Penetration Testing Experts
matched in minutes from over 15,000 CVs with the power of AIHire experts who uncover exploitable weaknesses, validate security controls and deliver clear remediation plans across web applications, APIs, cloud environments and internal networks. FRATCH connects you with vetted, available freelancers through fast, precise matching.
Meet FRATCH Experts who have recently used Penetration Testing
Robert F.
Last position:
Interim Group CIO / CISO at Kellenberger
- Private Equity owned precision grinding machines for Auto, Military & Aerospace – 1200 Employees
- Acting as Interim Group CIO / CISO consolidating Global IT back to Europe – M&A consolidation
- Managed major Security event and post event cleanup – Reporting to regulators
- Performed Vendor & Contract Management – full assessment of capabilities
- Guided Infrastructure refresh & Security Hygiene assessments
Toralf C.
Last position:
IT Consultant in PKI Software Development at BWI
- Implementation of a full-stack application with Angular as frontend framework and Java as backend language
- Use of the Swagger OpenAPI specification for REST communication between frontend and backend applications
- Control of a card printer via the Nexus Card SDK framework
- Design and implementation of card management software with web interface and JavaFX module for printer monitoring
- Use of Cucumber tests for test automation and creation of test artifacts for testing outside the development environment
- Use of Wireshark for network investigations to analyze the API of a third-party product and to check the REST API of the self-developed software
Rudolf E.
Last position:
Datacenter Engineer, Network & Security Administrator at International insurance group
Operation and further development of the network and security infrastructure.
Monitoring, analysis and resolution of network and security incidents.
Cross-department collaboration with other specialist teams for operations, further development and reporting.
Firewall vulnerability analysis.
Firewall rule approvals.
Troubleshooting IP communication issues in the network and firewall infrastructure.
Security-critical IT infrastructure, processing of personal data, compliance with legal regulations.
Products: Palo Alto Networks Firewalls, Cisco ACI, Checkpoint Firewalls, F5
Technologies: SDN, SDWAN, Cisco EPIC, Cisco ACI
Tobias S.
Last position:
Project Manager SAP S/4 HANA Public Cloud at TIMETOACT Group
To achieve savings and optimize compliance, apps were restructured in line with the mappings in identity management, restrictions were defined and, above all, costs resulting from overuse were reduced. Communication with stakeholders, validation of authorizations with users and technical implementation in the SAP FI/CO and Sourcing & Procurement modules created significant added value for the group. This also included the corresponding documentation for the auditors.
Markus O.
Last position:
Lead E-Solution Architect & Senior Requirements Engineer at Zasterbot-Oracle
- Clarification of project objectives, scope and the target business vision for building the AI-based knowledge database.
- Derivation of the initial architecture and implementation strategy for the Zasterbot chatbot, including separation of the MVP and further development stages.
- Development of a target business vision for building a structured knowledge database and integrating a future chatbot.
- Derivation and prioritization of use cases for information retrieval and provision by the chatbot.
- Modeling of data structures and flows for the effective organization of the knowledge database on the Base44 platform.
- Design and implementation of data models for storing and linking relevant information.
- Development of processes for extracting, analyzing and preparing raw data for the knowledge database.
- Ensuring data consistency and quality as the basis for the future chatbot.
- Planning the integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) for precise and context-specific answers.
- Implementation of functions for analyzing and displaying data from the knowledge database.
- Use of the Base44 platform with JSON Schema-based entities and a flexible permission concept.
- Implementation of Deno functions for backend logic, event processing and connecting external APIs.
- Integration of OpenAI services for initial data analysis.
Timo T.
Last position:
Gronic Ident & Sign at Gronic Systems GmbH
Gronic Ident & Sign
Core technologies: Android, Jetpack Compose, Retrofit, Regula Document Reader, Adobe Sign
Android app on dedicated devices for identifications and electronic signatures at the PoS
Alicja W.
Last position:
Integrated security and emergency documentation for a 24/7 logistics company at Mid-sized logistics company
- Creation of complete bilingual (DE/EN) security and emergency documentation: Business Continuity Plan / Disaster Recovery Plan, Incident Response Plan v2.0 with four case-specific playbooks (PICERL), access control policy, Vulnerability Management Policy, Business Resilience Programme, Risk Governance Plan
- Consolidation into an integrated emergency manual (12 chapters) with immediate checklists for six emergency scenarios, a prioritized action table and a formal approval structure
- Review and documentation of the applicability of NIS2 and HinSchG, including the legal reasoning for non-applicability
- Processing of a penetration test report (Greenbone) with complete remediation of all findings and formal risk acceptance of a residual risk with a documented compensating control
Nagaraj N.
