AI Red Team Engineer

Software Engineering Institute | Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University is seeking an AI Red Team Engineer on the AI Security team. You will drive adversary emulation and capability development for national security contexts, operating across AI-enabled platforms with offensive cyber expertise.

Candidates should be versed in Windows/Linux, TCP/IP, and pen-testing with strong communication skills. Role demands graduate-level courses or certifications while travelling to partner sites and conferences.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in penetration testing and red-teaming for secure systems.
• Hands-on with at least one command-and-control framework and offensive cyber tradecraft.
• Proficiency programming/scripting in Python, C, and BASH; ability to learn PowerShell.
• Familiarity with reverse engineering tools and vulnerability assessment across Linux/Windows.

Responsibilities

• Red-team real-world AI-enabled systems to assess security objectives.
• Develop new tactics, techniques, and procedures for attacking AI-enabled platforms.
• Write tools in Python, PowerShell, C, and BASH for red-team ops.
• Represent CERT portfolio and communicate with mission partners and teams.
• Travel up to 25% for field sites, conferences, and offsite meetings.

Skills

Penetration testing

Red teaming

Exploit development

Python

C

BASH

PowerShell

Wireshark

TCP/IP

OS security (Linux/Windows)

Cobalt Strike

Sliver

IDA Pro

Ghidra

OSCP

CPTS

CCNA

Education

BS in computer science, software engineering, networking, information systems, or related

MS in computer science or technical/engineering field

PhD in computer science or technical/engineering field

Tools

Cobalt Strike

Sliver

NSAGhidra

IDA Pro

Wireshark

Job description

Who We Are

SEI conducts research and development in software engineering, systems engineering, cybersecurity, and many other areas of computing, working to introduce private-sector innovations into government.The SEI works closely with defense and government organizations, industry, and academia to continually improve software-intensive systems. Its core purposes are to help organizations improve software engineering capabilities, advance cybersecurity methods and technologies, and bring the discipline of software engineering to AI systems.

What We Do

The CERT Threat Analysis (TA) Directorate conducts research and development activities toidentify, analyze, coordinate disclosure, and mitigatethreats andvulnerabilities in systems and software. The TA Directorate is currentlycomprisedofthreeteams:Artificial Intelligence (AI)Security,MalwareandVulnerabilityExploitation, andPlatform and Mission Engineering.The AI Security team workson advancing the state of the art in AI security at a national and global scale.The Malwareand Vulnerability Exploitation (MVE)team works to improve cyber-tradecraft analysis within strategic target communities to counter adversarial use of the Internet and related technologies.Thevulnerabilityside of MVE(home of the CERT Coordination Center) works with an expansive network of vendors, partners, and collaborators to reduce the societal harm of vulnerable software and systems.ThePlatform and Mission Engineering teamdevelops andmaintainstools,environments, and operational support forthemalware analysis, reverse engineering, vulnerability analysis, and AI securitydomains.

Position Summary

As an AI Red Team Engineer on the AI Security team, you will playa central rolein adversary emulation exercises and capability development for our mission partners. Due to our unique position within the TA Directorate, the systems wered-teamfall outside the realm of ‘traditional’ enterprise red teaming. Our targets are commonly AI-enabled platforms used within national security contexts.

But thisisn’ta “make the LLM say the bad thing” type of AI red team. Weoperateacross multiple domains, meaning that our red teamers are expected to be experts in offensive cyber in addition to AI security. If you are experienced with offensive cyber tradecraft and have an interest in breaking into AI, this could be a good fit. Most of our red teamers are actively taking graduate-level technical courses at CMU and/or pursuing technical certifications. Perpetual learning is a core part of what we do.

While our red team exists within a research organization, research is only aportionof the work performed by our red team. Much of the work will involve red teaming real-world systems, sometimes at an aggressive cadence. This can involve planning and rehearsing red team TTPs, traveling to field sites, and presenting relevant findings. Like most red teams, wedon’tget topick and chooseour targets. This means that our red team needs to be well-rounded (both as individuals and as a team). Thus, we expect all applicants to be savvy with both Windows and Linux, solid with TCP/IP, and have some experience with penetration testing and/or red teaming.

What you’lldo:

• Red team real-world AI-enabled systems(both the model and the hardware/software/network that it runs on) in support of national securityobjectives.

• Develop new tactics, techniques, and procedures for attacking AI-enabled systemsand related softwarein order tobetter prepare defenders for real-world threats.

• Write tools in Python, PowerShell, C, and BASH to enable red team operations.

• Represent the CERT technical portfolio of work and operations; communicate with external mission partners andinternalcollaboratorsin concert with CERT directorates and teams.

Who you are:

• BS in computer science, software engineering, networking, information systems, or a related technical field with eight (8) years of experience; MS in computer science or technical/engineering field with five (5) years of experience; PhD in computer science or technical/engineering field with two (2) years of experience or equivalent combination of training and experience. Other educational backgrounds of a technical nature with experience as described may be considered.

• You havepreviouspenetration testing, red teaming, or exploit development experience.

• You haveprevioushands-on experience with at least one command and control framework (e.g., Cobalt Strike, Sliver).

• You have experience programming/scripting in Python, C, and BASH(without theassistanceof AI)andare willing to learn PowerShell.

• You have experiencewith reverse engineering tools (e.g.NSAGhidra, IDA Pro).

• You are able toread code and quickly spot basic vulnerabilities without theassistanceof AI or fuzzing.

• You arevery familiarwith TCP/IP and all layers of the OSI model.You have experienceusing Wireshark and can explainhow common network protocols work.

• You have experience in assessing the security of both Linux and Windows systems. Experience with mobile(e.g., Android)and other operations systems is also appreciated.

• You have at least two of the following relevant certifications:OSCP, CPTS,FORGE/RIOT,GXPN, GAWN, GCPN, CRTO, CRTL, OSEP, OSWE, CCNA, CWEE.Applicants without thesecertifications willstill be consideredif equivalentexperience isclearlydemonstratedduringtechnical interviews.

• You have a willingness to travel (25%) outside of your office location to other SEI offices, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings.

• You have excellent communication skills (oral and written), particularlyregardingtechnical communications with non-experts.

• You enjoy mentoring and cross-training others and sharing knowledgewithin the broader community.

• You will be subject to a background investigation, and you must have the ability to obtain andmaintaina Department ofWarsecurity clearance.

Location

Arlington, VA, Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Software/Applications Development/Engineering

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information:

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.

• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits

• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.

• Statement of Assurance