Operational Cyber Researcher

Cyber UK; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Dedicated training budget

Flexible working hours

Private medical and dental insurance

Competitive pension scheme

Cycle-to-work scheme

Job summary

A leading cybersecurity firm in the UK is seeking an Operational Cyber Researcher to lead technical assessments and research. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of computer systems and security vulnerabilities. You will work with a team to develop innovative solutions that address pressing national security challenges. The role offers flexible hours, a training budget for professional development, and an inclusive work environment. Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK and will undergo a security clearance process.

Qualifications

• Experience with network protocols and tools.
• Ability to conduct vulnerability assessments.
• Willingness to learn new languages and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Deconstruct technologies for exploratory research.
• Mentor and lead teams in research projects.
• Identify and prioritize vulnerabilities in systems.

Skills

Familiarity with tools like IDEs and debuggers

Intermediate to advanced understanding of computing principles

Proficiency with at least one programming language

Ability to use and configure multiple operating systems

Communication skills for technical topics

Experience in network traffic analysis

Tools

Ghidra

Wireshark

FRIDA

Virtual Machines

Job description

Operational Cyber Researcher Location: Gloucester, Manchester, London – Onsite work required, with consideration for both full and part‑time applicants – please speak to your recruiter about the options. Requisition ID: 121883. Grade: GG10 – GG12. Operational Cyber Group is a team of industry‑leading experts in high‑assurance development, research, reverse engineering, and vulnerability research. With a focus on National Security, we work on some of the country’s toughest challenges. Our people provide mission‑changing capability for our customers across a wide variety of platforms and technologies. We are looking for experienced researchers that can investigate a wide range of systems and technologies with a focus on discovering and exploiting weaknesses in their design or implementation, and who want to have a meaningful impact on National Security.

Role Description

• Technical delivery: be able to systematically deconstruct a wide range of technologies and protocols to perform exploratory research and assessment, as well as experimental development (this includes creating prototypes and simulations).
• Mentorship, team‑leadership, and collaboration: work in teams to deliver high‑quality reports, whilst developing junior team‑members.
• Adaptability: be able to quickly assess new domains and technologies, knowing which tools and methodologies are best suited to the task at hand.
• Security mindset: be capable of identifying vulnerabilities and prioritise avenues of research that will deliver the most value to our customers. Have a working knowledge of vulnerability assessment or penetration‑testing techniques.

What we are looking for

• Familiarity with a variety of tools (e.g. IDEs, debuggers, source control, Ghidra, FRIDA, Wireshark, VMs) and techniques (e.g. fuzzing, scripting, code injection).
• Intermediate to advanced understanding of computing principles (e.g. stack/heap distinction, compiled/interpreted languages).
• Proficiency with at least one programming language and the ability to perform scripting or rapid prototype development.
• Ability to use and configure more than one major operating system.
• Ability to pick up new languages and technologies easily.
• Ability to communicate regarding technical topics to a variety of audiences, including non‑technical, through presentations and technical reports.
• Experience working with teams and leading technical tasks.
• Other desirable skills include: experience performing network traffic analysis, reverse engineering, vulnerability analysis, exploit development, working knowledge of modern cryptography.

Why join us?

• You will receive a dedicated training budget to use during your first year with us. This can cover major cybersecurity conferences such as Black Hat, specialist training, and more.
• By joining the Operational Cyber Group, you will be addressing the most critical cyber needs of governments and businesses across the globe, with a meaningful and tangible impact on UK National Security.
• Work‑life balance is important to us: we can offer a variety of hours to suit individual needs, such as part‑time or flexible working around core hours, along with a minimum of 25 days of holiday per year.
• Our flexible benefits package includes private medical and dental insurance, a competitive pension scheme, cycle‑to‑work scheme, childcare vouchers, discount cards and more.
• We are a supportive, inclusive and friendly team, committed to helping each other learn and succeed. We have a number of Diversity and Support groups which cover everything from gender diversity to mental health and wellbeing.
• With clear career progression pathways, mentorship, as well as ongoing training throughout your career, you can feel confident that your aptitude will be rewarded.
• We offer additional leave to cover Reservist and Cadet Force Adult Volunteer duties.

Please be aware that this role is subject to security restrictions. We do not expect you to have a security clearance before applying, but you will need to be eligible to work in the UK and be able to successfully achieve an eDV UK security clearance. Our recruiters are happy to explain the process.

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence is home to 4,500 digital, cyber and intelligence experts. We work collaboratively across 10 countries to collect, connect and understand complex data, so that governments, nation states, armed forces and commercial businesses can unlock digital advantage in the most demanding environments. This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.