Principal Cybersecurity Researcher

Trusted Concepts, Inc.; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 181,000 - 289,000; Full time

Job summary

Two Six Technologies in Arlington, VA is seeking a Principal Cybersecurity Researcher to lead reverse engineering and vulnerability research efforts, mentoring staff and guiding project teams.

You will author technical documentation and white papers, support business development, and collaborate with clients to deliver high-assurance security solutions. An active Top Secret clearance (or ability to obtain SCI) is required.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in advanced cybersecurity research concepts.
• Experience with low-level programming and analysis tools.
• Proven vulnerability research and exploit demonstration abilities.
• Strong technical mentorship and client-facing communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead reverse engineering and vulnerability research projects with customer alignment.
• Mentor staff and provide technical guidance across teams.
• Author detailed documentation and white papers for internal and external audiences.
• Develop differentiated technical approaches to meet customer needs.

Skills

Reverse engineering

Vulnerability research

Low-level programming

Mentorship

Client-facing

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/Engineering

Tools

Disassemblers

Decompilers

Binary re-hosting

Fuzzing harnesses

Job description

At Two Six Technologies, we build, deploy, and implement innovative products that solve the world’s most complex challenges today. Through unrivaled collaboration and unwavering trust, we push the boundaries of what’s possible to empower our team and support our customers in building a safer global future.

Two Six Technologies is actively seeking a Principal Cybersecurity Researcher to join our team in Arlington, Virginia. The team is composed of intelligent individuals, passionate about reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and low-level programming. The team is growing and looking for someone with an advanced technical background that has an understanding on how to solve complex challenges and inspire creativity to address a wide range of difficult problems. If you are actively using reverse engineering and vulnerability research tools and frameworks, the team wants to talk to you!

What You Will Do

• Lead the technical planning and execution of projects in reverse engineering and vulnerability research, including task coordination, deliverables, and alignment with customer objectives.
• Solve complex technical challenges requiring creativity and resourcefulness while providing technical guidance, mentorship, and training to project and functional staff.
• Author detailed technical documentation, proposal sections, and white papers to communicate research findings and technical solutions to internal teams, stakeholders, and external audiences.
• Provide direction and develop differentiated technical approaches to ensure customer satisfaction and support ongoing business development opportunities.

What You Will Need (basic Qualifications)

• Demonstrated expertise in advanced cybersecurity research concepts typically acquired in a similar technical role.
• Expert-level proficiency in two or more of the following: low-level programming (C/C++, Assembly) and the use of industry-standard disassemblers and decompilers, binary re-hosting frameworks to enable dynamic analysis, and building custom greybox/blackbox fuzzing harnesses.
• Proven experience in vulnerability research, including attack surface triage, identifying vulnerabilities, and developing proof-of-concept exploits to demonstrate security impact.
• Extensive experience in technical mentorship and training, with a history of providing thorough solutions to complex problems and guiding less experienced team members.
• Experience leading complex technical projects in reverse engineering/vulnerability research or R&D for National Security customers.
• Experience delivering high-quality technical documentation, such as vulnerability research and findings, industry white papers, and competitive proposals, that distills complex cybersecurity concepts for diverse audiences.
• Experience in a client-facing technical role, demonstrating strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Have (preferred)

• Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical specialty area.
• Experience leading technical sections for multi-million-dollar proposals or contributing white papers to support business capture efforts.
• Experience with embedded systems reverse engineering (e.g., ARM/MIPS architectures, RTOS, bare-metal environments) or cryptographic design principles.
• Experience with custom fuzzing harness development, binary re-hosting, or accelerated RE/VR tooling.
• Recognized participation in the external technical community (e.g., presentations, panels, or professional associations).

Security Clearance

• Active Top Secret clearance and willingness to obtain and maintain an SCI clearance.

Two Six Technologies is committed to providing competitive and comprehensive compensation packages that reflect the value we place on our employees and their contributions. We believe in rewarding skills, experience, and performance. Our offerings include but are not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, retirement benefits, paid leave, tuition assistance and professional development.

The projected salary range listed for this position is annualized. This is a general guideline and not a guarantee of salary. Salary is one component of our total compensation package and the specific salary offered is determined by various factors, including, but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills, geographic location, as well as contract specific affordability and organizational requirements.

Salary Range

$180,779 - $289,014 USD

Two Six Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture, hair type and protective hair styles (e.g., braids, twists, locs and twists)), color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions and lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age (40 and over), marital status, disability, genetic information, and protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. For more information review the Two Six Technologies Equal Employment Opportunity and Affi... Policy and the EEO Poster.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request reasonable workplace accommodation for any part of our employment process, please send an email to [e-mail]. Information provided will be kept confidential and used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

Additionally, please be advised that this business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices.