FAANG-Standard Interview Preparation Guide: Mid-Level Penetration Tester
Penetration Tester
Mid Level
8 rounds
Updated 11/23/2025
This guide is based on general FAANG interview practices and may not reflect specific company procedures.
FAANG companies conduct rigorous, multi-stage interview processes for mid-level penetration testers, typically spanning 4-6 weeks. The process emphasizes both technical depth (security fundamentals, exploitation, architecture) and soft skills (project ownership, mentorship, communication). Candidates face a combination of technical assessments, practical hands-on exercises, system design discussions, and behavioral interviews designed to evaluate problem-solving ability, security expertise, collaboration skills, and readiness to mentor junior team members.
Interview Rounds
1
Recruiter Screening
30 min4 focus topicsbehavioral
2
Technical Assessment 1: Penetration Testing Fundamentals
60 min6 focus topicstechnical
3
Technical Assessment 2: Advanced Vulnerability Analysis and Exploitation
75 min6 focus topicstechnical
4
Practical Exercise: Hands-On Penetration Testing Lab
180 min5 focus topicstechnical
5
System Design: Security Architecture and Threat Modeling
75 min6 focus topicssystem design
6
Advanced Red Team Scenario and Case Study
60 min5 focus topicscase study
7
Behavioral and Leadership Interview
60 min6 focus topicsbehavioral
8
Hiring Manager Discussion
45 min5 focus topicsculture fit
Additional Information