Senior Vulnerability Researcher/CNO Developer (Onsite) with Security Clearance

Nightwing; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Nightwing is seeking Vulnerability Researchers to analyze systems, understand their operation, and assess how they behave under failure. You will work in small teams with customers, writing and auditing code, often disassembling software and using Python to inspect C++ components.

This onsite role requires delivering secure, robust results and collaborating across disciplines to advance cybersecurity missions for government and commercial clients.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in a technical discipline or equivalent work experience.
• Active TS/SCI clearance required prior to start date.
• Experience with C or C++.
• Experience reading or writing assembly (x86, x64, ARM, PPC, MIPS, SPARC, 68k).
• Experience developing embedded systems.
• Understanding of network protocols (TCP/IP, RF etc.).
• Experience using reverse engineering tools (IDA Pro, Hex-Rays, Ghidra, Binary Ninja, objdump).
• Experience using debuggers such as gdb, WinDbg, OllyDbg.
• Experience building and using tools to find, exploit, and productize vulnerabilities.

Responsibilities

• Analyze systems to understand how they work and how they behave when they break.
• Work in small teams with close coordination with customers.
• Write code and study disassembly; audit C++ code using Python where applicable.
• Develop and defeat new and advanced security techniques.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Security clearance TS/SCI

OS internals understanding

Assembly language experience

Embedded systems development

Networking protocols knowledge

Reverse engineering tools

Debugging tools

Vulnerability discovery/productization

Education

BS/MS in technical discipline

Tools

IDA Pro

Hex-Rays

Ghidra

Binary Ninja

objdump

gdb

WinDbg

OllyDbg

Job description

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers' most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets. When we formed Nightwing, we brought a deep set of credentials and an unfaltering commitment to the mission. For over four decades, our team has been providing some of the world's most technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence support services to the U.S. government on its most important missions. At Nightwing, we value collaboration and teamwork. You'll have the opportunity to work alongside talented individuals who are passionate about what they do. Together, we'll leverage our collective expertise to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and deliver exceptional results for our clients.

Job Summary

Vulnerability Researchers at NightWing CODEX analyze systems to understand how they work and how they behave when they break. Candidates must be able to play both sides of the fence, both developing and defeating new and advanced security techniques. Projects are undertaken in small teams with close coordination with customers. All our engineers write code, but many of our engineers spend as much time taking systems apart as building new ones. A typical day can involve studying disassembly or writing Python to audit a piece of C++ code.

Role Type

This position is an onsite role.

Required Skills

• TS/SCI Clearance Required
• Experience with C or C++
• BS/MS in technical discipline or Equivalent work experience will be considered.
• Active and transferable U.S. government issued TS/SCI security clearance is required prior to start date.
• 4 or more of the following desired skills
• Desired Skills
• Understanding of OS Internals (any major OS)
• Experience reading or writing assembly (x86, x64, ARM, PPC, MIPS, SPARC, 68k, or others)
• Experience developing embedded systems
• Understanding of network protocols (TCP/IP stacks, wire-level protocols, RF communications, BGP, routing protocols, or others).
• Understanding of exploit mitigations such as DEP and ASLR
• Experience using reverse engineering tools such as IDA Pro, HexRays, Ghidra, Binary Ninja, or objdump.
• Experience using debuggers such as gdb, WinDbg, OllyDbg
• Experience building and using tools to find, exploit, and productize vulnerabilities in complex software systems

Education Required

BS/MS in technical discipline or Equivalent work experience will be considered.

What We Offer

Whether you're just starting out on your career journey or are an experienced professional, we offer a total rewards package that goes above and beyond with compensation; healthcare, wellness, retirement and work/life benefits; career development and recognition programs. Some of the benefits we offer include parental (including paternal) leave, flexible work schedules, achievement awards, educational assistance and child/adult backup care.

Previously part of a leading Fortune 100 company and headquartered in Dulles, VA; Nightwing became independent in 2024 but continues to support the nation's most mission impactful initiatives.

At Nightwing, we value collaboration and teamwork. You'll have the opportunity to work alongside talented individuals who are passionate about what they do. Together, we'll leverage our collective expertise to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and deliver exceptional results for our clients.

Thank you for considering joining us as we embark on this new journey and shape the future of cybersecurity and intelligence together as part of the Nightwing team.

Nightwing is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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, age or any other federally protected class.