Junior Penetration Tester

About our company:

Established in Belgium & Kosova, we now serve clients in Europe, North America and the Middle-East. We are eager to help our customers to protect their digital presence against the constantly growing threats. Pretera’s mission is to make the digital world a more secure place, contributing to a safer society. To make this possible, our globally connected talented individuals continue to work together daily towards a safer future. As a company, we aim to create an environment where everyone can reach their full potential. Our values and code of ethics are at the heart of how we operate.

The Opportunity:

We are looking for you to join our mission as a junior penetration tester. Our team of security consultants supports clients around the globe to assess and mitigate risks related to their online presence. We expect our candidates to have relevant experience combined with the technical and consultative skills required to deliver a broad variety of technically demanding projects. This role is for individuals with previous experience in the field of penetration testing. 

As a Junior Penetration Tester, you will have the chance to kick-start your cybersecurity career in a supportive environment. This role offers the opportunity to work alongside experienced security professionals and contribute to real-world projects that help secure digital infrastructures. You will gain exposure to a variety of industries and systems.

This is an ideal role for someone who is passionate about cybersecurity, eager to learn, and looking to develop their skills in penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and ethical hacking.

The Role:

As a Junior Penetration Tester, you will be responsible for supporting security consultants in the assessment and improvement of clients’ security measures. Your primary role will involve:

• Assisting in Penetration Testing: You’ll conduct tests on web applications, networks, and infrastructure to identify vulnerabilities. Depending on the project, you may work on black, grey, or white box testing scenarios.
• Conducting Vulnerability Assessments: You’ll use industry-standard tools to identify security risks and recommend appropriate remediation strategies.
• Security Code Review: You’ll assist in reviewing code to spot potential security flaws and help create guidelines for improving security practices.
• Collaborating with Senior Consultants: You’ll work closely with senior team members to help deliver comprehensive security assessments, red teaming exercises, and other client-focused security solutions.
• Reporting Findings: A critical part of the role will be documenting vulnerabilities in clear, actionable reports that are easy for clients and development teams to understand.

Junior Security Consultants are expected to:

• Perform Penetration Testing Tasks: Use industry-standard tools (Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Nmap) to identify vulnerabilities in web applications, networks, and systems.
• Identify Common Vulnerabilities: Be able to detect and exploit vulnerabilities such as SQL Injection, XSS, CSRF, and others listed in the OWASP Top 10.
• Assist in Code Reviews: Work with development teams to review code for security flaws and help create guidelines for secure coding practices.
• Produce Clear Reports: Document identified vulnerabilities, explain their impact, and provide practical steps for remediation in a format easily understood by both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Stay Current: Regularly update your knowledge of the latest cybersecurity threats, tools, and methodologies to stay at the forefront of the field.
• Collaborate with Team Members: Work effectively with senior consultants and other team members, contributing to team goals and client projects.
• Communicate Effectively: Present technical findings clearly and concisely to both internal teams and external clients, translating complex security concepts into actionable advice.
• Develop Problem-Solving Solutions: Apply analytical and logical thinking to identify and mitigate security risks, demonstrating strong attention to detail.
• Learn and Grow Continuously: Show eagerness to develop your skills, take on challenges, and learn from more experienced colleagues.
• Demonstrate Strong Organizational and Time Management Skills: Manage multiple tasks and prioritize your time effectively to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Read and Write Code: Have the ability to read and write in common programming languages such as Java, Ruby, Python, and JavaScript to assess code security and automate tasks.
• Understand Common Security Standards and Compliance: Possess a strong understanding of security standards (e.g., OWASP Top 10) and regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, PCI DSS).
• Use Scripting Languages: Demonstrate strong knowledge of scripting languages like Python and Bash to automate testing processes and improve efficiency.

Preferably relevant Professional Certifications (Any combination of the below):

• eLearn Security (INE) Junior Penetration Tester (eJPT)
• TryHackMe relevant penetration testing paths
• HackTheBox relevant penetration testing paths

We review every application received and will get in touch if your skills and experience match what we’re looking for. Please note that this role has background clearance as mandatory due to the nature of our work. To apply, you must be willing and able to undergo the vetting process.