Penetration Testing & Cybersecurity Volunteer

Company: SkilledUp Life
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 113 days ago

About the Opportunity

Opportunity Description

Join an early-stage tech startup as a Penetration Testing and Cybersecurity Specialist Volunteer, dedicating 3 hours daily (Monday-Friday) over 60 days to gain hands-on experience in application security and vulnerability assessment. You'll help the team identify security weaknesses, conduct basic penetration tests, and implement security best practices. This role provides practical exposure to cybersecurity in a startup environment where security must be balanced with rapid development and limited resources.

During your 60-day volunteer term, you'll focus on security assessments of web applications, code review for common vulnerabilities, and documentation of security findings. You'll learn to use industry-standard security testing tools, identify OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities, and communicate security risks to technical and non-technical stakeholders. Working alongside developers and infrastructure teams, you'll understand how security integrates into the development lifecycle and gain exposure to secure coding practices, authentication systems, and basic cloud security.

This opportunity suits cybersecurity students, IT professionals transitioning into security, or developers interested in application security. You'll work independently with regular guidance, allowing flexibility within your 3-hour daily commitment while building a portfolio of security assessments and documented findings that demonstrate your cybersecurity capabilities.

Company Needs

• Basic understanding of web application security and common vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10)
• Familiarity with security testing tools (Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, or similar) or willingness to learn
• Knowledge of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, HTTP/HTTPS, DNS)
• Basic scripting ability (Python, Bash) for automation tasks
• Ethical mindset with understanding of responsible disclosure practices
• Clear communication skills for documenting and explaining security findings

What you will do

Volunteer Activities

• Conduct vulnerability scans on web applications using automated tools
• Perform manual security testing to identify authentication and authorization issues
• Review code for common security vulnerabilities (SQL injection, XSS, CSRF)
• Document security findings with clear reproduction steps and risk assessments
• Test API endpoints for security weaknesses and improper access controls
• Assist in security configuration reviews for cloud services (AWS, GCP, Azure)
• Create security testing checklists and documentation for the development team
• Research and recommend security best practices for the startup's technology stack

What you will gain

Experience and Skills Gained

• Web application penetration testing methodologies
• Vulnerability assessment and security scanning tools
• OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities identification and remediation
• Security documentation and risk communication
• Basic cloud security principles (AWS/GCP/Azure)
• Secure code review and security testing in CI/CD pipelines

Disclaimer

This is a voluntary position, i.e. there is no direct financial compensation, a promise of future paid work or any taxable benefit in kind.

Endorsements

Once a satisfactory outcome is delivered, we will:

• Provide a testimonial against your profile on SkilledUp Life.
• Allow you to add Company Name to your Linkedin Profile.
• Provide a Letter of Recommendation (LoR).

For Volunteer team mates who deliver exceptional results:

• Provide a Linkedin testimonial, when requested.
• Write a Linkedin Post thanking you for your contribution.
• Provide further references, when required (we have the right to reject these).

Opportunity Category

N/A

Requirement

• Years of Experience: N/A
• Minimum Qualification: N/A

Duration

N/A

Application Deadline

Closing on 30 Aug 46 days to go
Apply Now

Company Details

Description:
We bring 60,000+ skilled Volunteer Professionals and tech founders together to build tech companies whilst helping volunteers gain the experience and skills needed to improve career prospects. SkilledUp Life is a life-companion product where you can dip in and out every time you need to upskill or put newly acquired knowledge into practice. We are governed by our own strict rules to provide a fair playing field.

Category: Marketplace
Email:
Website: https://skilledup.life