Padawan Systems Security Researcher

Riverside Overview

Riverside Research is an independent National Security Nonprofit dedicated to research and development in the national interest. We provide high-end technical services, research and development, and prototype solutions to some of the country’s most challenging technical problems.    All Riverside Research opportunities require U.S. Citizenship.

Position Overview

Riverside Research’s Secure and Resilient Systems group seeks computer scientists with an interest in systems security research. While domain experience is desired, no prior professional experience is required for this role; internships, coursework, or side projects count here!

 

The researcher will learn on the job by contributing to applied research projects. They will participate in group brainstorming around new techniques, methods, and experiments. They will implement features/approaches in different systems domains, share their progress, and communicate about design decisions, tradeoffs, and measured performance. Teamwork is critical and regular synchronization points throughout a project’s lifecycle ensures continued alignment to the project goals and ample opportunities for feedback and growth for the individual contributors.

 

Research problems tackled in this position may involve systems software (e.g., real time operating systems (RTOS), secure hypervisors), computer architecture (e.g., tagged architectures), peripheral hardware (e.g., custom device drivers, FPGA hardware, bus protocols), compiler extensions (e.g., LLVM passes, custom backends) and/or program analysis (e.g., fuzzer implementation, symbolic execution). Awareness of peripheral domains such as cryptography, formal methods and reverse engineering will enable better collaboration across the Secure and Resilient Systems group.

 

Successful candidates for this role will have aptitude for both deep technical detail and big-picture thinking. If you can see a forest made of weeds, if you know how to eat an elephant (hint: one bite at a time), or if you can explain virtual memory to your grandmother… you may have the right skills to join Riverside Research’s Secure and Resilient Systems group.

Responsibilities

• Help implement innovative solutions to customer problems related to systems software security
• Prototype and evaluate features within large system software projects like Linux, Xen, or LLVM
• Build new tools features, and/or capabilities in languages like C/C++, Python, Rust, Assembly, etc.
• Document and communicate design decisions, technical challenges, and progress to teammates and technical project leaders
• Collaborate with team members on debugging programs, pair programming, reviewing papers/proposals, etc.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferred in related technical field such as computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or cybersecurity. Equivalent work experience in systems software may substitute.
• Strong systems software development fundamentals, including proficiency with C/C++, Assembly (1 or more architecture), and Python. Knowledge of principles in at least one of: computer architecture, operating systems, compilers.
• Software development fundamentals such as source code version control, documentation, debugging, toolchains, build systems, etc
• Must be eligible to obtain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills

Bonus/Desired:

• Masters degree (thesis- or course-based)
• Healthy balance between technical orientation and business acumen
• Ability to operate independently with limited supervision and feedback
• Experience with the research process (e.g., reading & writing academic papers, ideation for inventing solutions to hard problems)
• Experience with both defensive and offensive cyber tools
• Familiarity with seL4, Rust, LLVM, AFL++, or other cutting-edge system software languages and tools
• Existing/prior security clearance

Global Comp

$60,000- $120,000 This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors.

Closing Statement

Riverside Research Institute is a not-for-profit, technology-oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring.  Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees.   Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job-related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not-for