Senior Security Researcher
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory9 hours ago
Base Salary
$176k - $267k/yr
Responsibilities
- Lead and support complex security research, red-team, penetration-testing, adversary-emulation, and cyber-defense projects.
- Develop and deploy methods to emulate cyber-adversary behavior against critical infrastructure, Federal networks, operational technology, and industrial control systems.
- Analyze source code, binaries, firmware, malware, and common binary formats to identify vulnerabilities, malicious behavior, and attack vectors.
- Develop proof-of-concept exploits, mitigations, tools, technical requirements, and repeatable workflows for future red-team engagements.
- Conduct vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, firmware analysis, reverse engineering, and adversarial simulation research.
- Identify emerging threats and help shape LLNL cybersecurity strategy and technical direction.
- Engage sponsors and stakeholders, develop research proposals, secure funding, and support program growth.
- Mentor team members, collaborate across disciplines, and advise senior management and external sponsors.
- At the SES.4 level, direct complex technical portfolios, establish research vision and strategy, lead innovative programs, and influence senior management and policymakers.
Requirements
- U.S. citizenship and ability to maintain a U.S. Department of Energy Q-level security clearance.
- Bachelor's degree with significant focus in cybersecurity, computer science, information technology, computer engineering, or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
- Significant experience leading program analysis of source code, binaries, or firmware.
- Experience with hardware or software debuggers, static disassemblers and decompilers such as IDA Pro, common binary file formats, dynamic analysis tools, software bills of materials, and/or network analysis tools.
- Advanced knowledge of state-of-the-art red-teaming and penetration-testing technologies.
- Significant experience communicating technical information to multidisciplinary teams and non-cyber experts, advising senior management, and collaborating effectively.
- Advanced analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to manage concurrent technical tasks.
- At the SES.4 level, expert-level program and project leadership experience, technical vision and direction, research proposal and sponsor-funding experience, and extensive knowledge in areas such as instruction set architectures, reverse-engineering intermediate languages, firmware analysis and extraction, or operational technology implementation.
- Preferred qualifications include an advanced degree and knowledge of embedded systems, scientific data analysis, machine learning, systems programming, software engineering, formal verification methods, or high-performance computing.
- Preferred qualifications include industrial control systems software and hardware experience, sponsor-funding success, and experience with the Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, utilities, manufacturing, hardware/software companies, or cybersecurity firms.
Benefits
- Flexible benefits package, 401(k), relocation assistance, and education reimbursement program.
- Flexible schedules depending on project needs.
- Onsite position.
- Career Indefinite or At Will appointment.
- External hires must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test; Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship and cleared employees are subject to random drug testing.
- Work in DOE Limited Areas may restrict possession of personal or laboratory mobile and wireless devices.
About Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is a U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration laboratory in Livermore, California, conducting research for national security, energy, and fundamental science. Founded in 1952 and operated by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, LLNL’s portfolio spans stockpile stewardship, high-performance computing, and the National Ignition Facility laser program, with work funded primarily through federal contracts and appropriations for defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies.