Rising AI Red Team Engineer

Software Engineering Institute | Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh seeks an AI Red Team Engineer to drive adversary emulation and capability development for mission partners. You will operate across AI security domains, applying offensive cyber tradecraft alongside deep AI security expertise.

You will collaborate with CMU researchers and industry partners, travel up to 25% for field work and conferences, and contribute to real-world threat analyses while mentoring peers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a relevant technical discipline with 3 years of experience, or MS with 1 year.
• Experience in penetration testing, red teaming, or exploit development.
• Experience with at least one command and control framework (e.g., Cobalt Strike, Sliver).
• Experience programming/scripting in Python, C, and BASH; willingness to learn PowerShell.
• Experience with reverse engineering tools (e.g., Ghidra, IDA Pro).
• Ability to read code and spot vulnerabilities without the assistance of AI or fuzzing.
• Very familiar with TCP/IP and OSI; able to explain network protocols; experience with Wireshark.
• Experience on Linux and Windows security; mobile OS experience appreciated.
• At least one of OSCP, CPTS, FORGE/RIOT, eJPT, CBBH, BSCP, PNPT, GRTP, GPEN; others considered with demonstrated equivalence.
• Excellent communication skills; willingness to mentor; travel 25% outside office; able to obtain DoD clearance.

Responsibilities

• Red team real-world AI-enabled systems in support of national security objectives.
• Develop new tactics, techniques, and procedures for attacking AI-enabled systems to better prepare defenders.
• Write tools in Python, PowerShell, C, and BASH to enable red team operations.
• Represent the CERT technical portfolio and communicate with mission partners and internal collaborators.

Skills

Penetration testing

Red teaming

Exploit development

Python

PowerShell

C

BASH

Reverse engineering

TCP/IP

Wireshark

Linux

Windows

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science

MS in Computer Science

PhD in Computer Science

Tools

Cobalt Strike

Sliver

Ghidra

IDA Pro

Job description

Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh seeks an AI Red Team Engineer to drive adversary emulation and capability development for mission partners. You will operate across AI security domains, applying offensive cyber tradecraft alongside deep AI security expertise.

You will collaborate with CMU researchers and industry partners, travel up to 25% for field work and conferences, and contribute to real-world threat analyses while mentoring peers.