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Contract Researcher Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Technology Researcher

Arlington, VA · On-site

$99K - $206K/yr

... research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and ... Contract personnel perform investigations to characterize the severity of breaches, develop ...

Alluvionic is seeking a Contract Specialist III to support the United States Marshals Service ... Research and provide statistical data to contracting officers. * Research and prepare market ...

Contract Admin II

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$61K - $104K/yr

Research and make recommendations on contract language. * Perform and monitor all aspects of assigned contracts including accuracy of order entry data, contract funding, scope changes, amendments ...

Vulnerability Researcher

Herndon, VA · On-site

$150K - $300K/yr

In this role, you will apply advanced vulnerability research (VR), reverse engineering (RE), and ... This is not a contract and may be adjusted as deemed appropriate in Redhorse's sole discretion. We ...

Vulnerability Researcher

Herndon, VA · On-site

$150K - $300K/yr

In this role, you will apply advanced vulnerability research (VR), reverse engineering (RE), and ... This is not a contract and may be adjusted as deemed appropriate in Redhorse's sole discretion. We ...

Alluvionic is seeking a Contract Specialist III to support the United States Marshals Service ... Research and provide statistical data to contracting officers. * Research and prepare market ...

Technology Researcher

Arlington, VA · On-site

$99K - $206K/yr

... research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and ... Contract personnel perform investigations to characterize the severity of breaches, develop ...

Overview: Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in ... The Contract Principal solves the hardest Contracting challenges for Draper, provides both internal ...

Overview: Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in ... The Contract Principal solves the hardest Contracting challenges for Draper, provides both internal ...

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering ...

Showing results 41-60

Contract Researcher information

What is a contract researcher?

Contract Researchers are professionals hired on a temporary basis to conduct specific research projects for organizations, universities, or companies. They typically work under contracts rather than as permanent staff, focusing on tasks such as data collection, analysis, and reporting. Their work can span a variety of fields, including science, social science, market research, and more. Contract Researchers are valued for their expertise and flexibility, often bringing specialized skills to short-term or project-based assignments.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a contract researcher?

To thrive as a Contract Researcher, you need strong analytical skills, experience in research methodologies, and a relevant academic background such as a degree in science or social sciences. Familiarity with statistical software (such as SPSS, R, or Python), literature databases, and ethical compliance certifications is often required. Excellent written communication, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently or with diverse teams are vital soft skills. These competencies are crucial to delivering high-quality, credible research outcomes that meet client or project objectives.

What are common challenges faced by contract researchers and how can they be managed effectively?

Contract Researchers often work on multiple projects for different clients or organizations, which can lead to tight deadlines and shifting priorities. Managing time efficiently and maintaining clear communication with stakeholders is crucial to ensure deliverables meet expectations. Additionally, adapting quickly to new research topics and methodologies is important, as contract work can span various industries or subject areas. Building strong organizational skills and staying proactive about clarifying project scopes can help overcome these challenges.

What is the difference between Contract Researcher vs Clinical Research Associate?

AspectContract ResearcherClinical Research Associate
Required credentialsTypically a degree in life sciences, relevant certificationsDegree in health sciences, certifications like CRA certification
Work environmentResearch labs, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizationsMonitoring clinical trials at sites, data review
Employer and industry usagePharmaceutical, biotech, CROsPharmaceutical companies, CROs, hospitals

Both roles involve clinical research but differ mainly in scope and responsibilities. Contract Researchers often focus on specific research projects or experiments, while Clinical Research Associates primarily monitor and manage clinical trial sites. Understanding these differences helps job seekers identify the right career path in the clinical research industry.

What are the most commonly searched types of Researcher jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Researcher jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Contract Researcher jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Contract Researcher job openings:

Infographic showing various Contract Researcher job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 72% Full Time, 24% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 73% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 23% Remote job distribution.

Technology Researcher

Nightwing

Arlington, VA • On-site

$99K - $206K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 7 days ago


Job description

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers' most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets.
Nightwing is supporting a U.S. Government customer to provide support for onsite incident response to civilian Government agencies and critical asset owners who experience cyber-attacks, providing immediate investigation and resolution. Contract personnel perform investigations to characterize the severity of breaches, develop mitigation plans, and assist with the restoration of services. Nightwing is seeking a Cyber Technology Researcher to support this critical customer mission.
The Cyber Technology Researcher will be responsible for concurrently tracking, advising, and managing individual cases through their lifecycle - from initial submission to capability delivery and feedback. The researcher will adhere to established procedures to document technical requirements, develop potential courses of action, and oversee the implementation of capabilities aligned to those requirements.
Responsibilities:
- Conducting capability-based research into commercial and non-commercial technology solutions that address customer identified technology needs.
- Evaluating technology solutions against identified functional and technical customer requirements. Evaluations may include hands-on capability testing of trial licenses and open-source capabilities.
- Remaining up-to-date on emerging market technologies and products that relate to capabilities that may impact customer operations and analysis.
- Collaborating with knowledge management personnel to maintain an inventory of customer-procured technologies, tools, and data holdings relevant to mission needs.
- Meeting with and engaging customer request submitters to clarify requirements, discuss potential solutions, and ensure alignment between technology recommendations and customer mission needs.
Required Skills:
- U.S. Citizenship
- Active Secret Clearance, TS/SCI preferred
- Ability to obtain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry on Duty (EOD) Suitability
- 5+ years of direct relevant experience in IT cyber operations, systems integration or related fields
- Strong understanding of federal cybersecurity operations and mission environments
- Experience managing technology pilots and production transitions
- Knowledge of change management and configuration control processes
- Experience with DevOps, CI/CD, and integration automation practices
- Strong project coordination and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to assess and mitigate operational risks
- Experience with incident response and mission-critical system operations
- Excellent communication and documentation skills
Desired Skills:
- ITIL, PMP, or similar operations/project management certification
- Experience with CISA programs or similar federal cybersecurity operations
- Background in cybersecurity tool integration and automation
- Experience managing integrations in federated multi-stakeholder environments
- Knowledge of Zero Trust architecture implementation
- Experience with cloud operations and hybrid environment management
- Familiarity with malware analysis tools and cybersecurity platforms
Required Education:
BS Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Computer Engineering, or related degree; or HS Diploma & 7-9 years of directly relevant experience.
Desired Certifications:
- DoD 8140 IAT Level II
Syndeo: ESS--3613, ESS-3614, ESS-3615
Salary & Benefits
The salary associated with this position ($99,000-$206,000) is commensurate with the selected candidate's qualifications, years of relevant experience, and demonstrated level of expertise. Compensation will be determined based on these factors to ensure alignment with skills, responsibilities, and market standards.
Nightwing offers medical, vision and dental insurance coverage in addition to a 401k plan, PTO, Holidays, and additional insurances.
Nightwing is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.