Embedded Systems Vulnerability Researcher

Interrupt Labs; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus up to 15%

6% matched pension

Death in Service 4x base salary

EV salary sacrifice scheme

Low-interest loans

Private medical insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Interrupt Labs in Basingstoke is seeking vulnerability researchers to join an industry-leading team focused on reverse engineering, vulnerability research and exploit development for embedded systems, IoT devices, drones and vehicles.

You’ll have access to our hardware lab and will perform firmware extraction, hardware analysis and exploitation, reverse engineer firmware, and extend tooling for custom protocols.

Qualifications

• Direct experience performing reverse engineering and vulnerability research on embedded devices.
• Experience or interest in exploit and capability development.
• Always curious about technology and how things work.
• Eligible for SC UK Government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Reverse engineer firmware and identify security vulnerabilities.
• Perform hardware analysis and exploitation in a dedicated hardware lab.
• Analyse custom protocols and extend or develop tooling.
• Assess exploitability and how vulnerabilities could be leveraged.
• Develop unique exploits and capabilities for various effects.
• Present findings clearly to colleagues and stakeholders.

Skills

Reverse engineering

Vulnerability research

Exploit development

Curiosity about tech

Security clearance eligibility

Job description

We're searching for vulnerability researchers to join our industry leading team focused on reverse engineering, vulnerability research and exploit development against a variety of embedded systems. This role provides opportunities to target software, hardware and protocols for consumer IoT, drones, vehicles, networking equipment and more.

The role:

• You’ll have access to our hardware lab and the equipment you need to perform firmware extraction, hardware analysis and exploitation.
• You’ll reverse engineer firmware and identify security vulnerabilities using a range of static and dynamic techniques.
• You’ll analyse custom protocols and extend or develop tooling to do so.
• You’ll assess and understand the exploitability of vulnerabilities found and how they could be leveraged for capability development.
• You’ll develop unique exploits and capabilities to perform a variety of effects.
• You’ll need to present your findings in a useful and accessible way to others.
• You’ll join a highly collaborative team of experienced vulnerability researchers and have access to training and conferences to refine and hone your skills.
• You’ll have very few meetings; we work on challenging technical problems and allow this to be our focus.

The ideal candidate:

• Direct experience performing reverse engineering and vulnerability research on embedded devices.
• Experience or interest in exploit and capability development.
• Always curious about technology and how things work.
• Applicants must be eligible for at least SC UK Government security clearance.

Salary:

Packages are competitive and differ according to researcher experience. Full details can be discussed upon an invitation to interview.

Life at Interrupt Labs

We know that what draws people to offensive security work is the research itself but we also think the people doing that work deserve to be properly looked after. Here's what that looks like in practice...

Rewarded for the work you do

• Annual bonus up to 15% based on company performance - when Interrupt does well, that gets shared across the team, not kept at the top.
• 6% matched pension
• 4x base salary Death in Service, so your family has a financial safety net without you having to think about it.
• Salary sacrifice EV scheme, so going electric is more affordable through your pay.
• Low-interest loans up to £10,000, for whatever life throws at you - big purchases, unexpected costs, or just breathing room.

Taking care of you

• Private medical insurance with access to private GP consultations, mental health cover and various therapies cover (chiropractic treatment, osteopathy, acupuncture, homeopathy, podiatry/chiropody and up to two consultations with a dietician).
• Employee Assistance Programme, with 24/7 confidential support.
• Enhanced cycle to work scheme which can be used for a bike valued up to £10,000.

Time to switch off

• 25 days annual leave, rising by a day each year up to 28, plus bank holidays, because good research needs a rested mind, not a burnt‑out one.
• Option to buy up to 5 additional days' leave each year, if you want more flexibility than the base allowance gives you.

Growing your craft

• If there's a certification, course, or conference that will genuinely make you better at your work, whatever it is - we want to hear about it and back it.
• Dedicated conference budget, because staying close to the research community matters.

Supporting your family

• Enhanced maternity pay: 12 weeks at full pay, followed by 12 weeks at half pay.
• Enhanced paternity pay: 4 weeks at full pay.

Culture & office life

• Regular company socials throughout the year.
• Free hot and soft drinks, beer and snacks in the office, because the small daily things add up.

The location:

Our office is in the centre of Basingstoke and is a 6-minute walk from the train station with easy transport links to and from London.

We are proud to be accredited with the Workplace Wellbeing Charter.

Interrupt Labs is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.