in this field—don’t just be a passive lurker!
✨Show Off Your Skills with Capture the Flag Competitions
Participate in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions; these are not just a fun way to boost your skills but also a chance to showcase your talent to potential employers. Many companies, including Optimyze Consulting, love seeing candidates who actively engage in these challenges.
✨Tailor Your Online Presence
Make sure your LinkedIn and any professional profiles reflect your cybersecurity expertise. Share your projects, whether they’re personal or from a previous role, to catch the eye of hiring managers. This is how they’ll find your passion and commitment to the field!
✨Apply Directly Through Optimyze Consulting
Don’t forget to head straight to our website and check out any openings for cybersecurity roles at Optimyze Consulting. Applying directly can sometimes give you an edge, especially if you can mention that you've been following our work or engaging in the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Penetration Tester in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your technical skills:In cybersecurity, it's crucial to highlight your technical prowess. Make sure your CV showcases specific skills like network security, penetration testing, or threat analysis. If you have relevant certifications (like CEH or CISSP), pop those on the front page to grab attention!
Tailor your portfolio for the role:Even for a full-time role, a portfolio can set you apart. If you've worked on any cybersecurity projects—be it CTF challenges, security assessments, or research papers—include these in your application. This demonstrates not just your skills, but also your hands-on experience!
Use real-world examples:When writing your cover letter, don’t just stick to your qualifications. Share real-world examples of how you’ve tackled security issues or vulnerabilities. This gives the hiring team at Optimyze Consulting insight into your practical problem-solving abilities and makes your application memorable.
Demonstrate your passion for cybersecurity:Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, so show us that you’re always learning! Mention any recent courses, webinars, or industry events you’ve attended. This not only exhibits your enthusiasm but also signals to Optimyze Consulting that you’re committed to staying ahead in the game.
How to prepare for a job interview at Optimyze Consulting
✨Sharpen Your Technical Skills
For a role in cybersecurity, it’s essential to be up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques. Brush up on your knowledge of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and vulnerability assessment tools. Be ready to discuss specific scenarios where you’ve applied these skills, as hands-on experience can really set us apart in interviews.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect the interviewers at Optimyze Consulting to throw in some hypothetical situations to see how you’d handle them. Think about common security breaches or incidents and be prepared to explain how you would respond. This not only shows your problem-solving skills but also your understanding of real-world cybersecurity challenges.
✨Highlight Your Certifications
Certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH can give you a significant edge in a full-time role in cybersecurity. Make sure to mention these during your interview and be prepared to discuss what you learned through those certifications and how they relate to the position at Optimyze Consulting.
✨Show Your Passion for Cybersecurity
Since you’re going for a full-time gig, showing genuine enthusiasm for the field can make all the difference. Share any personal projects, blogs, or communities you’re part of that relate to cybersecurity. This not only showcases your passion but also your commitment to staying engaged in this ever-evolving field.