Junior Offensive Cybersecurity Engineer

At Fortalice, we believe in building a culture where purpose drives performance. Our team is made up of passionate cybersecurity professionals who are committed to protecting national interests through innovation, integrity, and continuous learning.

Job Summary

Join our mission-driven team as a Junior Offensive Cybersecurity Engineer (Entry-Level), where innovation meets national security. As a trusted partner in safeguarding critical government infrastructure, you'll contribute to advanced red team operations, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments—helping to identify and eliminate cyber weaknesses before they can be exploited. This role is ideal for a motivated, detail-oriented professional who is passionate about offensive security and committed to strengthening the resilience of high-stakes systems. With mentorship from seasoned experts, you'll grow your technical expertise while playing a vital role in shaping the future of cybersecurity defense. As a US Citizen with an active US government security clearance, you'll be empowered to work on sensitive projects that directly support national security objectives.

Responsibilities

• Conduct ethical cyberattacks using real-world adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) in controlled environments
  
• Support red team missions under the supervision of senior engineers, including planning, execution, and reporting
  
• Perform vulnerability assessments, penetration tests, web and mobile application testing, and social engineering simulations
  
• Define engagement scope, objectives, and success metrics in alignment with mission requirements
  
• Analyze network, system, and application vulnerabilities to determine exploitability and risk impact
  
• Document findings clearly and concisely, delivering actionable recommendations to stakeholders
  
• Develop and refine scripts and tools to enhance offensive testing efficiency, with guidance from mentors
  
• Stay ahead of emerging threats, attack trends, and evolving cyber defense technologies
  
• Research and evaluate new offensive frameworks, tools, and methodologies to maintain cutting-edge capabilities
  

Work Environment

• Must be located within 25 miles of Charlotte, NC or Washington, DC.
• Hybrid role with in-office expectation of 1-3 days per week
  
• Approximately 25% travel expected for mission-critical engagements
  
• Primarily sedentary role with occasional light lifting (up to 10 pounds)
• Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, printers, phones, etc.

Qualifications

• US Citizenship required
  
• Active US government security clearance required
  
• Bachelors degree in computer science, information systems, cybersecurity, or a related technical field OR three (3) years of hands-on experience in red, blue, or purple team operations
  
• Foundational knowledge of IT systems, cybersecurity principles, and network security
  
• Experience in penetration testing, security analysis, malware research, or similar domains is highly preferred
  
• Strong understanding of core network protocols, standard port assignments, and system architecture
  
• Proficiency in penetration testing methodologies (PTES, OSSTMM, NIST, OWASP)
  
• Comfortable working in command-line environments on Windows and Linux systems
  
• Basic scripting skills in Python, PowerShell, Ruby, or Perl
  
• Familiarity with programming languages such as C++, C#, PHP, AJAX, and HTML
  
• Hands-on experience with offensive security tools including Cobalt Strike, Metasploit, Nikto, SQLMAP, Responder, Nessus, and Netcat
  
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment
  

Benefits

At Fortalice, we are committed to supporting your well-being, professional growth, and long-term success. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to provide financial security, health coverage, and peace of mind—so you can focus on doing your best work.

• 401(k) Plan with Company Match : We match your contributions 100% of the first 3% and 50% of the next 2%, helping you build a secure financial future.
  
• Generous Paid Time Off : Enjoy paid vacation and sick leave to recharge, maintain work-life balance, and prioritize your health.
  
• Fully Paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Premiums : Comprehensive health coverage for you, with affordable discounts available for family members.
  
• Health Savings Account (HSA) Contributions : We contribute to your HSA to help offset deductible costs and support long-term health savings.
  
• Supplemental Benefits : Access to additional benefits including life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance programs (EAP), and wellness initiatives.
  

We invest in your success—because when you thrive, so does our mission.