Associate Security Researcher

Cobalt; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) program (US)

Equity plan

Medical/dental/vision insurance (US)

Paid time off

Paid parental leave

Work-from-home equipment & wifi

Wellness stipends

Job summary

Cobalt is seeking an Associate Security Researcher to build containerized labs, automate research workflows, and test emerging security tools across Web, API, Cloud, IoT, and AI surfaces.

You will collaborate with Senior Researchers to validate findings, refine testing methodologies, and help produce high-quality reports. A broad foundation across systems, code, and security with mentoring to become a full Security Researcher is expected.

Qualifications

• Broad technical foundation across systems, cloud, DevSecOps, and development roles (1–3+ years).
• Proficiency in scripting and automation with common languages and good documentation habits.
• Hands-on with Docker containers and lab environments for testing infrastructure.
• Solid understanding of penetration testing methodology and common vulnerability classes.
• Clear ability to translate complex findings into remediation guidance.
• US-based with time-zone alignment preferred for scheduling.

Responsibilities

• Research infrastructure and lab engineering: build and maintain containerized testing harnesses and cloud sandboxes (Docker, Linux, GCP/AWS).
• Tooling and workflow automation: create scripts (Python, Bash, Go) for data collection and validation.
• Emerging tech and AI security testing: assist in evaluating autonomous tools and PoC labs.
• Methodology and tradecraft support: maintain and expand offensive testing methodologies across surfaces.
• Technical quality control and authorship: review findings and ensure actionable remediation guidance.
• Documentation and knowledge sharing: maintain research docs and internal wikis.

Skills

Python

Bash

PowerShell

Git

Docker

Cloud (GCP/AWS)

Penetration testing basics

Technical writing

Tools

Nuclei

Semgrep

Job description

DescriptionAt Cobalt, our Offensive Security Research team bridges the gap between emerging adversary tradecraft, automated security validation, and real-world penetration testing. We do not need a narrow, single-domain specialist for this seat. We are looking for a high-agency, multi-skilled Associate Security Researcher who loves building, scripting, testing, and solving practical technical problems across the stack.Think of this role as a technical utility player for Offensive Security Research. One day you will build containerized lab environments in Docker and GCP or wire up Python scripts to benchmark emerging offensive security tools and AI models. The next day you will collaborate with Senior Researchers to validate vulnerability findings, refine testing methodologies (Web, API, Cloud, IoT, and AI/LLM), and review specialized penetration testing reports for technical accuracy. You will bring broad foundational skills across systems, code, and security, and we will mentor you into a full-scale Security Researcher.

What You'll Do

• Research Infrastructure & Lab Engineering: Build, deploy, and maintain containerized testing harnesses, vulnerable lab targets, and cloud sandboxes (Docker, Linux, GCP/AWS) to support tool bake-offs and vulnerability research.
• Tooling & Workflow Automation: Write and maintain practical scripts in Python, Bash, or Go to automate research data collection, scanner template validation (such as Nuclei), and offensive testing workflows.
• Emerging Tech & AI Security Testing: Assist Senior Researchers in evaluating autonomous security tools, testing LLM and Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations, and building practical proof-of-concept (PoC) labs.
• Methodology & Tradecraft Support: Help maintain and expand Cobalt's offensive testing methodologies, checklists, and quarterly methodology reviews across Web, API, Network, Cloud, IoT, and AI attack surfaces.
• Technical Quality Control & Authorship: Partner with our Technical Project Management (TPM) and Delivery teams to review specialized penetration testing findings and final reports (Red Team, Secure Code Review, IoT, Digital Risk, and AI). Ensure technical accuracy and actionable remediation guidance.
• Documentation & Knowledge Sharing: Maintain high-quality documentation of research findings, scripts, and internal wikis, with opportunities to present research and co-author technical blogs.

You Must Have

We are not looking for a point-and-click scanner operator, and you do not need to be a 10-year exploit developer. We want a curious, methodical builder and generalist. You understand how modern systems, networks, and applications fit together, and you know how to glue things together with code.

• Broad Technical Foundation (The Utility Player): 1 to 3+ years of hands-on experience across Systems/Cloud Administration, DevSecOps, Application Development, Security Operations, or Junior Penetration Testing. You understand servers, Linux/Windows internals, networking, APIs, permissions, and logs because you have built and managed them.
• Practical Scripting & Automation: Working proficiency with Python, Bash, or PowerShell, plus familiarity with Git/GitHub and technical documentation.
• Containers & Lab Environments: Hands-on familiarity with Docker, virtual machines, and home-lab or cloud environments for spinning up test infrastructure.
• Security & Pentesting Fundamentals: Solid grasp of penetration testing methodology (reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, and remediation) and common vulnerability classes (OWASP Top 10, API flaws, cloud misconfigurations).
• Clear Technical Writing: Ability to review technical findings and translate complex issues into accurate, actionable remediation guidance.
• US-Based & Time Zone Alignment: For logistical and compliance reasons, this role is strictly limited to candidates residing in the Continental United States. Preference is given to EST or CST to align with our morning-heavy meeting schedule, though all US time zones are welcome.

Nice to Have

• Hands-on interest or experience with AI/LLM security (prompt injection, agentic workflows, MCP servers, or model testing).
• Experience writing or tuning custom detection or scanning templates (such as Nuclei or Semgrep).
• Cloud security familiarity across GCP, AWS, or Azure and DevSecOps pipelines.
• Security certifications such as Security+, CySA+, GSEC, eJPT, PNPT, CPTS, CWES, OSAI, or working toward an OSCP.
• Comfort presenting technical topics or research to small groups or community office hours.

Why You Should Join Us

• Grow in a passionate, rapidly expanding industry operating at the forefront of the Pentesting industry
• Work directly with experienced senior leaders with ongoing mentorship opportunities
• Earn competitive compensation and an attractive equity plan
• Save for the future with a 401(k) program (US) or pension (EU)
• Benefit from medical, dental, vision and life insurance (US) or statutory healthcare (EU)
• Leverage stipends for:
• Wellness
• Work-from-home equipment & wifi
• Learning & development
• Make the most of our flexible, generous paid time off, and paid parental leave

Pay Range Disclosure

Cobalt is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The salary range for this role is ($60k - 80k ) per year + equity + benefits. A candidate's salary is determined by various factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, and certifications. The salary range may differ in other states and may be impacted by proximity to major metropolitan cities.

Cobalt (the "Company") is an equal opportunity employer, and we want the best available persons for every job. The Company makes employment decisions only based on merit. It is the Company's policy to prohibit discrimination in any employment opportunity (including but not limited to recruitment, employment, promotion, salary increases, benefits, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment) based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, physical/mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, height, weight or any other such characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. The Company is committed to complying with all applicable laws and providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in the operations of the Company regardless of where the employee is located and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of the Company.

Cobalt is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). It allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees in the United States.