NOTE: Please do not resubmit candidates who were found non-compliant in the earlier rounds of this RFQ.

Previously proposed candidates were non-compliant for the following reason:

• The profiles do not demonstrate clear, independently verifiable experience aligning with the minimum requirement of 3 years in hands-on penetration testing.

Deadline Date: Tuesday 27 October 2026

Requirement: Penetration Tester

Location: The Hague, NL

Full Time On-Site: Yes

Time On-Site: 100%

Total Scope of the request (hours): 400

Required Start Date: 30 November 2026

End Contract Date: 31 December 2026

Required Security Clearance: NATO SECRET

Duties & Role:  

The duties of the individual mainly focus on:

• Lead and/or be part of the Red/Blue Team during NATO military exercises;
• Provide Web, infrastructure and application level penetration testing;
• Provide security design reviews to ensure compliance with NATO policies and directives;
• Provide security consultancy and advice to projects, plans, and other entities;
• Build and sustain effective communications with different stakeholders; specifically, the NCIA Configuration Control Board, Security Accreditation Boards, NATO Security Accreditation Authorities, and NCI Agency organization units supporting accreditation processes.
• Brief at both executive and technical levels on security reports and testing outcome, including at flag officer level;
• In co-ordination with the Head of the Penetration testing Cell, ensure proactive collaboration and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.

Skill, Knowledge & Experience:

• The candidate must have a currently active NATO SECRET security clearance
• Extensive knowledge and experience (more than 3 years) in web application penetration testing;
• Extensive knowledge and experience (more than 3 years) in IT infrastructure penetration testing;
• Extensive knowledge and experience (more than 3 years) in network security architecture design;
• Extensive knowledge and experience (more than 3 years) in assessing security vulnerabilities within OS, software, protocols & networks;
• Extensive knowledge and experience (more than 3 years) in researching and evaluating security products & technologies;
• Knowledge in system and network administration of UNIX and Windows systems;
• Extensive knowledge and experience (more than 3 years) in the use of penetration testing tools, techniques, and recognized testing methodologies;
• Scripting skills in at least one of the following: Perl, Python, Ruby, shell (bash, ksh, csh);
• Technical knowledge in system and network security, authentication and security protocols, cryptography, application security, as well as, malware infection techniques and protection technologies.
• Ability to evaluate risks and formulate mitigation plans;
• Proven ability to write clear and structured technical reports including executive summary, technical findings and remediation plan for several different audiences