National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Penetration Tester

Instil Software
Belfast
1 week ago
Create job alert

At we specialise in providing human-focused security and penetration testing services for web applications, cloud infrastructure and mobile applications.

The Role

We are looking for aPenetration Testerto join our dynamic team based in Belfast. As a Pen Tester, you will be part of the delivery team, conducting penetration tests and vulnerability assessments across a range of technologies and a wide range of customers including software, fintech, manufacturing, engineering, legal, and public sector. Your insights will be crucial in identifying security weaknesses and helping clients fortify their systems.

We offer varied, challenging work in a supportive environment where you will find yourself constantly evolving and learning, whilst studying towards CREST (CPSA/CRT/CCT) or Cyber Scheme (CSTM/CSTL) certifications. If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.

Location Requirements

This role is based in Belfast and may require some onsite work with clients. Therefore, candidates should be located in Northern Ireland.

Benefits


Competitive Salary & Annual Bonus
Hybrid Working
Flexible Working Hours
Summer Working Hours
35 Days Holiday
Private Pension (8% Employer, 5% Employee)
Private Healthcare
Life Assurance
Cycle to Work Scheme

Day to Day


Probe & exploit security vulnerabilities in client's Infrastructure/cloud, Web Applications and Mobile Applications using a variety of penetration tests.
Write detailed reports outlining vulnerabilities and providing actionable recommendations.
Collaborate with clients during kick-off and discovery sessions, providing expert advice.
Stay current with the latest security threats, vulnerabilities, and trends.
Research offensive security techniques to assess and validate infrastructure and technologies, including cloud-based systems.
Automate repetitive tasks by developing scripts to streamline testing processes.
Mentor junior penetration testers and contribute to their professional development.
Play a key role in enhancing existing tools, methodologies, and reports.
Occasionally support pre-sales efforts by acting as a penetration testing subject-matter expert.
Communicating Security Vulnerabilities to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Need to Have


At least 1-2 years of experience in penetration testing.
Demonstrable skills in the Penetration Testing/Ethical Hacking field.
In-depth knowledge of various web technologies, operating systems, particularly Linux, Windows, and Active Directory.
Knowledge of Scripting Languages e.g. Python, Shell Scripting etc.
Strong experience with web application and network pen testing methodologies.
Proficiency in using penetration testing tools such as BurpSuite Pro, Nmap, and Nessus.
Familiarity with Kali Linux and the associated penetration testing tool suite.
Experience in penetration testing simulations like Hack the Box or Capture the Flag.
Excellent communication and technical report writing skills.
Eligibility to live and work in the UK (please note we are unable to provide VISA sponsorship).

Nice to Have


Relevant security certifications (e.g. OSCP, CREST, Cyber Scheme.)
UK SC clearance

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Penetration Tester

Penetration Tester Contractor

Penetration Tester

Penetration Tester

Penetration Tester

Penetration Tester

National AI Awards 2025

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How to Get a Better Cyber Security Job After a Lay-Off or Redundancy

Redundancy is never easy—especially in a fast-moving field like cyber security, where your skills and experience are constantly evolving. But if you’ve recently been made redundant from a cyber security role, know this: the UK cyber workforce remains in high demand, and your expertise is more valuable than ever. Whether you’re a SOC analyst, penetration tester, incident responder, security architect or GRC specialist, there are still thousands of opportunities across sectors including finance, defence, government, retail, and critical infrastructure. This guide will help you turn redundancy into a career relaunch, with a clear action plan tailored to the UK cyber security job market.

Cyber Security Jobs Salary Calculator 2025: Check Your Market Value in Seconds

Why yesterday’s pay survey no longer protects you. “Could I earn more at a managed SOC?” “Is that fintech’s offer really competitive?” Every UK cyber‑security professional asks some version of those questions—usually after another colleague lands a pay rise, a recruiter sends a tempting JD, or a fresh breach makes headline news. Yet salary guides published even last year feel as out‑of‑date as a forgotten antivirus signature. Since 2024, ransomware gangs switched to double‑extortion, deepfake phishing exploded, & the EU’s NIS2/DORA regulations bled into UK contracts despite Brexit. With each shift, salary bands move. To cut through stale averages, CybersecurityJobs.tech distilled a three‑factor formula that lets you estimate a realistic 2025 salary in under a minute. Feed in your role, your UK region, & your seniority level. The output arms you with data‑driven leverage for your next appraisal, job application, or freelance rate card. This article explains the formula, reveals the forces pushing cyber pay ever higher, & outlines five practical moves to boost your market value within ninety days.

How to Present Cyber Security Solutions to Non-Technical Audiences: A Public Speaking Guide for Job Seekers

Cyber security is no longer just an IT issue—it’s a board-level priority. Whether you’re applying for a role in penetration testing, security operations, risk management, or compliance, your ability to clearly explain cyber threats and solutions to non-technical stakeholders is vital. This guide will help cyber security job seekers develop one of the most in-demand soft skills in the industry: public speaking. You’ll learn how to simplify complex concepts, structure effective presentations, use storytelling and analogies, and handle common stakeholder questions with confidence.