Cyber Systems Exploitation Researcher

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Pension

401K match

Paid leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is seeking a Cyber System Exploitation Researcher to advance the development of cyber security tools and techniques for U.S. government operations.

You will reverse engineer and exploit software and hardware systems critical to national defense, focusing on cyber tool prototyping, automated vulnerability discovery, and analysis of offensive/defensive tools. You will communicate findings to non-domain experts through writing, presentations, and hands-on training, and you

Qualifications

• BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related discipline.
• Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain a Secret level DoD security clearance and apply for a Top Secret SCI clearance.
• MIT Lincoln Laboratory conducts background checks and pre-employment screenings.

Responsibilities

• Reverse engineering and exploiting software and hardware systems important to U.S. government operations.
• Develop cyber security tools and techniques, including prototype research.
• Communicate research outcomes through writing, public presentations, and hands-on training sessions.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Wireshark

Tcpdump

VMware

QEMU

OS internals

Reverse engineering

Vulnerability assessment

Statistics

SAT/SMT solvers

Symbolic execution

Data-flow analysis

Binary translation

Network security products

Education

BS in CS/CE

Tools

VMware

QEMU

Job description

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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. Top U.S. Government leadership relies 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.

Job Description

When you join our team as a Cyber System Exploitation Researcher, you'll be contributing to the development of cyber security tools and techniques. You'll be reverse engineering and exploiting software and hardware systems important to U.S. government operations and critical to the defense of our nation. Your main areas of research will include cyber tool prototyping and technical analysis of offensive or defensive cyber tools and systems, automated vulnerability discovery, reverse engineering, software protection mechanisms, static analysis, and dynamic instrumentation. Once you’re on our team, you will communicate your research to non-domain experts through your writing, public presentations, and hand‑on training sessions.

Requirements:

• BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related discipline
• Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain a Secret level DoD security clearance. Additionally, must be eligible and willingtoapplyfor a Top Secret SCI level DoD security clearance and be able to maintain this clearance level once obtained.

Desired Technical Skills (Familiarity with many)

• Programming Languages (C/C++, Python)
• Network Protocol Analysis (Wireshark, Tcpdump)
• Emulator/Virtualization Technologies (VMWare, QEMU)
• Operating System Internals
• Reverse Engineering of Embedded Systems Firmware, Malicious Code, Mobile Applications, and More
• Vulnerability Assessment
• Statistics and Metrics
• SAT/SMT Solvers
• Symbolic Execution
• Data-flow Analysis for Compiled Binaries
• Binary Intermediate Representations
• Binary Translation
• Network and Host Security Products

Recent Graduate Hiring Range:$100,200 - $120,000

Experienced Hiring Range: $100,200 - $150,000

Disclaimer: MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides a typical hiring range as a good faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. The final salary offered to a selected candidate will depend on various factors, including—but not limited to—the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, skills and education/training, internal equity considerations and applicable legal requirements. This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits.

At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, our exceptional career opportunities include many outstanding benefits to help you stay healthy, feel supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance. Benefits offered to employees include:

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans

MIT-funded pension

Matching 401K

Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)

Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs

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.