Telecom Vulnerability Research Lead

National Physical Laboratory; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Physical Laboratory is seeking a senior researcher in telecom security in Birmingham. You will lead advanced vulnerability research into telecom systems, shape the technical strategy, and mentor a team of researchers.

Candidates must have proven experience with telecom technologies and a deep understanding of software and hardware security risks. This role offers flexible work arrangements.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading or contributing to advanced vulnerability research initiatives.
• Strong expertise across telecom technologies such as 4G/5G, fibre broadband, and OpenRAN.
• Deep understanding of hardware and software development lifecycles introducing security risks.
• Practical knowledge of cryptographic systems, including encryption and authentication.
• Solid grasp of data structures, distributed systems, virtualisation, and containerisation.
• Expert-level understanding of network protocols and software internals.
• Experience with embedded systems and OS internals.
• Strong knowledge of Linux internals.
• Demonstrated experience identifying and exploiting memory corruption vulnerabilities.
• Proficiency in reverse engineering and debugging techniques.
• Experience building custom tools for vulnerability discovery.

Responsibilities

• Lead advanced vulnerability research across telecom systems.
• Define technical direction for vulnerability research.
• Mentor and elevate the research team.
• Apply structured methodologies to understand complex systems.
• Design and develop research tools and environments.

Skills

Leading advanced vulnerability research

Telecom technologies expertise (4G/5G, fibre broadband, OpenRAN)

Understanding of development lifecycles

Knowledge of cryptographic systems

Understanding of data structures and distributed systems

Network protocols expertise

Experience with embedded systems

Knowledge of Linux internals

Experience identifying memory corruption vulnerabilities

Proficiency in reverse engineering

Skill in using debugging tools

Experience building custom tools

Tools

IDA Pro

Ghidra

GDB

Job description

The National Physical Laboratory is seeking a senior researcher in telecom security in Birmingham. You will lead advanced vulnerability research into telecom systems, shape the technical strategy, and mentor a team of researchers.

Candidates must have proven experience with telecom technologies and a deep understanding of software and hardware security risks. This role offers flexible work arrangements.