Vulnerability Researcher: Reverse Engineering & Exploitation

The Pennsylvania State University; United States; On-site; USD 127,000 - 277,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University’s Applied Research Laboratory seeks a Vulnerability Researcher to advance adversarial TTPs, exploit techniques, and security assessments in a on-site Reston, VA environment with occasional travel. The role emphasizes reverse engineering, vulnerability research, malware analysis and CNO tool development, supporting DoD-focused projects.

Clear communication to sponsors is essential.

Qualifications

• Documented application of reverse engineering and vulnerability testing tools (e.g. Ghidra/IDA, Kali Linux, Angr/AFL++, QEMU/Unicorn).
• Reverse engineering, vulnerability research, malware analysis, and/or CNO tool development.
• Computer networking fundamentals; Windows and UNIX-like OS; X86-64 and ARM or MIPS architectures.
• Cyber operations architecture and software engineering practices.
• Ability to express technical information clearly to senior leaders for decision making.
• Active government security clearance at TS/SCI level with eligibility for special accesses.

Responsibilities

• Research cutting edge techniques and technologies for system exploitation.
• Leverage expertise in reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and software development to address needs.
• Create proof-of-concept tools and configure test environments for demonstrations to sponsors.
• Maintain relationships with sponsors through on-site technical discussions and presentations.
• Provide process enhancement for evaluations, vulnerability analyses, and penetration testing projects.
• Apply project management principles to leadership of tasks or projects.
• Provide guidance to lower-level engineers to foster growth.

Skills

Reverse engineering

Vulnerability research

Malware analysis

CNO tool development

Networking fundamentals

Windows/*NIX

Clear technical communication

TS/SCI clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Ghidra

IDA

Kali Linux

Angr

AFL++

QEMU

Unicorn

Job description

The Pennsylvania State University’s Applied Research Laboratory seeks a Vulnerability Researcher to advance adversarial TTPs, exploit techniques, and security assessments in a on-site Reston, VA environment with occasional travel. The role emphasizes reverse engineering, vulnerability research, malware analysis and CNO tool development, supporting DoD-focused projects.

Clear communication to sponsors is essential.