Computer Systems Researcher with Security Clearance

CNSS • National Security Systems; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

CNSS • National Security Systems seeks Research Scientists to solve complex problems and develop prototype-grade systems in AI, ML, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing. The role emphasizes external collaboration, publishing, and open source contributions.

Strong fundamentals in CS and mathematics are required, with opportunities across systems, security, and verification disciplines. The organization values sound judgment, strong communication, and ability to work both independently

Qualifications

• Degree with concentration in foundational CS areas: algorithms, data structures, programming languages, logic and computation, advanced mathematics

Responsibilities

• Conduct scientific experiments and document results
• Train, test, and deploy machine learning models
• Evaluate trustworthiness of AI/ML models
• Apply software engineering principles to design software
• Model, simulate, and benchmark HPC systems
• Research tools for software and systems using formal methods

Skills

Artificial Intelligence

Machine Learning

Cybersecurity

High Performance Computing

Software Analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering

Master's degree in CS/CE or related field

Doctoral degree in a related field

Tools

Python

C++

Rust

SAT solvers

Theorem provers

Job description

Are you looking to apply your computer science and other technical expertise to develop technologies and tools and be a part of cutting edge innovations? Come join our team of experts! NSA is in search of Research Scientists and Senior Research Scientists to solve complex problems, test innovative approaches and research new solutions to make the U.S. and its allies safer and more secure. Help protect national security interests as part of the world's most advanced team of computer science professionals. NSA Research Scientists are actively expanding the boundaries of what can be accomplished with artificial intelligence, machine learning, human-machine teaming, software reverse engineering, vulnerability discovery, data science, novel architectures, cyber security, high performance computing, and computational linguistics. Our experts generalize mission problems, advance the scientific state-of-the-art to solve problems, and work with other NSA organizations to get solutions in front of mission users and decision-makers. Our researchers also have the opportunity to collaborate regularly with the scientific community, academia, industry, and other government laboratories; publish papers on unclassified aspects of our work in scientific journals and at conferences; transfer NSA technology to the marketplace through open source software releases and public-private partnerships; serve as faculty members at local universities; and participate in university and K-12 STEM outreach activities across the country. The ideal candidate must be able to demonstrate sound judgement, strong technical skills and the ability to work effectively in a dynamic team environment, as well as independently. Excellent oral and written communication skills, and a proven track record of analyzing and solving technical problems with innovative solutions are also preferred. The candidate should have demonstrated success in conducting Computer Science or Mathematics research to include turning research ideas into running prototype-grade systems.

As a Research Scientist, other responsibilities may include:

• Conducting scientific experiments, documenting results, and communicating with colleagues, customers, and decision makers
• Training, testing, and deploying machine learning models
• Evaluating the trustworthiness of artificial Intelligence and machine learning models
• Applying software engineering principles to design and/or develop software applications
• Designing and optimizing algorithms, data structures, modeling, and analytics to solve real-world scientific problems
• Using principles, techniques, procedures, and tools to architect and facilitate the development of hardware solutions
• Developing methods and applications for tools to exploit and analyze computer systems and network vulnerabilities
• Modeling, simulating, prototyping, and/or benchmarking high performance computing systems.
• Developing and implementing approaches to increase the productivity and/or efficiency of high performance computers
• Investigating and validating the security properties claimed by confidential computing mechanisms and architectures
• Advancing the understanding and capabilities for flexible, layered integrity measurement and attestation architectures and mechanisms
• Research, design, and prototype novel approaches to operating system, hypervisor, or firmware security
• Applying machine learning models to perform enhanced monitoring and anomaly detection on embedded systems' network communications to include IoT devices using Bluetooth and other wireless IoT protocols
• Identifying and analyzing vulnerabilities in software, hardware, and network systems using vulnerability discovery techniques such as emulation, reverse engineering, and fuzzing
• Researching tools and techniques to aid in the analysis, design, and verification of software and systems, primarily by means of formal modeling and specification amenable to automated analysis, leveraging extensive experience with computer reasoning tools (SAT solvers, theorem provers, etc.) The minimum qualifications for this position require a degree that demonstrates a concentration of Computer Science (CS) courses in foundational CS areas. The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position. Degree must be in Computer Science (CS) or Computer Engineering (CE). Other STEM fields (e.g., Engineering, Mathematics, or Information Systems (IS)) may be considered relevant if the programs contain, at minimum, a concentration of courses in the following foundational CS areas: algorithms; computer architecture (not network architecture); programming methodologies and languages; data structures; logic and computation; and advanced mathematics (for example, calculus, discrete mathematics).

FULL PERFORMANCE

Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree and no experience. An Associate's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

SENIOR

Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 6 years of relevant experience or a Master's degree plus 4 years of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree plus 2 years of relevant experience. An Associate's degree plus 8 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

EXPERT

Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 9 years of relevant experience or a Master's degree plus 7 years of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree plus 5 years of relevant experience. An Associate's degree plus 11 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

Competencies

Candidates with experience in cybersecurity, computer network defense, software analysis, vulnerability discovery and countermeasures, software development and debugging, network protocols, automated reasoning, and those with expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) are strongly encouraged to apply. Relevant experience in content processing, content triage, and human centered AI involving multimodal data, to include: speech, image, video or text processing and/or data science, applied machine learning or artificial intelligence across the disciplines of Human Language Technology (HLT), Computer Vision (CV), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Natural Language Understanding (NLU). Additionally, applicants with experience in visualization, data analysis, machine learning model research, development, and evaluation, data engineering, multilingual and multimodal modeling, automatic speech recognition (ASR) or language modeling, large language models (LLM) or related topics are strongly especially encouraged to apply. Candidates with knowledge, skills and experience in high performance computing are also strongly encouraged to apply; in particular, processor and system architectures and networks, memory, tasking (accelerators, parallelism, resource management, heterogeneous computing), productivity (systems modeling & simulation, evaluation, prototyping and benchmarking), scalable algorithms, programming languages (Python, C++, Rust) and libraries, and hardware-software co-design. Candidates with knowledge and experience in future telecommunication networks (5G/6G), IoT security, device management, machine learning technologies, Linux or Windows programming and debugging, software design and development, virtualization/containers, Cloud, Trusted Computing, and other specialized computer platforms are strongly encouraged to apply.

Desired Skills

Applicants should have excellent problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills, and possess a range of knowledge and experience in at least two of the following areas:

• Programming (low level, high level, parallel)
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Foundation models (FMs) (Large Language Models (LLMs), as well as models for other modalities)
• Simulation/model development and prototyping
• Software engineering
• Hardware engineering
• Architectures and Distributed Computing
• Algorithm analysis and design
• Reverse engineering
• Operating systems and/or device driver development (desktop/server/RTOS)
• Cybersecurity/Computer Network Defense
• Trustworthy systems
• Computer and network security

Telecommunication systems Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.