Senior/Principal R&D Cybersecurity - Artificial Intelligence, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 117,500 - 235,700; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories invites applications for a Senior/Principal R&D Cybersecurity role focused on Artificial Intelligence. You will work onsite on multidisciplinary teams across embedded to cloud environments, developing protective AI technologies, threat assessments, and robust security practices.

Key responsibilities include reverse engineering, firmware research, and designing new analysis methods.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with five years directly relevant experience or equivalent.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q and SCI clearance (polygraph possible).
• Experience in AI/ML security, vulnerabilities, and vulnerability research.
• Proficiency in Python, C/C++, and scripting.

Responsibilities

• Develop state-of-the-art approaches for analyzing AI system security and robustness.
• Analyze vulnerabilities in AI systems and how attackers may exploit them.
• Reverse engineer malicious code to support high-impact customers.
• Conduct low-level firmware research and analyze device software, hardware, and protocols.
• Design and develop new analysis methods and tools for AI security.
• Identify emerging AI threats and engage with the security community.
• Evaluate tools and processes used by AI security researchers to improve effectiveness.
• Develop thought models, tools, and datasets that characterize AI threats and vulnerabilities.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI to enhance cybersecurity research.

Skills

AI cybersecurity

Python

C/C++

Adversarial ML

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Graduate degree in CS/Engineering or related field

Tools

Ghidra

IDA Pro

NumPy

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

Senior/Principal R&D Cybersecurity - Artificial Intelligence, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation. This role seeks experienced AI cybersecurity researchers to develop protective technologies, conduct threat assessments, and analyze government, military, and civilian systems that employ AI.

What Your Job Will Be Like

As a member of our multidisciplinary team, you will engage with systems ranging from embedded, mobile, desktop, and enterprise to cloud environments, including globally connected networks that employ AI at the edge.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop state‑of‑the‑art approaches for analyzing the security and robustness of AI systems.
• Apply these approaches to understand vulnerabilities in AI systems and how attackers adapt to exploit them.
• Reverse engineer malicious code in support of high‑impact customers.
• Conduct low‑level firmware research.
• Analyze device software, hardware, and communications protocols.
• Design and develop new analysis methods and tools.
• Identify and address emerging and complex threats to AI systems and engage with the broader security community.
• Influence the AI security and vulnerability disclosure ecosystems.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of tools, techniques, and processes developed by the AI security research community.
• Uncover and shape fundamental assumptions underlying current AI security best practice.
• Develop thought models, tools, and datasets that characterize threats to and vulnerabilities in AI systems.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI to improve existing cybersecurity research.

Qualifications We Require

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform independent research and development.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q and SCI clearance, which may require a polygraph test.

Qualifications We Desire

• Graduate degree in Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Computer Forensics, Mathematics, or a related field with an independent research project.
• Experience in reverse engineering, software vulnerability assessment, web application assessment, computer networking, computer architecture, compilers, or similar security topics.
• Proficiency in scripting or high‑level programming.
• Familiarity with secure‑system design principles and information assurance principles.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to present technical ideas concisely.
• Five or more years of experience in AI/ML and cybersecurity.
• Experience with adversarial machine learning, ML vulnerabilities, and attack vectors.
• Practical experience applying cybersecurity knowledge toward vulnerability research, analysis, and mitigation.
• Familiarity with common AI/ML software packages (e.g., Numpy, PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Experience with large language models (LLMs) and agentic models.
• Experience implementing and engineering AI systems.
• Knowledge of the AI state of the art and a desire to keep it up to date.
• Proficiency in Python, C/C++, and related programming.
• Familiarity with reverse engineering tools such as Ghidra or IDA Pro.
• Experience developing frameworks, methodologies, or assessments to evaluate effectiveness and robustness of technologies.
• Active DOE Q or DOD TS security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain an SCI.

Travel & Working Arrangement

Some travel is required. The selected candidate must work onsite.

Salary Range

$117,500 – $235,700 (salary will be determined based on experience and qualifications).

Posting Duration

This posting will be open for at least three (3) calendar days.

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs

If you have a medical portable electronic device (MedPED) such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug‑releasing pump, hearing aid, or diagnostic equipment, and you are selected for an onsite interview at Sandia National Laboratories, additional steps may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview.