Early Career R&D Cybersecurity Researcher - Cyber Threat Center, Onsite

About the role

Sandia National Laboratories is a premier science and engineering lab dedicated to national security and technology innovation. Our multidisciplinary team works on a broad range of cutting-edge projects, from embedded systems to global networks, ensuring the safety and security of our nation.

Responsibilities

• Perform manual and automated reverse engineering, vulnerability assessments, and malware analysis
• Conduct intrusion prevention, detection, response activities, penetration testing, and forensic investigations
• Manage network operations, ensure information protection, and enhance system resiliency
• Implement and maintain authentication and authorization mechanisms
• Apply cryptographic techniques to secure systems and data
• Execute side channel analysis to identify potential vulnerabilities
• Perform failure analysis to diagnose and resolve system issues
• Gather and analyze threat intelligence to anticipate and mitigate risks
• Develop and utilize modeling, simulation, and emulation tools for system evaluation
• Apply data science, information theory, and streaming and behavioral analytics to extract actionable insights
• Ensure hardware and software trust and assurance throughout the development lifecycle
• Design, develop, and maintain real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded systems, including IoT devices
• Program FPGAs using HDL/VHDL to implement hardware solutions
• Deploy and manage virtualization technologies for systems and networks, including cloud environments
• Support mobile devices and smart technologies integration and security
• Develop and test autonomous systems for various applications
• Operate and secure industrial control systems, Operational Technology (OT), and SCADA systems
• Research and implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions and AI security measures

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent directly relevant education and engineering/scientific experience
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q and SCI clearance which may require a polygraph test
• Graduate degree in Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Computer Forensics, Mathematics or a directly related field
• Experience in reverse engineering, software vulnerability assessment, web application assessment, computer networking, computer architecture, compilers, or similar computer security topics
• Proficiency in scripting or high-level programming
• Familiarity with secure-system design principles and information assurance principles
• Excellent communication skills and a demonstrated ability to develop technical ideas and results and present them in oral and written form
• Hands-on technical cybersecurity experience/internships
• Experience with firmware or hardware emulation
• Data science, machine learning, information theory, and streaming and behavioral analytics, and network protocols
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) to include AI Security, data engineering, and machine learning models
• Active DOE Q-level security clearance or equivalent (e.g., DOD Top Secret)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent directly relevant education and engineering/scientific experience
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q and SCI clearance which may require a polygraph test
• Graduate degree in Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Computer Forensics, Mathematics or a directly related field
• Experience in reverse engineering, software vulnerability assessment, web application assessment, computer networking, computer architecture, compilers, or similar computer security topics
• Proficiency in scripting or high-level programming
• Familiarity with secure-system design principles and information assurance principles
• Excellent communication skills and a demonstrated ability to develop technical ideas and results and present them in oral and written form
• Hands-on technical cybersecurity experience/internships
• Experience with firmware or hardware emulation
• Data science, machine learning, information theory, and streaming and behavioral analytics, and network protocols
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) to include AI Security, data engineering, and machine learning models
• Active DOE Q-level security clearance or equivalent (e.g., DOD Top Secret)

Skills

• Reverse engineering
• Vulnerability assessments
• Malware analysis
• Intrusion prevention and detection
• Penetration testing
• Forensic investigations
• Network operations management
• Authentication and authorization mechanisms
• Cryptographic techniques
• Side channel analysis
• Failure analysis
• Threat intelligence gathering and analysis
• Modeling, simulation, and emulation tools
• Data science and information theory
• Streaming and behavioral analytics
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI security measures

Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements including 9/80 and 4/10 compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting
• Generous vacation
• Strong medical and other benefits
• Competitive 401(k)
• Learning opportunities
• Relocation assistance
• Amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance

Pay

Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential. Salary range is $102,400 - $199,700.

Schedule

Flexible work arrangements including 9/80 and 4/10 compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting.