AI-Enhanced Penetration Tester

Join us as an AI-Enhanced Penetration Tester to revolutionize cybersecurity with cutting-edge AI/ML techniques. Conduct advanced assessments, automate vulnerabilities, and proactively defend against complex threats. Innovate, analyze, and strengthen digital defenses in a dynamic, forward-thinking environment!

About the job

Job purpose

We are seeking a highly skilled and forward-thinking individual to elevate our cybersecurity posture by applying Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques to traditional penetration testing, attack surface monitoring, and vulnerability assurance. The primary purpose of this role is to enhance the efficiency, depth, and proactive capabilities of our offensive security operations. You will be instrumental in identifying complex vulnerabilities, simulating advanced cyberattacks, and providing data-driven insights that directly contribute to AXA's robust security and digital posture, ensuring effective controls are in place and aligned with our Group Security Corporate function's mandate for advanced assurance and monitoring.

Main missions

As our AI-Enhanced Penetration Tester, your key missions will include:

• Conduct Advanced Penetration Tests: Perform detailed security assessments and penetration tests across a wide range of traditional systems, including web applications, APIs, network infrastructure, cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP), and internal systems.

• Integrate AI into Pentesting Workflows: Research, evaluate, and implement AI/ML tools and techniques to augment and automate various stages of the penetration testing lifecycle, such as:

  • Intelligent Reconnaissance for advanced OSINT, asset discovery, and mapping complex attack surfaces.
  • Automated Vulnerability Discovery using AI/ML for smarter fuzzing, code analysis (SAST/DAST), and identifying logical flaws.
  • Exploit Generation Assistance leveraging AI to assist in developing sophisticated exploits and bypasses.
  • Threat Modeling & Attack Path Analysis utilizing AI to analyze system architecture and predict likely attack vectors.
  • Payload Generation & Obfuscation employing AI to create highly effective and evasive payloads.
  • Behavioral Anomaly Detection to identify suspicious activities during tests.

• Continuous Attack Surface Monitoring (ASM): Utilize AI-driven tools and techniques to continuously monitor and map the organization's dynamic attack surface, identifying new assets, services, and potential entry points. Proactively detect changes that could introduce new risks or expand the attack surface.

• Vulnerability Landscape Assurance: Leverage AI and data analytics to perform assurance activities on the overall vulnerability landscape. This includes:

  • Validating the effectiveness of vulnerability scanning tools.
  • Analyzing vulnerability data to identify trends, prioritize remediation efforts, and assess the true risk posture.
  • Performing re-verification of remediated vulnerabilities using AI-assisted methods to ensure closure and prevent recurrence.
  • Providing data-driven insights into the efficacy of security controls.

• Tool Development & Customization: Develop custom scripts, tools, and integrate AI/ML models to enhance existing penetration testing platforms and create novel offensive security capabilities.

• Reporting & Remediation: Document detailed findings, including proof-of-concept exploits, risk assessments, and clear, actionable recommendations for remediation to development and operations teams.

• Research & Innovation: Stay at the forefront of AI advancements in cybersecurity, actively research new attack techniques, and explore emerging AI/ML applications for offensive security.

Expected skills & experience

We are looking for someone with the following experience and skills:

Experience Required:

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in penetration testing, ethical hacking, or offensive security roles.

• Proven experience or strong demonstrable interest in applying AI/ML concepts and tools to cybersecurity challenges.

Preferred:

• Experience with specific AI-powered security tools for vulnerability scanning, threat intelligence, attack surface management, or code analysis.

• Experience in developing or customizing AI/ML models for offensive security tasks (e.g., natural language processing for social engineering, anomaly detection for network traffic, predictive modeling for vulnerabilities).

• Active participation in the security community (e.g., CTFs, conferences, open-source contributions related to AI in security).

Technical skills

• Deep Penetration Testing Expertise: Strong understanding of traditional penetration testing methodologies, tools (e.g., Burp Suite, Nmap, Metasploit, Nessus), and common vulnerabilities (e.g., OWASP Top 10, CWE).

• Programming Proficiency: Expert-level proficiency in Python is essential, with experience in developing scripts, automation, and integrating APIs.

• AI/ML Fundamentals: Solid understanding of core AI/ML concepts, algorithms, and data science principles (e.g., supervised/unsupervised learning, deep learning, NLP).

• Cloud Security: Experience with security assessments in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).

• Operating Systems: Proficient with Linux, Windows, and macOS environments.

• Networking: Strong understanding of TCP/IP, network protocols, and common network security controls.

Preferred Technical Knowledge:

• Familiarity with common ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn) for understanding how to integrate or leverage them.

• Experience with large language models (LLMs) and their potential applications in offensive security (e.g., prompt engineering for attack generation, code analysis).

Certifications (Preferred):

• Relevant security certifications such as OSCP, OSWE, OSCE, GXPN, GPEN, CEH.

Soft skills / transversal skills

• Analytical Skills: Exceptional problem-solving abilities, with a creative and innovative mindset to identify and exploit complex vulnerabilities, and to analyze large datasets for security insights.

• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate technical findings, risks, and recommendations to diverse technical and non-technical audiences.

• Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing: Ability to work closely with other security engineers, developers, and infrastructure teams to communicate findings, foster a culture of secure development, and mentor junior team members on AI-enhanced techniques.

• Continuous Learning: A strong drive for continuous learning and development in the rapidly evolving fields of AI and cybersecurity.

Where will you be in the organization?

The division

You will join the Group Security division, defining the security standards to be applied by AXA entities, and holding overarching responsibility for safeguarding the security of the entire AXA Group, covering information security, physical security & safety, operational resilience, and crisis management with ability to take necessary actions to safeguard unacceptable risk. Throughout AXA Group, the security community represents composed of 1500 security professionals, working daily to protect our customers, operations, assets, brand and people.

To achieve this, we have set up a holistic security approach based on three converged disciplines: Cyber Defense, Physical Security and Operational Resilience.

Our main missions:

• Monitor the Security evolving Threat Landscape

• Defines and maintains the Group-wide security strategy, sets Security standards and instructions, and associated tooling, and enforces consistent implementation across entities

• Agrees the local security objectives with the CEOs, cascades objectives to CSOs & CIOs, governs local security budgets and investments and enforces delivery through the dual reporting lines between local CSOs and Group Corporate CSOs

• Runs Security operations (including detection & management of cyber incidents) and drives Security products, services and reporting aligned to entity needs to operate effectively and drive efficiencies

• Assures security of IT processes and products, monitors security posture and escalates any deterioration of risk posture to relevant committees

The department / team

You will be part of the Assurance and Monitoring Team which aims at enabling risk-based, evidence-driven security decisions across the Group by providing independent assurance, and actionable posture insights that protect business value and support regulatory trust.

What we offer

We bring together the expertise, cultural diversity and creativity of over 8,000 employees worldwide and we’re committed to equal opportunities in all aspects of employment (gender, LGBT+, disabled persons, or people of different origins) and to promoting Diversity & Inclusion by creating a work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect, and where individual differences are valued.

About the entity

AXA is becoming a sustainable tech-led company and at AXA Group Operations we are one of the major catalysts for this transformation. We set the tone by triggering and empowering the evolution of our insurance business model through technology and innovation, driving its concrete implementation globally at speed, with a high quality of advisory and execution. We are present across 17 countries with committed, highly qualified teams. We leverage technology, data, sourcing, security and investment allocation in a global way, but also achieve economies of scale and synergies when necessary.

At AXA Group Operations, we want to be recognized in three fields of action:

• State-of-the-art Data Technology to drive customer experience

• State-of-the-art Procurement & Sourcing to drive efficiency and better manage risks

• High-Performing Global Team for stronger partnerships with AXA entities

About AXA

As a world-leading insurance company, we act for human progress by protecting what matters. With 153,000 employees in 54 countries working for 105 million customers, we’ve created a truly dynamic and vibrant community. Inclusion and diversity link closely with our values, and together we’re nurturing a culture of respect, for each other, for our customers and the communities around us. Join AXA and you’ll feel like you belong, are included and can thrive. You’ll be able to shape the way you work and truly grow your potential as you seek out new opportunities, push boundaries and benefit people in critical moments of their lives. This is your chance to build the tomorrow you want. Know you can.