Senior Security Researcher

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$168,780 - $256,824 Annually

$168,780 - $214,032 Annually for the SES.3 level

$202,500 - $256,824 Annually for the SES.4 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage.  An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Senior Security Researcher to lead efforts to develop techniques and tools for red teaming in support of the defense of critical infrastructure systems and Federal networks. You will lead and support a range of highly complex security research and red teaming projects, developing and deploying innovative methods to emulate cyber-adversary behavior to help develop tools used to defend critical U.S. infrastructure and networks. Your expertise will drive the evolution of advanced cyber capabilities, threat analysis, and mitigation strategies for operational technology and industrial control systems. This position is programmatically in Global Security’s Energy and Homeland Security (E) Program and administratively in the Global Security Computing Applications Division (GS-CAD) within the Computing Directorate.

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

You will

• Guide and support advanced cyber research projects leveraging creative and automated methods to identify vulnerabilities in software, firmware, and operational technology systems.
• Collaborate in the development of technical requirements for red team operations, penetration testing, and adversarial simulation capabilities at LLNL.
• Analyze and assess novel software, firmware, and malware to uncover weaknesses, malicious behavior, and potential attack vectors, creating repeatable workflows to support future red team engagements.
• Conduct in-depth source code, binary, and firmware analysis to identify exploitable vulnerabilities and develop proof-of-concept exploits and mitigations.
• Participate in the design and implementation of new tools and techniques for vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and adversary emulation to advance the understanding and mitigation of threats to operational technology.
• Identify emerging threats and opportunities for enhancing cyber defense and red team capabilities, helping shape the technical direction of LLNL’s cybersecurity initiatives.
• Engage with sponsors and stakeholders to develop new program growth opportunities, contribute to research proposals, and ensure alignment with mission objectives.
• Drive and execute innovative ideas and approaches to meet sponsor and project needs in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
• Mentor and collaborate with team members, utilizing your technical expertise to attract and retain projects, programs, and funding.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.4 level 

• Direct technical tasks for a portfolio of highly complex technical tasks and projects that consistently require the application of creativity and innovation; set broad research/project vision and strategy and influence technical direction for Laboratory, self and/or others wielding extensive influence with senior management and policy makers.
• Provide highly innovative solutions to abstract complex problems/ideas, convert them into useable algorithms/software modules, and provide solutions that require in-depth analysis of multiple factors and the creative use of established methods.
• Develop new ideas, modify approaches, and redefine requirements that significantly impact major Laboratory programs, set high-level goals, and contribute to the revolutionary advancement of knowledge.

Qualifications

• Ability to maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level