vulnerability researcher

Job description: Senior Vulnerability ResearcherFull-Time | On-Site | St. Petersburg, FL (preferred) Melbourne, FL San Antonio, TXCompensation: $156K to $234KClearance Required: Active US Top Secret (must be eligible for TS/SCI with SAP)Experience: 6+ years in vulnerability research or exploit developmentWork Authorization: U.S. citizenship required. Visa sponsorship is not available.Relocation Assistance: AvailableAbout the OpportunityOur client is seeking an experienced Senior Vulnerability Researcher to join a highly technical team focused on advanced vulnerability discovery, reverse engineering, and exploit development. This is a hands-on research role for professionals who thrive on solving complex technical challenges and uncovering previously unknown vulnerabilities across a wide range of platforms.What You’ll DoLead advanced vulnerability research across operating systems, kernels, firmware, hypervisors, embedded platforms, and complex application stacks.Independently identify and evaluate new attack surfaces, driving research from initial hypothesis through validated findings.Perform deep reverse engineering and in-memory analysis of compiled binaries across x86, x64, ARM, and PowerPC architectures.Develop and validate novel exploitation techniques while evaluating modern security mitigations, including ASLR, DEP/NX, and CFI.Analyze undocumented system behavior and enhance internal research tools and automation.Collaborate with senior researchers to drive technical innovation and improve overall research quality.Communicate technical findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.Mentor team members and contribute to research methodologies, tooling, and knowledge sharing.What We’re Looking ForRequired Experience6+ years of hands-on vulnerability research or exploit development experience.Demonstrated success independently leading complex research projects with minimal direction.Strong background in reverse engineering and exploit development rather than defensive security or security operations.Experience supporting cyber operations, offensive security, or government research programs is highly valued.Contributions to the security community, including CVEs, conference presentations, research publications, malware analysis, deobfuscation work, or CTF achievements, are a plus.Technical SkillsExpert-level reverse engineering of operating systems, kernels, firmware, and compiled binaries.Strong knowledge of assembly language across x86/x64, ARM, and PowerPC architectures.Experience developing proof-of-concept exploits, vulnerability research, and mitigation bypass techniques.Strong programming skills in C/C++ and Python.Experience researching embedded systems, hypervisors, mobile platforms, RTOS, or networking protocols.Proficiency with industry-standard research tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra, fuzzing frameworks, symbolic execution tools, and related technologies.Clearance & EducationActive U.S. Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain TS/SCI with Special Access Program eligibility.Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline preferred. Qualifications: Required Experience6+ years of hands-on vulnerability research or exploit development experience.Demonstrated success independently leading complex research projects with minimal direction.Strong background in reverse engineering and exploit development rather than defensive security or security operations.Experience supporting cyber operations, offensive security, or government research programs is highly valued.Contributions to the security community, including CVEs, conference presentations, research publications, malware analysis, deobfuscation work, or CTF achievements, are a plus.Technical SkillsExpert-level reverse engineering of operating systems, kernels, firmware, and compiled binaries.Strong knowledge of assembly language across x86/x64, ARM, and PowerPC architectures.Experience developing proof-of-concept exploits, vulnerability research, and mitigation bypass techniques.Strong programming skills in C/C++ and Python.Experience researching embedded systems, hypervisors, mobile platforms, RTOS, or networking protocols.Proficiency with industry-standard research tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra, fuzzing frameworks, symbolic execution tools, and related technologies.Clearance & EducationActive U.S. Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain TS/SCI with Special Access Program eligibility.Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline preferred. Why is This a Great Opportunity: “Let your geek flag fly” is a core value here technical depth and curiosity are celebrated over titles or hierarchy.Salary Type : Annual SalarySalary Min : $ 156000Salary Max : $ 234000Currency Type : USD