Senior Reverse Engineering/Vulnerability Research Engineer

Clarity Innovations, LLC; Herndon (VA); Hybrid; USD 106,000 - 277,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonuses

Medical/dental/vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Clarity Innovations is seeking a Principal Security Researcher to lead complex vulnerability research and reverse engineering efforts in a hybrid Herndon, VA environment. You will explore system functionalities, identify security weaknesses, and develop capabilities for authorized research projects.

You will provide technical leadership across the lifecycle—planning, discovery, exploitation, documentation, and delivery—working with senior researchers to apply advanced analysis techniques across

Qualifications

• Experience conducting vulnerability research and reverse engineering.
• Ability to provide technical leadership and mentor teams.
• Familiarity with reverse engineering tools and Linux internals.
• Understanding exploitation techniques and exploit mitigations.
• Strong documentation of research findings.

Responsibilities

• Lead vulnerability research and reverse engineering aligned with customer objectives.
• Define research strategies and guide teams through project lifecycles.
• Perform advanced static and dynamic analysis using tools and emulators.
• Identify vulnerabilities, perform root-cause analysis, document findings.
• Develop proof-of-concept exploits for authorized research.
• Evaluate mitigations and build research tooling for reproducibility.
• Communicate progress and risks to stakeholders; mentor researchers.
• Lead small to medium research teams with quality and alignment.

Skills

Vulnerability research

Reverse engineering

Technical leadership

Mentoring engineers

Research documentation

Communication

Networking fundamentals

C programming

Assembly knowledge

Security testing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

Ghidra

Binary Ninja

IDA Pro

AFL++

libFuzzer

GDB

QEMU

Unicorn

Android NDK

Job description

Senior Reverse Engineering/Vulnerability Research Engineer

Herndon, VA / Hybrid

Clarity Innovations is a trusted national security partner, dedicated to safeguarding our nation’s interests and delivering innovative solutions that empower the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) to transform data into actionable intelligence, ensuring mission success in an evolving world.

Our mission-first software and data engineering platform modernizes data operations, utilizing advanced workflows, CI/CD, and secure DevSecOps practices. We focus on challenges in Information Warfare, Cyber Operations, Operational Security, and Data Structuring, enabling end-to-end solutions that drive operational impact.

We are committed to delivering cutting-edge tools and capabilities that address the most complex national security challenges, empowering our partners to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensuring the success of their critical missions. At Clarity, we are people-focused and set on being a destination employer for top talent, offering an environment where innovation thrives, careers grow, and individuals are valued. Join us as we continue to lead innovation and tackle the most pressing challenges in national security.

Principal Security Researcher

Clarity InnovationsDiscipline: Reverse Engineering / Vulnerability Research
Location: Hybrid
Clearance: TS/SCI

Company Overview

Clarity Innovations equips customers with the technology, expertise, and support needed to conduct successful cyber operations. We bring together talented engineers, researchers, and operators to solve some of the U.S. Government’s most challenging technical problems. Our teams combine technical excellence, creativity, and collaboration to deliver capabilities that advance customer missions.

Role

Clarity Innovations is seeking a Principal Security Researcher to lead complex vulnerability research and reverse engineering efforts. In this role, you will investigate how systems function, identify security weaknesses, and develop capabilities that demonstrate their impact within customer-authorized research activities.

You will provide technical leadership throughout the research lifecycle—from initial exploration and research planning through vulnerability discovery, exploitation, documentation, and delivery. Working alongside experienced security researchers, you will apply advanced static and dynamic analysis techniques across diverse architectures and operating environments.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise, sound research judgment, the ability to guide teams through ambiguous problems, and troubleshoot basic networking issues. Success requires clear communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to developing fellow researchers.

Responsibilities

• Lead vulnerability research and reverse engineering efforts aligned with customer objectives.
• Define research strategies, assess technical feasibility, and guide teams through project planning, kickoff, execution, and delivery.
• Perform advanced static and dynamic analysis using disassemblers, debuggers, emulators, tracers, and fuzzers.
• Identify vulnerabilities, conduct root-cause analysis, and document reproducible findings.
• Develop reliable proof-of-concept exploits and operational exploit capabilities for authorized customer requirements.
• Evaluate and bypass modern exploit mitigations and security mechanisms as part of authorized research.
• Build tooling, automation, and research infrastructure that improve vulnerability discovery, analysis, and reproducibility.
• Communicate research progress, technical risks, findings, and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Share research findings internally and externally when authorized and appropriate.
• Mentor security researchers, review technical work, and promote rigorous research and documentation practices.
• Lead small to medium-sized research teams, maintaining technical quality and alignment with project objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Four years of hands‑on experience in software engineering or a comparable full‑time technical role may substitute for the degree.
• Demonstrated experience conducting vulnerability research and reverse engineering, including independently driving complex technical investigations.
• Experience providing technical leadership and mentoring engineers or security researchers.
• Experience using Ghidra, Binary Ninja, IDA, or comparable reverse engineering and disassembly tools.
• Strong knowledge of Linux internals and fundamentals, including sockets, file descriptors, networking, iptables, file systems, and kernel behavior.
• Ability to read and write C and work with assembly languages for architectures such as ARM, MIPS, and x86‑64.
• Strong programming fundamentals, including networking, data structures, and data models.
• Understanding of exploitation techniques, including arbitrary read/write primitives, shellcode development, return‑oriented programming, and jump‑oriented programming.
• Experience participating in capture‑the‑flag competitions, hackathons, or other cybersecurity competitions.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts and produce actionable research documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Top Secret security clearance.
• Experience reverse engineering operating systems and kernels.
• Experience with fuzzing tools such as AFL++ or libFuzzer.
• Knowledge of security controls and exploit mitigations, including SELinux, seccomp, ASLR, and control‑flow integrity.
• Advanced dynamic analysis experience using GDB, gdbserver, or comparable tools.
• Familiarity with processor toolchains and the Android Native Development Kit.
• Experience using QEMU or Unicorn to emulate code in non‑native environments.
• Demonstrated experience discovering previously unknown vulnerabilities, including zero‑days.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Clarity Innovations is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Salary Range: $106,000 - $277,000

Pay Range

The posted pay range reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position and is provided to give candidates a general understanding of the compensation opportunity. The actual salary offered will be determined based on the requirements of the position and a variety of job‑related factors, which may include geographic location, applicable Federal Government contract labor categories and wage rates, relevant experience, skills and competencies, education, certifications, and the scope and responsibilities of the role.

Because this position may be performed in multiple locations and may be subject to different contract requirements, the salary ultimately offered may vary based on the applicable location and contract. The posted range is not a guarantee of a specific starting salary or an indication that an offer will be made at any particular point within the range.

Total Rewards

In addition to competitive base pay, Clarity provides a Total Rewards package designed to attract and retain exceptional professionals committed to excellence. Our benefits reflect the value we place on skilled individuals who drive our impact in critical digital missions.

At Clarity, a career means joining a high‑performing team advancing vital work in the digital landscape. We encourage you to consider the total value of joining us—competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and resources that support your growth and impact.

Our Total Rewards package includes performance‑based bonuses, extensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan with company match, substantial paid time off and holidays, flexible work arrangements where possible, and a range of income protection benefits. We are committed to supporting your well‑being, professional growth, and ability to contribute to essential digital missions.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.