Principal Vulnerability Researcher (Cleared)

Rogue Talent; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully-funded pension

Matching 401K

Tuition reimbursement

Conference allowance

Top-tier research autonomy

Job summary

Rogue Talent is hiring an expert in modern reverse engineering and cyber research to lead efforts for a prestigious national defense institution. The Principal Researcher will drive tool development, vulnerability discovery, and AI-assisted prototyping in a high-security environment.

The role requires active DoD clearance eligibility, strong DoD/IC ties, and the ability to mentor a senior team across software and embedded systems reverse engineering. Relocation is arranged.

Qualifications

• Active clearance or ability to obtain DoD clearance

Responsibilities

• Lead development of cybersecurity tools & techniques
• Reverse engineer and exploit software & embedded systems
• Analyze offensive/defensive cyber tools & systems
• Manual binary analysis & automated vulnerability discovery
• Analyze software protections
• Engage in static analysis & dynamic instrumentation
• Communicate findings to non-technical sponsors

Skills

C/C++

Python

Reverse engineering

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in CS or related, or 7+ years cyber R&D

Tools

Wireshark

Tcpdump

VMware

QEMU

Job description

Important: This hybrid FTE position will be on-site 3 days/week in Lexington, MA; no long-distance commuters, please. Relocation is arranged and fully paid for, accommodating the employee and their family's timeline.

Rogue Talent is hiring an expert in modern RE/VR to lead efforts in cyber research, vulnerability discovery, and exploit/tool development for a prestigious institution whose mission is national defense and threat deterrence. The ideal candidate will have active clearance, deep roots in the DoD and/or IC, and acute curiosity for AI-augmented research and prototyping.

This elite team performs software & embedded systems reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and AI-powered tool development. They develop and prototype cutting-edge capabilities for operational partners in the US, looking for, finding, and demonstrating cyber vulnerabilities so that critical systems in the US can be corrected, and so that exploits in adversary systems are better understood.

In this key IC role, the Principal ("Full Technical Staff") Researcher will:

• Lead the development of cybersecurity tools & techniques.
• Reverse engineer and exploit software & embedded systems.
• Conduct analysis of offensive and/or defensive cyber tools & systems.
• Perform manual binary analysis & automated vulnerability discovery.
• Analyze software protection mechanisms.
• Engage in static analysis & dynamic instrumentation.
• Communicate research findings to non-technical experts, gov't sponsors.

Credentials:

• Bachelors, Masters or PhD in Computer Science or related discipline is preferred, or 7+ years of formal cyber R&D experience.
• Pass a pre-employment background check, and be able to maintain at least a secret-level DoD security clearance.
• Must be eligible & willing to pursue a Top Secret SCI-level DoD security clearance and be able to maintain once obtained (FSP highly advantageous).

Qualifications: Ideal candidate will have strong familiarity with all, expertise in some.

• Programming Languages (C/C++, Python)
• Network Protocol Analysis (Wireshark, Tcpdump)
• Emulator/Virtualization Technologies (VMWare, QEMU)
• Reverse Engineering of Embedded Systems, Firmware, Malware, Mobile Apps, etc.
• Vulnerability Analysis ; Statistics and Metrics
• SAT/SMT Solvers, Symbolic Execution
• Data Flow Analysis for Compiled Binaries
• Binary Intermediate Representations & Translation

Compensation:

• $165-225K base salary range
• Fully-funded pension + matching 401K
• Tuition reimbursement & continuing education programs
• Cybersecurity conference allowance, mentorship programs
• Top-level work-life balance culture, unprecedented retention
• Full research autonomy + prestigious peer network