2026 PhD Graduate - Cyber Researcher - Capabilities Development

About the role

We work as a multi-disciplinary team of systems, cybersecurity, and software engineers, who enable mission resilience by developing novel tools. We leverage the latest threat intelligence along with cutting-edge cybersecurity trends, techniques and technologies to achieve an operational advantage for our sponsors.

Responsibilities

• Explore cutting-edge techniques for developing cyber capabilities
• Develop novel approaches to solving critical cybersecurity challenges in operational environments
• Work with sponsors and end users in defense or intelligence organizations to understand their operational needs and identify requirements
• Build mission-aligned capabilities
• Explore promising new research areas and seek ways to apply ideas to today's problems
• Integrate and extend open source or commercial capabilities to enhance cyber capability
• Share approaches and methods with others team members, APL management, and government decision makers

Qualifications

• PhD degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics or cybersecurity-related field
• Previous internship, research, or personal project experience developing software using Java/Kotlin, Python, C#, Rust, Go, JavaScript/TypeScript, C/C++, Rust, Golang, or equivalent
• Previous internship, research, or personal project experience developing concepts, systems, or analytics, with an understanding of systems engineering or operational planning
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent interpersonal skills, outstanding oral and written communication skills, good organizational skills, and the ability to work in teams
• Able to obtain an Interim Secret Clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Top Secret security clearance

Benefits

Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship. If selected, you will be subjected to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information up to the Top Secret level.

Pay

Minimum Rate $105,000 Annually
Maximum Rate $245,000 Annually

Schedule

Not specified