Energy Security Researcher - Threats and Vulnerabilities

DNV; Oslo fylke; On-site; NOK 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

International research environment

Professional development

Job summary

DNV is seeking a Researcher in energy security to develop AI-supported methods for threat-informed risk assessment of critical energy infrastructure. You will collect and synthesize open-source information, describe threat actors and vectors, and contribute to risk and resilience guidance for future DNV assurance services.

You will collaborate across security, risk, energy systems and data-science teams, validating methods through case studies with industry and authorities, and communicating

Qualifications

• MSc/PhD in intelligence, security, political science or international relations with specialization in security and intelligence analysis.
• Experience collecting, evaluating and synthesising open-source information for threat assessments.
• Experience assessing threat actors, capabilities, intent, targets, attack vectors and scenarios.
• Familiarity with AI, NLP or similar digital methods to analyse open-source data.

Responsibilities

• Develop AI-supported methods to collect, classify and consolidate threat information for critical energy infrastructure.
• Create threat pictures describing actors, capabilities, intent, targets, attack vectors and scenarios.
• Translate threat pictures into inputs for risk and vulnerability assessments and protective measures.
• Identify vulnerabilities in energy systems across physical, cyber, operational and organisational domains.
• Test AI prototypes for continuous monitoring, source evaluation and updating threat pictures.
• Validate methods through case studies with energy companies, authorities and stakeholders.
• Document results with clear methods, assumptions and uncertainties in reports and publications.

Skills

Threat intelligence

Open-source analysis

Data science basics

English communication

Education

MSc/PhD in intelligence or security or international relations

Tools

AI/NLP basics

Open-source information tools

Job description

About Us

We are the independent expert in assurance and risk management. Driven by our purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, we empower our customers and their stakeholders with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence.

About Us

We are the independent expert in assurance and risk management. Driven by our purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, we empower our customers and their stakeholders with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence.

As a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful organizations, we use our knowledge to advance safety and performance, set industry benchmarks, and inspire and invent solutions to tackle global transformations.

About The Role

Group Research and Development (GRD) performs strategic and applied research to develop the knowledge, methods and technologies required for DNV’s future assurance services. The Energy Security and Resilience research programme focuses on assurance of critical energy infrastructure by developing practical and transparent methods for assessing security risk, vulnerabilities, system dependencies and resilience. The programme combines energy‑system knowledge with security research, risk analysis, data science and societal perspectives, and validates new approaches through case studies, prototypes and collaboration with industry, authorities and academia.

Are you interested in how geopolitical developments, threat actors and vulnerabilities may affect critical energy infrastructure, and in developing practical methods and tools for threat-informed risk assessment?

As a Researcher in energy security, you will develop methods and tools for establishing a relevant and traceable threat picture for critical energy infrastructure. A central part of the role is to use AI-supported methods to collect, evaluate and synthesise open-source information from multiple sources into descriptions of threat actors, capabilities, intent, possible targets and attack vectors . The resulting threat picture shall provide a documented basis for assessing risk and for identifying proportionate protective security and resilience measures. The research will contribute to future DNV assurance services for energy security and resilience.

Your Main Responsibilities Include

• Develop repeatable and traceable methods supported by AI to collect, classify, evaluate and consolidate open-source threat information relevant to critical energy infrastructure
• Establish threat pictures that describe relevant threat actors, capabilities, intent, possible targets, attack vectors and plausible scenarios
• Translate the threat picture into input for security risk assessments, vulnerability assessments and decisions on protective security and resilience measures
• Develop methods for identifying physical, digital, operational and organisational vulnerabilities in the energy systems. This can be power production, oil&gas production or energy transportation
• Develop and test AI-supported prototypes for continuous monitoring, source evaluation, information extraction, traceability and updating of the threat picture
• Validate methods and tools through case studies with energy companies, authorities and other relevant stakeholders
• Translate research results into concepts and requirements for future DNV assurance services
• Document and communicate methods, assumptions, uncertainty and results through reports, publications and presentations

What we offer

• The opportunity to shape methods and technologies for future DNV assurance services in energy security and resilience
• Applied research in close collaboration with energy companies, authorities and academic partners
• The opportunity to develop methods and tools with direct relevance to critical infrastructure security
• An interdisciplinary and international research environment
• Flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development

DNV is an Equal Opportunity Employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to gender, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, cultural background, social group, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age or political opinion.

Diversity is fundamental to our culture and we invite you to be part of this diversity.

About You

Our ideal candidate

• A MSc/PhD or relevant experience in intelligence, security, political science or international relations with a specialization in security and intelligence analysis, or an equivalent relevant discipline. Candidates with a technical or energy-systems degree must have documented additional competence in threat or intelligence analysis.
• Documented experience in collecting, evaluating and synthesising open-source information to develop threat assessments or threat pictures, supported by strong source criticism
• Experience assessing threat actors, capabilities, intent, targets, attack vectors and scenarios, and managing source quality and uncertainty
• Experience using threat assessments as input to security risk assessment, vulnerability analysis or decisions on protective security and resilience measures
• Good understanding of critical infrastructure and the power system is an advantage, together with practical experience using AI, natural language processing or similar digital methods to analyse open-source information

Your personal qualities

• Analytical and methodical, with strong source criticism and sound judgement when information is incomplete or uncertain
• Able to synthesise complex information into a clear, structured and decision‑relevant threat picture
• Collaborative and able to work across security, risk, energy‑system and data‑science disciplines
• Clear written and verbal communicator in English; Norwegian language skills are an advantage
• 5-10 years relevant experience

Many of our projects involve collaboration with operators of critical infrastructure and may require access to sensitive information or facilities. Relevant background checks will be conducted, and eligibility for security clearance in Norway may be required.

DNV is a global company that must comply with statutory requirements in each country in which we operate. This includes compliance with all aspects of the applicable laws, including Export Control laws and National Security laws. To be able to ensure this, DNV requires candidates to share all relevant information during the recruitment process. Background checks are performed on all final candidates, and any offer is conditional upon background check verification. When the nature of the position requires it, an extended background check is conducted, and applicants will receive further information about this during the recruitment process.