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Sr. Security Engineer (Penetration Testing)
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- Remote from
- USA
- Salary
- USD 100k–180k / yr
- Department
- Cybersecurity
- Employment
- Full Time
- Experience
- Open level
- Published
- Apply before
- 26 Nov 2026
- Listing views
- 49
- Application actions
- 2
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The role, at a glance.
CertiK is hiring a senior security engineer to conduct penetration tests and application-security assessments across web, mobile, thick-client, cloud, network, and browser-extension environments. The role combines hands-on offensive security work, source-code review, threat modeling, reporting, and research into blockchain and Web3 security techniques. Candidates need at least four years of application-security and penetration-testing experience, strong JavaScript/TypeScript knowledge, scripting skills, and familiarity with AWS, Azure, and GCP risks. Web3 penetration testing, smart-contract audit experience, security certifications, bug-bounty participation, and community contributions are valuable differentiators.
Role DNA
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Pace & Pressure
4/5Autonomy Level
4/5Communication Load
4/5Salary analysis
Estimated compensation compared with the broader US market for similar roles.
Core skills
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Sample interview questions
I begin by defining scope, rules of engagement, assets, and testing windows. I map the attack surface through reconnaissance, authentication and authorization analysis, input validation testing, business-logic review, and infrastructure checks, then validate findings safely, assess impact, and deliver prioritized remediation guidance with clear reproduction steps.
I would first understand the service architecture, trust boundaries, dependencies, authentication flows, and data handling. I would then inspect authorization logic, input validation, deserialization, secrets management, error handling, cryptographic use, and third-party packages, while tracing high-risk data flows from entry points to sensitive operations.
I assess local data storage, certificate validation, transport security, authentication and session handling, deep links, exported components, WebView behavior, API authorization, reverse-engineering resistance, and leakage through logs or backups. I test both the client and its backend APIs because client-side controls alone should not be trusted.
For technical teams, I provide concise evidence, affected components, reproducible steps, impact, root cause, and actionable remediation options. For executives, I focus on business impact, likelihood, affected assets, remediation priority, and residual risk, avoiding unnecessary exploit detail while making the decision required clear.
I would examine smart-contract authorization, access control, oracle and price-manipulation risks, reentrancy, transaction signing flows, key custody, seed-phrase exposure, wallet-connect integrations, RPC trust assumptions, and frontend attacks that could alter transaction parameters. I also consider economic attack paths and verify that findings are practical under real chain and protocol conditions.
About this role.
Why Us?
CertiK is a pioneer in blockchain security, leveraging best-in-class AI technology to protect and monitor blockchain protocols and smart contracts. Founded in 2018 by professors from Yale University and Columbia University, CertiK’s mission is to secure the web3 world. CertiK applies cutting-edge innovations from academia to enterprise, enabling mission-critical applications to scale with safety and correctness.
About the Role
The primary responsibility of this role is for CertiK’s security-related services. Intersecting cybersecurity and blockchain, CertiK’s security offerings include security consulting, security reviews, security auditing of smart contracts and blockchains, verification of smart contracts, penetration testing, and more. We are looking to hire someone with a passion for application security and penetration testing. This is a fun and challenging full-time position. If you are excited about hacking, threat modeling, scanning, auditing, designing, and enhancing the security of applications across the board then you will thrive in this role. While you work with clients, we will also provide you with plenty of opportunities to get involved with research and development efforts to help us raise the standards of blockchain security.
Responsibilities
- Perform security assessments on web, mobile, thick client applications, and browser extensions
- Conduct external and internal network penetration tests
- Perform security source code reviews
- Perform cloud security reviews
- Develop comprehensive pentest reports for both technical and non-technical audiences
- Research and develop innovative techniques, tools, and methodologies for pentesting applications in the blockchain space
- Contribute to the community by developing tools, presentations, and blog posts
Requirements
- Passionate about cryptocurrency, DeFi, and blockchain, with a willingness to learn Web3 technologies such as smart contracts
- Minimum of 4 years of experience in application security and penetration testing
- Experienced in source code review for different languages, with a strong understanding of JavaScript and TypeScript
- Experienced in mobile application penetration testing
- Familiar with cloud platforms and their security risks, such as AWS, Azure, and GCP
- Experience in programming with scripting languages such as Python and Bash
- Solid understanding of cryptography
- BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or Information Security
- Strong spoken and written communication skills
Bonus Points
- Experienced in pentesting Web3 applications such as crypto exchanges, wallets, Dapps, and key custodian solutions
- Experienced in smart contract security audits
- Familiar with browser extension architecture and security risks
- Actively participate in the blockchain security community
- OSCP, OSWE, OSCE, GWAPT, or comparable certification
- Participated in bug bounty programs and audit contests
- Published security-related blog posts and spoken at security conferences and/or local meetups
Compensation
Additional Information
About the Company
One of the fastest-growing and most trusted companies in blockchain security, CertiK is a true market leader. To date, CertiK has worked with over 3,200 Enterprise clients, secured over $310 billion worth of digital assets, and has detected over 60,000 vulnerabilities in blockchain code. Our clients include leading projects such as Aave, Polygon, Binance Smart Chain, Terra, Yearn, and Chiliz.
Investors = Insight Partners, Sequoia, Tiger Global, Coatue Management, Lightspeed, Advent International, SoftBank, Hillhouse Capital, Goldman Sachs, Coinbase Ventures, Binance, Shunwei Capital, IDG Capital, Wing, Legend Star, Danhua Capital and other investors.
Compensation
Target annual base salary for this role performed in the US is $100,000 – $180,000. The exact compensation at which this job is filled will be determined by the skills and experience of qualified candidates.
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CertiK is proud to offer medical, vision, and dental insurance, 401(k) plan with company matching, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, HSA (with high deductible plan), FSA, and other benefits to all full-time employees, along with flexible paid time off and holidays. CertiK also offers a variable commission program for business development sales roles.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
CertiK is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status or civil partnership/union status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law.
CertiK will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with local and federal requirements.
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf
All CertiK employees are expected to actively support diversity on their teams, and in the Company.
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