Last position:
Manager, Functional Safety at Eaton Industries GmbH
- Lead functional safety strategy and ISO 26262 compliance across the full lifecycle for a high-voltage electronic switching device that safely connects/disconnects the HV battery in EVs, enabling fast fault isolation and high-current interruption.
- Own the Functional Safety Management Plan (FSMP) and Development Interface Agreement (DIA), acting as the primary safety governance authority across program stakeholders.
- Architect system safety concepts — developing FSC, TSC, and system safety architecture — and define the safety manual with complete user instructions.
- Direct verification and confirmation reviews per ISO 26262 independence requirements.
- Lead safety analysis activities (FTA, FMEA, FMEDA, DFA) and chair vehicle/system integration reviews across cross-functional engineering teams.
- Define methods, templates, and processes that establish best-in-class FuSa practices organization-wide.
- Conduct SEooC assessments and audits, representing the safety organization to internal leadership and external stakeholders.
Mert B.
Last position:
Freelancer at Freelancer
Consulting in testing
- Development and implementation of a test strategy for structured quality assurance
- Consulting on building and improving test processes
- Support in introducing QA standards
Pierre G.
Last position:
Ansible Automation, Windows Third Level Support at DB InfraGO AG
- PRISMA project
- Ansible automation
- Windows third-level support for Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 2013, Windows 2016, Windows 2019
Baris E.
Last position:
Founder / Product & Security Architect at Pirpirik
- Perform secure code reviews and provide secure-coding guidance across the application and platform architecture.
- Engineer infrastructure security and design security-monitoring architecture, incident-response playbooks and Security-by-Design controls.
Michael L.
Last position:
CTO at SNIPE Germany GmbH
Software service provider for AI solutions, automation, and custom software.
Team: built from 2 to 10 developers, 8 direct reports, partly remote · Portfolio: 6 parallel projects (€25k–€250k), scaling > €1M
- Ensured delivery capability for 6 parallel customer projects: role model, capacity planning (510–660 productive person-days/year), hiring roadmap with €380k–€440k/year personnel budget
- Established SDLC framework from scratch in under 6 months: REQ/SPEC structure, V-model gates, GitHub Issues as specification, Definition of Done, release process; consistent, auditable development process across all customer projects
- Prepared large program (3,000–4,000 person-days over 18 months) for decision readiness: AI-native industry platform for the construction sector; scoping, team profile for 8–10 developers, phase 0 budget €390k
- Designed and introduced self-hosted AI platform: vLLM, LiteLLM, Qdrant, Supabase; agent architecture, MCP integration, OCR pipelines; prepared GPU investment with break-even model (month 15–16)
- Systematized presales end to end: lead qualification with maturity scoring, discovery workshops, own sizing model, costing with loaded hourly rates, structured handover to development
- Tangibly improved the security level of a customer platform: penetration test incl. re-verification of all findings
Vitaliy R.
Last position:
DevOps GitOps (temp) at Signal Iduna
- Responsible for Openshift/Kubernetes on-prem administration and developer support.
- Developed URP infrastructure automation with Python, Ansible, Kustomize and ArgoCD, Argo Workflow/Events stack.
- Wrote smoke and load tests for URP infrastructure utilizing Python, Kustomize and ApplicationSets.
- Helped to set up and deploy URP infrastructure in Google Cloud, GKE.
- Set up monitoring for URP and ArgoCD stack with Splunk Cloud.
- Performed system administration tasks across RedHat Linux, Kubernetes/Openshift, ArgoCD, GitLab, Bitbucket Enterprise, Kafka and MongoDB.
Enrique G.
