Senior Security Researcher

Security represents the most critical priorities for our customers in a world awash in digital threats regulatory scrutiny and estate complexity. Microsoft Security aspires to make the world a safer place for all. We want to reshape security and empower every user customer and developer with a security cloud that protects them with end to end simplified solutions. The Microsoft Security organization accelerates Microsofts mission and bold ambitions to ensure that our company and industry is securing digital technology platforms devices and clouds in our customers heterogeneous environments as well as ensuring the security of our own internal estate.

As a Senior Security Researcher in Microsoft Securitys FORGE Lab (Frontier Offensive Research & Generative Exploitation) you will help shape the future of autonomous security engineering by combining offensive security research with frontier AI team builds systems such as MDASH a multi-model agentic vulnerability discovery platform that autonomously identifies validates and proves exploitable vulnerabilities in software. Our work spans vulnerability research automated exploit generation AI-driven security workflows and large-scale software ecosystem protection helping Microsoft and its customers discover and remediate security risks faster than ever before.

• Conduct cutting-edge security research to discover validate and analyze vulnerabilities across Microsoft products cloud services and strategic open-source ecosystems.
• Design and develop scalable automation AI-driven systems and research tooling that accelerate vulnerability discovery triage and remediation workflows.
• Collaborate closely with engineering product and security teams to drive vulnerability mitigation improve security posture and reduce customer risk.
• Lead or contribute to offensive security assessments that identify emerging threat patterns novel attack techniques and systemic security weaknesses.
• Publish high-quality technical findings influence in open source projects or large-scale software systems.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Statistics Mathematics Computer Science Computer Security or related field OR Masters Degree in Statistics Mathematics Computer Science Computer Security or related field AND 3 years experience in software development lifecycle large-scale computing threat analysis or modeling cybersecurity vulnerability research and/or anomaly detection.
• OR Bachelors Degree in Statistics Mathematics Computer Science Computer Security or related field AND 4 years experience in software development lifecycle large-scale computing threat analysis or modeling cybersecurity vulnerability research and/or anomaly detection.
• OR equivalent experience.

Other Requirements:

Ability to meet Microsoft customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:

Microsoft Cloud Background Check:

• This position will be required to pass the Microsoft background and Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Statistics Mathematics Computer Science Computer Security or related field AND 3 years experience in software development lifecycle large-scale computing threat analysis or modeling cybersecurity vulnerability research and/or anomaly detection.
• OR Masters Degree in Statistics Mathematics Computer Science Computer Security or related field AND 6 years experience in software development lifecycle large-scale computing threat analysis or modeling cybersecurity vulnerability research and/or anomaly detection.
• OR Bachelors Degree in Statistics Mathematics Computer Science Computer Security or related field AND 8 years experience in software development lifecycle large-scale computing threat analysis or modeling cybersecurity vulnerability research and/or anomaly detection.
• OR equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience in vulnerability research vulnerability discovery exploit development reverse engineering or offensive security research including publicly disclosed CVEs or security advisories.
• Participation in recognized security competitions or research programs such as Capture The Flag (CTF) DARPA AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) Pwn2Own or similar offensive security initiatives.

#MSFTSecurity #AIxCC #FORGE

Security Research IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119800 - $234700 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $160200 - $261000 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:

Security Research IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142800 - $274800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188000 - $304200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
position will be open for a minimum of 5 days with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age ancestry citizenship color family or medical care leave gender identity or expression genetic information immigration status marital status medical condition national origin physical or mental disability political affiliation protected veteran or military status race ethnicity religion sex (including pregnancy) sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process read more about requesting accommodations.

Required Experience:

IC