Cyber System Exploitation Co-Op RE (Jan - June 2027) - Group 05-59

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA, is seeking a Cyber System Exploitation Co-Op for Jan–June 2027. You will join a team performing reverse engineering, malware analysis, and data-driven research under mentorship.

Projects may include automated malware analysis, AI/ML approaches, and distributed systems. A hybrid work arrangement is possible; candidates must be undergrad/grad in a technical field and eligible for a DoD clearance.

Qualifications

• The candidate is a junior/senior or graduate student in a technical field.
• Interest in cyber security research and malware analysis.
• Ability to develop and document research findings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and development on offensive software and malware analysis.
• Develop tooling and automation for reverse engineering tasks.
• Collaborate with mentors and present findings.

Skills

Reverse engineering

Static/dynamic analysis

AI/ML in malware analysis

Windows OS internals

Python

C/C++

PostgreSQL

Elasticsearch

Docker/Kubernetes

Git/Jenkins

Self-driven research

Technical communication

Education

Undergraduate or graduate in CS/CE/EE/Math/Physics

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

PostgreSQL

Elasticsearch/Logstash/Kibana

Git

Jenkins

Python

C/C++

Job description

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Location: Lexington, MA, US

Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Cyber System Exploitation Co-Op RE (Jan - June 2027) - Group 05-59

The Cyber System Assessments Group performs software and hardware reverse engineering, vulnerability research and discovery, and system exploitation. We develop and prototype cutting-edge capabilities for our operational partners in the U.S. government. We look for, find, and demonstrate cyber vulnerabilities so that vulnerabilities in U.S. systems can be corrected, and so that vulnerabilities in other systems are better understood. U.S. Government leaders rely on us for our expert guidance, and our technical role with our U.S. Government sponsors is considered essential to the success of their missions.

As a Cyber System Exploitation Co-Op, you will work with a team of experts under strong mentorship to conduct research and development on offensive software (malware). Your project will build your technical skills and experience through several lines of effort, which could include: developing systems to enable malware reverse engineering, researching novel and creative techniques to automate reverse engineering, developing metrics, performing exploratory data analysis on large malware corpora, incorporating AI/ML/data science into malware analysis, building new malware corpora, and developing distributed systems for large-scale automated malware analysis.

Your specific co-op project in this domain will be discussed with your project mentor based on your existing skillsets and interests, and new skillsets you wish to acquire during your coop.

Some relevant technical skills, or skills that might be learned during this coop include:

• Reverse engineering
• Static/dynamic software analysis
• AI/ML/data science approaches to malware analysis
• Windows/Linux OS internals
• Python
• C/C++
• PostgreSQL
• Elasticsearch/Logstash/Kibana
• Docker/Kubernetes
• Git
• Jenkins
• Ability to develop a self-driven research project
• Ability to communicate effectively through technical writing/presentation

This position will be filled for the period of Jan - June, 2027. There is an opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement for this co-op.

Requirements

Candidates must be a junior or senior undergraduate, or a graduate, degree candidate in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Math, Physics, or similar technical program.

Compensation

• Technical Co-Op: $25 - $32 per hour (based on year in school)
• Administrative Co-Op: $23 - $27 per hour (based on year in school)

Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.

Requisition ID: 43314

Nearest Major Market: Boston

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