Ethical Hacker (Penetration Tester)

Easily create a great Ethical Hacker (Penetration Tester) job post with our ready-to-use template. Perfect for job boards
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Responsibilities & Skills

If you’re hiring a specific type of engineering roles, you can use this template as a foundation and customize  it to highlight the responsibilities, skills, and qualifications relevant to that role.

Ethical Hacker (Penetration Tester)

Ethical Hacker (Penetration Tester) Job Description Template

Use this template to craft job descriptions for hiring Ethical Hackers (Penetration Testers). Customize it to align with your organization’s specific needs and goals.

Job Title: Ethical Hacker (Penetration Tester)
Location: [Specify Location or Remote]
Job Type: [Full-time/Part-time/Contract]

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled and methodical Ethical Hacker (Penetration Tester) to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities across our digital systems. You will play a critical role in safeguarding our networks, applications, and data from potential threats by simulating cyberattacks and recommending robust security measures.

If you have a passion for ethical hacking, cybersecurity, and staying ahead of emerging threats, this is your chance to protect and enhance our organization’s digital assets.

Responsibilities

  • Plan and execute penetration tests on applications, networks, and systems to identify vulnerabilities.
  • Perform security assessments, including vulnerability scans and risk analyses, to discover potential weak points.
  • Develop detailed reports with findings and actionable recommendations for improving security.
  • Employ ethical hacking techniques to simulate cyberattacks and test system defenses.
  • Collaborate with IT teams to implement security fixes and patches identified during testing.
  • Assist in developing and refining security policies and procedures within the organization.
  • Stay up to date on new security technologies, tools, and best practices in ethical hacking and cybersecurity.
  • Provide training and awareness for internal teams on common cyber threats and prevention strategies.
  • Participate in incident response activities when required.
  • Document processes, tools, and methodologies to enhance repeatability and effectiveness of penetration tests.

Required Skills & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
  • Proven experience in penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, or ethical hacking.
  • Strong understanding of networking protocols, system architecture, and cybersecurity concepts.
  • Familiarity with tools and frameworks like Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, Nessus, or Kali Linux.
  • Proficiency in scripting languages like Python, Bash, or PowerShell for automation and analysis.
  • Solid knowledge of cryptography, authentication systems, and secure coding practices.
  • Experience with compliance standards and frameworks such as ISO 27001, NIST, or GDPR.
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with meticulous attention to detail.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
  • Certifications like CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), or CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).

Nice-to-Have Skills

  • Experience with mobile application security testing or IoT device penetration testing.
  • Knowledge of cloud security practices (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
  • Hands-on experience with advanced threat hunting or exploitation frameworks.
  • Skill in reverse engineering or malware analysis.
  • Understanding of zero-day vulnerabilities and advanced persistent threats (APTs).
  • Awareness of global hacking trends and the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by threat actors.
  • Demonstrated ability to contribute to open-source security projects or create custom tools.

Why Join Us?

  • Exciting Challenges: Test your skills against complex security landscapes and cutting-edge technologies.
  • Team Collaboration: Work alongside security experts dedicated to protecting critical digital environments.
  • Learning and Development: Access professional training, certifications, and knowledge-sharing resources to keep evolving.
  • Flexibility: Enjoy hybrid or remote work options tailored to your needs.
  • Inclusive Culture: Join a diverse and supportive team where your unique perspectives and contributions are valued.

Apply Now

Are you ready to take on cyber threats and defend against vulnerabilities? Join [Your Company Name] as an Ethical Hacker (Penetration Tester) and help us fortify our digital infrastructure. Apply today!

Why Job Descriptions Matter More Than You Think

This guide will reveal why software developer job descriptions matter, not just to HR, but to tech leaders, developers, and organizations as a whole. We’ll break down how they influence employer branding in competitive tech markets, hiring quality developers, engineering team engagement, legal compliance, and business innovation. By the end, you’ll see why thoughtful, well-crafted job descriptions matter more than you think.

 

The Role of Job Descriptions

A developer job description is not just a list of technologies and requirements. It acts as the front door to your engineering culture and the blueprint for technical success.


Setting Expectations for Everyone

Developer job descriptions do one thing above all else: they bring clarity. When everyone knows what’s expected from day one, engineering teams function smoothly. Developers understand their responsibilities and tech stack, managers know what to measure, and the company gets a roadmap for technical progress.

A vague or outdated job description creates uncertainty and confusion, leading to mismatched expectations, technical debt, and poor performance.


First Impressions Count for Tech Employer Branding

That well-written developer job post is usually a candidate’s first impression of your engineering culture. According to Stack Overflow’s Developer Survey, over 75% of developers consider company culture important when evaluating job opportunities. The job description doesn’t just sell a role; it tells a story about your tech stack, development practices, and engineering values. Clear, compelling language can help you stand out in a competitive tech job market and attract developers who share your technical vision.


Example

Compare these job descriptions for the same position:


Option A:

Seeking experienced software developer with proficiency in Java, Spring Boot, AWS, and React. Must have 5+ years experience and be detail-oriented.


Option B:

Are you passionate about crafting elegant solutions to complex problems? Join our collaborative engineering team building a platform that serves millions of users daily. You’ll architect microservices using Java/Spring Boot, contribute to our React frontend, and help shape our AWS infrastructure as we scale. We value clean code, thoughtful testing, and continuous learning.


Which engineering team would you rather join?

The Link Between Job Descriptions and Quality Hires

Tech recruitment is expensive and time-consuming. According to Dice, the average time-to-hire for technical positions is 51 days, and the cost of a bad hire can reach $85,000. Vague or inaccurate job descriptions open the door for mismatched technical skills, unrealistic expectations about tech stack familiarity, and quick turnover.

Getting the Right Developers, Not Just Anyone

A targeted, specific job description filters out the noise. It draws in developers with the right technical skills and engineering mindset, while discouraging those who aren’t a fit. The clearer you are upfront about your tech stack, development methodology, and engineering challenges, the more likely you are to attract serious contenders who resonate with your company’s technical needs and developer culture.

What Makes a Job Description Effective

  • Clear, concise technical responsibilities: Developers want precise information about what they’ll actually build day-to-day.
  • Required and preferred technical skills: It’s helpful to separate what technologies are truly needed from “nice-to-haves.”
  • Technical growth opportunities: Top developers want to know they can advance their skills or explore new technologies.
  • Insight into engineering culture: Development methodologies, code review practices, and on-call expectations matter.

Crafting Better Job Descriptions

Given their importance, developer job descriptions deserve more attention than a quick copy-paste of technical requirements. If you manage engineers or recruit technical talent, invest time in making job descriptions accurate, specific, and engaging.

Steps to Writing a Great Job Description

  1. Start with a clear technical job title: Use standard industry terms like “Backend Developer” or “DevOps Engineer” rather than internal titles like “Code Ninja.”
  2. Write a brief but captivating technical overview: Sell the technical challenges and share what makes your engineering problems exciting.
  3. List main development responsibilities in easy-to-scan bullet points: Focus on key coding tasks, technical projects, and technical decision-making authority.
  4. Specify essential and preferred technical qualifications: Separate must-have technologies from nice-to-have experience to avoid overloading requirements.
  5. Describe engineering culture and values: Help the candidate picture themselves as part of your development team, including info about code reviews, pair programming, or DevOps practices.
  6. Include remote work policies or unique aspects: Development work often allows flexibility; be transparent about your approach.
  7. Build in technical growth: Note opportunities to learn new technologies or take on increasing technical complexity.
Key components of a job description
Contents
FAQ

Quick answers to questions you may have. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out our full documentation.

What is this Job Description template for?

This template provides a standardized format for creating professional job descriptions that effectively communicate role requirements, responsibilities, and company information to potential candidates. It helps ensure consistency across your organization’s hiring materials while saving time in the recruitment process.

Replace all placeholder text with information specific to your open position. Pay special attention to sections like requirements, responsibilities, and qualifications to ensure they accurately reflect the needs of the role.

Essential sections include:

  • Job title
  • Company overview
  • Position summary
  • Key responsibilities
  • Required qualifications/skills
  • Preferred qualifications
  • Compensation and benefits information
  • Equal opportunity statement

Strong Introduction:

  • Highlight technical challenges and impact
  • Mention key technologies and team culture

Specific Responsibilities:

  • Use concrete examples instead of vague statements
  • Clarify collaboration expectations and decision authority

Clear Requirements:

  • Separate must-have from nice-to-have skills
  • Include both technical and professional qualifications

Showcase Culture:

  • Describe engineering practices (code reviews, pair programming)
  • Highlight growth opportunities and unique developer benefits
  • Include relevant keywords and industry-standard job titles
  • Use common terminology for skills and qualifications
  • Structure your content with clear headings
  • Avoid excessive formatting that might not translate across platforms
  • Ensure mobile-friendly content (concise paragraphs, scannable bullets)