Integrated Cyber Exploitation Researcher (Fort Meade, MD)

About the role

The Cyber System Assessments Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory performs critical tasks such as software and hardware reverse engineering, vulnerability research and discovery, and system exploitation. Our mission is to develop and prototype cutting-edge capabilities for our operational partners in the U.S. government, helping to identify and mitigate cyber vulnerabilities.

Responsibilities

• Support across the full lifecycle of offensive cyber operations, from reverse engineering and exploitation of software and hardware systems to providing technical subject matter expertise to operational planners.
• Research in areas including cyber tool prototyping, technical analysis of offensive cyber tools, automated vulnerability discovery, reverse engineering, static analysis, and dynamic instrumentation.
• Communicate research findings to non-domain experts through writing, public presentations, and hands-on training sessions.
• Engage directly with sponsors as trusted subject matter experts and contribute to shaping key decisions in the defense of the nation.

Requirements

• PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related discipline or MS with 3+ years of directly related experience or BS with 7+ years of related experience.
• Current Top Secret SCI level DoD security clearance.
• Possession of a completed full scope polygraph.
• Preference given to candidates with relevant technical skills such as familiarity with version control systems, disassemblers/decompilers, debuggers, programming languages, infrastructure/provisioning/orchestration systems, network protocol analysis, emulator/virtualization technologies, operating system internals, reverse engineering of embedded systems, firmware, malicious code, mobile applications, and more.

Qualifications

Selected candidates will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must possess a current Top Secret SCI level DoD security clearance. Preference will be given to candidates with a completed full scope polygraph.

Skills

• Familiarity with version control systems (Git)
• Expertise in disassemblers/decompilers (Ghidra, IDAPro), debuggers (WinDbg, GDB), programming languages (C/C++, Python), infrastructure/provisioning/orchestration systems (Ansible, Kubernetes, Docker), network protocol analysis (Wireshark, Tcpdump), emulator/virtualization technologies (VMWare, QEMU), operating system internals, reverse engineering of embedded systems, firmware, malicious code, mobile applications, and more.

Benefits

At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, we offer a comprehensive range of benefits to support your health, wellness, and work-life balance. These include:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• MIT-funded pension
• Matching 401K
• Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
• Mentorship programs
• A range of work-life balance options

Additionally, we offer voluntary benefits, discounts, and perks. For more information, please visit our Benefits page.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $145,200 - $170,000 for recent graduates and $145,200 - $220,000 for experienced candidates. Final salary offers will depend on various factors including the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, skills, and education/training.

Schedule

Positions are located onsite in Fort Meade, MD and from the MIT Lincoln Laboratory field office in Annapolis Junction, MD.

Benefits

At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, we provide a range of benefits to support your health, wellness, and work-life balance. These include:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• MIT-funded pension
• Matching 401K
• Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
• Mentorship programs
• A range of work-life balance options

Additionally, we offer voluntary benefits, discounts, and perks. For more information, please visit our Benefits page.

Disclaimer

This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits. At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, we provide a typical hiring range as a good faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. The final salary offered to a selected candidate will depend on various factors, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, skills, and education/training, internal equity considerations, and applicable legal requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information.