careers in test

Security Tester

“Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a job where every vulnerability you find fortifies digital defenses? That’s the impact of a Security Tester.”

A Security Tester is tasked with evaluating software and systems to identify potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses that could be exploited. They perform penetration testing, threat modeling, and risk assessments to ensure security measures are robust and effective.

The Security Tester works to protect sensitive data, comply with industry standards, and safeguard against cyber threats, often collaborating with security engineers and developers to build secure systems.

Knowledge Required
  • Penetration testing techniques
  • Threat modeling and risk assessment
  • Security frameworks and compliance standards (e.g., OWASP, GDPR)
  • Network security and cryptography
  • Knowledge of OWASP Top Ten
Skills Required
  • Penetration Testing Techniques
  • Vulnerability Assessment and Management
  • Security testing tools (e.g., Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP)
  • Network Security Testing
  • Secure Code Review
Typical Responsibilities
  • Conducting vulnerability assessments and penetration tests
  • Collaborating with development teams to mitigate security risks
  • Documenting and reporting security findings
  • Ensuring compliance with industry security standards
  • Developing and maintaining security test cases and scripts
Common Tools

OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, Nessus, Metasploit, Nmap

Connect & Facilitate

The Security Tester role overlaps with roles like Technical Test Analysts and DevOps Engineers, particularly in areas of security validation and DevSecOps integration.

Rate Table (National Average)

Please note that rate averages will change slightly by state, and precision of practice can also influence rates (testing for avionics, medical, or safety equipment can require compliance with particularly rigorous government standards etc)

RemunerationValue
Daily Rate (contract)$800 – $1,000
FTE Salary (Permanent)$110,000 – $130,000

Project Hiring Cost (average)

These percentages are derived from an annualized amount. Given the costs involved in sourcing, vetting, and correspondence for a role of this type, a recruiter would expect a minimum fixed fee of 15K, although most recruiters operate on percentages nowadays.

Project Hiring CostValue
Internal HR15-20%
Recruiters25%

Interview Questions

Here are some interview questions you will most likely encounter for this role. While we don’t provide answers, we do clarify the intent behind the questions, which makes them a great resource when researching the role in readiness for an interview.

To assess understanding of testing approaches based on access levels.

To evaluate hands-on experience and methodology for penetration testing.

To test knowledge of common security risks.

To assess commitment to continuous learning in a rapidly evolving field.

To evaluate experience in identifying and handling critical vulnerabilities.

ATS Keyphrases

These keywords are commonly used by recruiter Application Tracking Systems to determine the relevance of a CV or cover letter to a specific position description. By ensuring at least a few of these key phrases appear throughout your CV and cover letter, you increase your relevance where an ATS is being used.

Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Assessment, OWASP Top Ten, Security Risk Assessment, Network Security Testing, Web Application Security, Ethical Hacking, Security Tools (e.g., Burp Suite, Metasploit), Threat Modeling, Security Audits, Static Code Analysis, Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), Secure Code Review, Authentication Testing, Authorization Testing, SQL Injection Testing, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Security Compliance, Cybersecurity Standards, Encryption Testing, Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Security Policy Compliance, Incident Response, Red Teaming, Malware Analysis