Senior Vulnerability Researcher (Cloud & Containers)

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Vulnerability Researcher with deep expertise in cloud-native architecture, container runtimes, and advanced binary analysis/reverse engineering. This role is ideal for a low-level expert who thrives on technical ambiguity and enjoys hunting for vulnerabilities within the "DNA of the cloud." You will use automated reasoning and manual deep-dives to uncover escapes and logic flaws in Kubernetes infrastructure, playing a key role in evaluating the security of critical distributed systems and contributing directly to national cybersecurity efforts.

Responsibilities

• Investigate edge-case behaviors in containerized environments and low-level system initialization logic to reveal hidden attack surfaces.
• Conduct deep-dive research into OCI runtimes (runc, crun) and Linux kernel primitives (namespaces, cgroups, eBPF) to identify breakout and privilege escalation paths.
• Develop custom tools and scripts (primarily in Python3) to automate research workflows, protocol decoding, and memory analysis.
• Perform static and dynamic analysis on compiled binaries (Go, Rust, C++) using IDA Pro, Ghidra, or Binary Ninja to map undocumented logic and potential security issues.
• Build and maintain custom fuzzing harnesses (e.g., AFL++, libFuzzer) to stress-test gRPC interfaces, service mesh components, and microservices.
• Utilize concolic execution tools (e.g., Angr, Manticore) to automate the discovery of complex execution paths and bypass security checks.
• Document findings clearly and translate technical complexity into actionable reports for security and engineering teams.

Requirements

• 7+ years of professional experience in vulnerability research, software exploitation, or low-level engineering.
• Proven track record of finding vulnerabilities in distributed systems, virtualization layers, or container runtimes.
• Experience with Kubernetes security architecture and service mesh implementations (Istio, Linkerd).
• Detailed understanding of Linux kernel internals, specifically namespaces, cgroups, and the container execution model.
• Strong command of Python for scripting and automation of research tasks.
• Background in cloud provider security (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and underlying hypervisor technology.
• Must be a US Citizen and able to obtain/maintain a security clearance.

Qualifications

• An active TS SCI clearance is highly desired.
• Expert-level proficiency in software development (Python, Go, Rust, and C/C++).
• Hands-on experience with disassembly and decompilation tools (e.g., IDA Pro, Ghidra, Binary Ninja) and debugging tools (GDB).
• Deep understanding of x86/ARM assembly and memory corruption primitives.
• Familiarity with hardware-assisted isolation technologies and TEEs (Trusted Execution Environments).
• Experience with automated bug-hunting techniques, including fuzzing and symbolic/concolic execution.
• Ability to build scalable security tooling and infrastructure to support analysis workflows in a team setting.

Benefits

• Flexible time off benefit and access to robust learning resources.
• Comprehensive benefits including healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, and family support.
• Continuing education and time off benefits.

Pay

The proposed salary range for this position is $113,200 - $237,800. There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications.

Schedule

• Full time
• Up to 10% travel, primarily within the Continental US