Systems Security Specialist - Penetration Testing

Benefits:

- Health insurance

- Paid time off

- Training & development

Matrix Systems and Technology is seeking a Systems Security Specialist to perform internal and external penetration testing of networks, web applications, API's, and cloud environments to identify security vulnerabilities and exploit paths, and other related tasks.

Duties/ Responsibilities:

- Conduct internal and external penetration testing of networks, web applications, APIs, and cloud environments to identify security vulnerabilities and exploit paths.

- Perform red team engagements simulating real-world adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) aligned with MITRE ATT&CK.

- Execute vulnerability assessments and validate remediation efforts through retesting and technical verification.

- Develop comprehensive penetration testing reports, including executive summaries, risk ratings, proof-of-concept evidence, and actionable remediation guidance.

- Perform threat modeling and attack surface analysis to identify high-risk exposure areas and privilege escalation pathways.

- Conduct secure configuration reviews of operating systems, network infrastructure, cloud platforms, and identity systems.

- Evaluate application security through dynamic and manual testing techniques, including authentication, session management, input validation, and access control testing.

- Review source code for security weaknesses and secure coding gaps, particularly in C/C++, Python, Java, or similar languages. Develop and maintain custom scripts or tooling to automate testing activities and enhance offensive security capabilities.

- Support incident response activities by recreating attack chains, validating compromise scenarios, and identifying root causes. Assess Zero Trust implementations, micro-segmentation strategies, and identity-based security controls for effectiveness.

- Conduct phishing simulations and social engineering exercises to evaluate user awareness and organizational resilience.

- Provide technical briefings to executive leadership and technical stakeholders regarding risk posture and remediation prioritization.

- Collaborate with engineering, DevOps, and infrastructure teams to remediate identified vulnerabilities and strengthen security architecture.

- Contribute to the development of security policies, testing methodologies, and enterprise security standards.

- Support compliance efforts by mapping testing results to NIST, OWASP, CIS, or other applicable security frameworks.

- Participate in continuous improvement of penetration testing methodologies, tools, and adversary emulation strategies.

- Adhere to all security, change control, and Project Management Office (PMO) policies, processes, and methodologies.

Minimum Qualifications:

- A Minimum eight (8) years of progressive experience in cybersecurity

- A minimum of five (5) years performing penetration testing or red team engagements.

- A minimum of five (5) years conducting network penetration testing, web application and API testing, internal and external vulnerability assessments and threat modeling and attack path analysis

- A minimum of five (5) years developing and delivering formal penetration test reports, including executive summaries and technical remediation guidance.

- A minimum of five (5) years supporting incident response investigations and validation testing.

- A minimum of five (5) years with common penetration testing tools (e.g., Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, Wireshark, Nessus, etc.).

- Strong knowledge of Secure coding practices, Application security testing (SAST/DAST concepts), Network architecture and segmentation and Identity and access management concepts

- A minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated scripting or development ability in at least one language (e.g., Python, C/C++, PowerShell, Bash).

- A minimum of five (5) years of working with NIST Cybersecurity Framework, NIST 800-53 or similar federal control frameworks, MITRE ATT&CK and OWASP Top 10 A minimum of five (5) years of experience mapping findings to security control frameworks.

- At least one recognized offensive security certification (e.g., OSCP, GPEN, GXPN, CEH, or major experience can substitute for certification).

- Demonstrated ability to communicate technical findings to executive and non-technical audiences, and provide actionable remediation recommendations. Demonstrated experience working in government or highly regulated environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

- A Minimum ten (10) years of progressive experience in cybersecurity

- A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in Advanced Offensive Security: - Experience leading red team engagements.

- Experience performing adversary emulation exercises.

- Experience conducting phishing and social engineering simulations.

- Experience performing purple team exercises.

- A minimum of five (5) years of experience in Zero Trust & Architecture: - Experience designing or assessing Zero Trust implementations.

- Experience evaluating micro-segmentation strategies and identity-centric controls.

- A minimum of five (5) years of experience in Cloud & Modern Infrastructure: - Experience performing security assessments in AWS or Azure environments, Containerized environments (Docker/Kubernetes) and Infrastructure-as-Code deployments

- Experience testing CI/CD pipelines.

- A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in Software Development Depth: - Strong low-level development knowledge (kernel, assembly, embedded systems) that supports advanced exploit analysis.

- Experience reviewing source code in JAVA or other compiled languages for vulnerabilities.

- A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in Government in the following: - Experience supporting federal or state government security programs. Familiarity with FedRAMP, FISMA, or IRS Pub 1075 environments.