Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Penetration Tester (Mid/Senior)

Instil
Belfast
5 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Penetration Tester - Outside IR35

Penetration Tester

Penetration Tester

Penetration Tester

Penetration Tester

Penetration Tester

At Instil 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 a Mid / Senior Penetration Tester to 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 inBelfast 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 continuously incorporating new techniques into the team's methodology.
  • 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.
  • Support pre-sales efforts by acting as a penetration testing subject-matter expert.
  • Communicating Security Vulnerabilities to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Contribute to internal collaborative development or knowledge sharing initiative.

Need to Have

  • At least 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

Equality

Instil is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

We also strive to make our recruitment process fair and accessible to all. If you require any adjustments or accommodations at any stage, please let us know. We’re happy to have a confidential conversation to ensure the process meets your needs, because we know that every candidate’s journey is different.


#J-18808-Ljbffr

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.

Neurodiversity in Cyber Security Careers: Turning Different Thinking into a Superpower

Cyber security is all about thinking like an attacker, spotting unusual patterns, protecting systems & responding calmly when everything looks like it’s on fire. It’s a discipline built on curiosity, persistence & noticing things other people miss. That’s exactly why it can be such a good fit for many neurodivergent people. If you live with ADHD, autism or dyslexia, you may have been told your brain is “too distracted”, “too literal” or “too disorganised” for a security role. In reality, the traits that can make traditional office work tough often line up beautifully with cyber security work – from hyperfocus in incident response to meticulous analysis in threat hunting. This guide is written for cyber security job seekers in the UK. We’ll look at: What neurodiversity means in a cyber context How ADHD, autism & dyslexia strengths map to different security roles Practical workplace adjustments you can ask for under UK law How to talk about neurodivergence during applications & interviews By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of where you might thrive in cyber security – & how to turn “different thinking” into a genuine superpower.

Cyber Security Hiring Trends 2026: What to Watch Out For (For Job Seekers & Recruiters)

As we move into 2026, the cyber security jobs market in the UK is changing fast. Attackers are scaling up with automation & AI, cloud estates are more complex, & regulators are tightening expectations around resilience & data protection. At the same time, budgets are under pressure & some organisations are consolidating their tech teams. Despite all this, demand for cyber security skills remains strong. Skilled defenders, engineers & leaders are still hard to find, & the stakes are only getting higher. Whether you are a cyber security job seeker planning your next move, or a recruiter building security teams, understanding the key cyber security hiring trends for 2026 will help you make better decisions.

Cyber Security Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Must Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK cyber security hiring has shifted from title‑led CV screens to capability‑driven assessments that emphasise incident readiness, cloud & identity security, detection engineering, governance/risk/compliance (GRC), measurable MTTR/coverage gains & secure‑by‑default engineering. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews, & how to prepare—especially for SOC analysts, detection engineers, blue/purple teamers, penetration testers, cloud security engineers, DFIR, AppSec, GRC & security architecture. Who this is for: SOC & detection engineers, security operations leads, DFIR analysts, penetration testers/red teamers, purple teamers, AppSec/DevSecOps engineers, security architects, cloud security engineers, identity/IAM engineers, vulnerability managers, GRC/compliance specialists, product security & security programme managers targeting roles in the UK.