Penetration Testing Analyst

About Us Sophos is a cybersecurity leader defending 600,000 organizations globally with an AI-driven platform and expert-led services. Sophos meets organizations wherever they are in their security maturity and grows with them to defeat cyberattacks. Its solutions combine machine learning, automation, and real-time threat intelligence with frontline human expertise from Sophos X-Ops to deliver advanced, 24/7 threat monitoring, detection, and response. Sophos offers industry-leading managed detection and response (MDR) alongside a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity technologies — including endpoint, network, email, and cloud security, extended detection and response (XDR), identity threat detection and response (ITDR), and next-gen SIEM. Together with expert advisory services, these capabilities help organizations proactively reduce risk and respond faster, with the visibility and scalability needed to stay ahead of evolving threats. Sophos goes to market with a global partner ecosystem, including Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), resellers and distributors, marketplace integrations, and cyber risk partners, giving organizations the flexibility to choose trusted relationships when securing their business. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K. More information is available at www.sophos.com . Role Summary Sophos is seeking an experienced and motivated Penetration Testing Analyst 3 to join our Red Team. The Sophos Red Team is engaged by organizations worldwide to identify and exploit vulnerabilities within client environments, applying information security threat intelligence to uncover the same weaknesses real-world adversaries would target. As a Penetration Testing Analyst 3, you will act as the point of contact for testing readiness, coordinating tasks, timelines, and communication between business, client, and project teams. Responsible for escalating issues to management and taking ownership of new challenges to add value. In addition to test readiness support, the position will focus on either application security (web application penetration testing, mobile, API testing) or network security (vulnerability assessments, external penetration tests, internal penetration tests, etc.), using both off-the-shelf and internally developed tools to execute manual testing for advanced attacks. Candidates are not expected to be experienced in both focus areas, although that would be a plus. In this role, you will be responsible for test readiness activities to ensure engagements are ready to begin by troubleshooting client readiness problems, communicating with clients and tracking readiness status, and producing professional security assessment reports detailing vulnerability and exploit information for clients. This position will lead client-facing calls throughout each engagement, from test readiness and troubleshooting, project kick-off through notification of high and critical findings to a close-out review of test findings, evidence, process steps to reproduce, and remediation recommendations. The ideal candidate for this role will bring strong technical communication skills, sound analytical and problem-solving abilities, and a proactive approach to researching new threats, vulnerabilities, and exploits. You will excel as both a self-directed individual contributor and as a member of a larger team, performing other essential duties as assigned. What you will do: This is a remote position with potential travel up to 10% Coordinate activities, documentation, readiness schedules, and information between business, clients, and project teams. Act as the point of contact and communicate testing readiness status adequately to all participants Use project management tools to monitor key tasks, responsible parties, timelines, and status Report and escalate issues to management as needed Take ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments. Conduct application security assessments (web, mobile, API, etc.) using off-the-shelf or internally developed exploitation tools to execute manual testing for advanced attacks OR network penetration testing assessments (external pen test, internal pen test, etc.) Produce and deliver vulnerability and exploit information to clients in the form of a professional security assessment report Conduct client conference calls, including but not limited to test readiness and troubleshooting calls, project kick-off calls, notification of high/critical findings during the testing process, and close-out calls to review test findings, evidence, process steps to reproduce, and remediation recommendations Perform proactive research to identify and understand new threats, vulnerabilities, and exploits Conduct exploitation testing using off-the-shelf or self-developed exploitation tools and document findings for client remediation Excel as both a self-directed individual contributor and as a member of a larger team Perform other essential duties as assigned What you will bring: 3+ years of experience in Information Security Excellent client-facing and internal communication skills, both written and verbal Demonstrate ability to learn quickly and thrive in high-energy team environment Professional, “get it done" attitude, work ethic, and strong team player Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multitasking skills Minimum of 3 year of experience with penetration testing Minimum of 3 years of experience with at least one of the following: Nmap, Metasploit, Kali Linux, Burp Suite Desirable: Experience with NMap Scanning Understanding of web application authentication methods Experience with Linux Understanding of networking and appliances (routers, load balancers, firewalls, WAF, IDS/IPS, web content filter/proxy) Understanding of tools to validate network access with a penetration testing platform Offensive certifications such as CEH, WAPT, GPEN, GWAPT, GAWN, OSCP, etc. Knowledge of operating systems administration and internals (Microsoft Windows / Linux) Understanding of TCP/IP networking at a technical level Experience with various application attack vectors, security test processes, and strong knowledge of common vulnerabilities (i.e. OWASP Top 10) Good troubleshooting skills, technical communication skills, both written and verbal; good analytical and problem-solving skills