Last position:
Security Architect at Capgemini
I implemented a Zero-Trust architecture for robust, military-grade maritime container mini data centers based on VMware & Tanzu to support containerized GIS workloads for ground forces. The main focus was on securing communications, workload protection, and data access in contested electronic battle environments affected by jamming, interception, signal manipulation, and constantly changing operational conditions. I designed and architected use cases so that every element of workload, identity, and system could continue to operate independently and securely even in degraded or disrupted scenarios. In parallel, I defined the enterprise and solution security architecture with LeanIX, Bizzdesign, and HOPEX as enterprise architecture, repository, and governance platforms to maintain architecture inventory, relationships, traceability, target pictures, and security governance in complex environments. For the architectural designs, I used Sparx Enterprise Architect to describe formal architecture views, interfaces, trust boundaries, and system architecture in both IT and OT environments. IriusRisk was used for threat modeling of the solution to identify architecture-driven risks, derive security requirements, and detect countermeasures and design gaps directly from the solution models. Risk and compliance management was supported with Archer. Architecture decisions, control gaps, and operational risks were translated into controlled governance and auditable compliance measures. For documentation, collaboration, and visual design, I used Confluence to maintain Architecture Decision Records, Security Blueprints, and workflows. I used Lucidchart and draw.io to create design artifacts tailored to stakeholders. I also defined OT security concepts with support from electrical and mechanical engineers in the areas of oil, vehicle onboard systems, rail, power plants, pharma, gas turbines, and nuclear technology. I created the end-to-end OT security strategy, starting with global policy, developed into standards and procedures, and finally aligned with Bell-LaPadula, Purdue Model, SABSA, TOGAF ADM, CENELEC 50701, IEC 62443, and NIST standards. In addition, I worked with engineering team leads to identify critical KBP assets and place them under protective measures that segmented SCADA, PLC, and HMI assets. I drove collaboration between Security, IT, and OT teams to create standardized workflows and use cases for the OT security solution catalog, while integrating Defense-in-Depth and Zero-Trust principles into operational environments. A key part of my work was integrating multidisciplinary engineering, security, and operations stakeholders into a unified security blueprinting strategy and ensuring that architecture, threat modeling, governance, and documentation were technically strong and operationally practical.
Luca P.
Last position:
ERP Program Manager at Fiserv
The customer is undergoing a comprehensive transformation. All SAP ECC landscapes worldwide are being migrated to SAP S/4HANA, with the goal of introducing a standard template worldwide.
The program also includes the “RISE with SAP” migration and modernization program, which may involve migrating the landscapes of selected country installations to the SAP Private Cloud.
On the stakeholder side, the program reporting line extends to the company’s executive board and that of the implementation partner.
Fiserv Germany’s ERP landscape currently includes several non-standard SAP tools and applications that extend the functionality of the ECC environment and can often be integrated into downstream systems. As part of the transition to SAP S/4HANA, it is essential to assess the core functionality, integration points and future viability of these applications in order to determine their alignment with the target architecture.
The focus of the work is on providing expert advice and assessment to define the scope, strategy and roadmap for transitioning Fiserv Germany’s SAP ECC system to SAP S/4HANA.
The recommended best practices from SAP are followed and a structured approach is used to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption while maximizing business value.
This assessment forms the basis for a successful SAP S/4HANA transformation and ensures alignment with industry best practices, regulatory compliance and future scalability.
Migration Strategy Definition – assessment of available transition approaches based on business objectives, technical feasibility and SAP Best Practices.
Technical Readiness Assessment – conducting a system analysis to assess compatibility, custom code impact, data volume management, integration points and infrastructure readiness for SAP S/4HANA.
Business Process Impact Analysis – reviewing the latest business process documentation to define the scope and effort required to implement the necessary functions in SAP S/4HANA and to identify opportunities for process optimization.
Roadmap for Non-SAP Systems and Applications – assessment of third-party and legacy applications regarding their integration with SAP S/4HANA and recommendation of consolidation, migration or replacement strategies.
Deployment & Implementation Planning – defining a phased approach for implementation, including project schedules, risk mitigation strategies and key milestones aligned with business priorities.
This transformation takes place in phases: the Discovery phase leads to the Explore phase, which is followed by the Design phase and finally implementation.
Program management
Change management
Requirements management
Transition management
Stakeholder management
Risk management
Comprehensive coordination
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Statistics of experts using Penetration Testing
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
18 years
Position duration
1.9 years
Positions per freelancer
14
Top business areas
Information Technology, Project Management, Quality Assurance
Top industries
Information Technology, Banking and Finance, Professional Services
Certification focus areas
Information Technology, Project Management, Product Development
Bachelor's degree or higher
95%
Master's degree or higher
58%
Doctorate
8%
Certifications per freelancer
5
Most common languages
English, German, French
Speak two or more languages
99%
Based on our profile pool as of 16 Oct 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of experts in this technology are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows the share of experts charging within that range.
Average rates of experts using Penetration Testing
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 16 Oct 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Penetration Testing experts industry focus
See which industries our matched freelancers work in most often — every figure is calculated live from the freelancers on FRATCH.
- Information Technology (98%)
- Banking and Finance (54%)
- Professional Services (51%)
- Manufacturing (42%)
- Automotive (40%)
- Healthcare (36%)
- Telecommunication (34%)
- Government and Administration (31%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
About the technology
Purpose and scope
Penetration testing is an authorized security assessment that simulates realistic attacks against applications, infrastructure, networks or people. The goal is to prove which weaknesses can be exploited, understand their business impact and give teams practical ways to reduce risk. It is also called a pentest, ethical hacking or security testing.
Common assessments
Professionals adapt the assessment to the target, access level and threat model. Typical work includes:
- Web application and API testing for authentication, authorization, input validation and business logic flaws
- External and internal network assessments covering exposed services, segmentation and privilege paths
- Cloud, container and identity reviews across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and Kubernetes
- Mobile application, wireless, social engineering and red-team exercises where authorized
Tools and methods
A strong engagement combines manual reasoning with carefully controlled tooling. Specialists may use Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Nmap, Metasploit, Wireshark, BloodHound and custom scripts, while mapping findings to OWASP Testing Guide, OWASP API Security Top 10, PTES or relevant industry practices. They preserve evidence without disrupting production systems.
When companies engage experts
Companies bring in freelance specialists before a product launch, after a major architecture change or as part of recurring assurance work. External expertise can add an independent view when internal teams lack offensive security capacity, need a focused assessment or must validate remediation. Clear rules of engagement protect systems, users and confidential data.
Deliverables and collaboration
A professional assessment starts with scope, objectives, test windows, contacts and escalation rules. Deliverables usually include an executive summary, technical findings, reproduction evidence, risk context, remediation guidance and a retest report. Remote work suits many assessments through secure access and coordinated testing; on-site work may help with physical, wireless or social engineering exercises.
What good looks like
Quality depends on disciplined testing, useful evidence and accurate judgment rather than a long list of scanner results. Look for professionals who can explain attack paths to both technical and business audiences, distinguish exploitable risk from theoretical exposure and protect sensitive data throughout the engagement. They should communicate limits clearly and verify fixes during retesting.
Frequently asked questions
Everything clients usually want to know about Penetration Testing, in one place.
Penetration Testing uses authorized attack techniques to find and validate weaknesses in applications, APIs, networks, cloud environments and identities. The result helps a company prioritize fixes based on realistic attack paths and business impact.
A pentest combines automated discovery with manual investigation and controlled exploitation. A vulnerability scan may identify possible issues, while penetration testing confirms what can be reached, chained or abused and documents the evidence.
Ethical hacking is a broad term for authorized security work, while a standard penetration test focuses on defined systems and objectives. Red teaming is usually more adversarial and goal-driven, often testing detection and response as well as technical defenses.
A strong Penetration Testing specialist often brings application security, cloud security, identity management, scripting and threat modeling skills. Clear reporting, secure evidence handling and knowledge of software delivery processes are equally important.
Penetration Testing needs a clear scope, authorization, test accounts, technical contacts and agreed rules for handling sensitive findings. The depth of expertise required depends on the systems, access model, business criticality and objectives, not simply on the size of the environment.
Penetration Testing is often completed remotely through controlled access, test accounts, VPNs and agreed communication channels. On-site collaboration can be valuable for physical security, wireless assessments, social engineering or environments that cannot be accessed securely from outside.
A good pentest report links each finding to affected assets, realistic impact, reproducible evidence and practical remediation. It should separate confirmed vulnerabilities from observations, explain limitations and include a retest outcome when fixes have been applied.
Ethical hacking requires written authorization, defined boundaries, careful handling of credentials and an escalation process for critical discoveries. Experienced professionals avoid unnecessary disruption, minimize sensitive data collection and keep a clear record of actions, evidence and client decisions.
The average hourly rate of freelancers who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects is 105 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 839 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects, 95% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 58% hold at least a Master's degree, and 8% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects have 18 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 1.9 years.
The most common languages among freelancers who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects are English (99%), German (98%), and French (14%).
The most common industries among freelancers who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects are Information Technology (98%), Banking and Finance (54%), and Professional Services (51%).
The most common business areas among freelancers who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects are Information Technology (99%), Project Management (70%), and Quality Assurance (70%).
Main locations of FRATCH Experts, who have recently used Penetration Testing
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home all over Germany — available on-site in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and every major business hub, or fully remote. Choose a city to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Berlin 
Hamburg 
Munich 
Cologne 
Frankfurt 
Dusseldorf In Austria our freelancers and interim experts support companies from Vienna to Graz — on-site where your project needs them, or fully remote. Choose a city to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Vienna Graz Across Switzerland our specialists are active in Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern — working on-site or fully remote. Choose a city to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Zurich Geneva Basel Bern Countries:
Request a free demo
Get in touch with the FRATCH team and we will get back to you within 4 hours.
Would you rather directly get in touch?
We always have the time for a call or email!
Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
