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Remote Vulnerability Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

iOS Vulnerability Researcher

Arlington, VA · Remote

$59.50 - $82/hr

Research on the low-level internals of Apple platforms, including topics such as runtime internals ... This is a remote role so the successful candidate can be based anywhere in the USA, or indeed the ...

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional ... Leverage expertise in reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and software development to ...

Our team conducts Vulnerability Research and Reverse Engineering in a rapid prototyping, R&D ... remote work) and requires a TS/SCI + Poly clearance (acceptable to this customer). What You'll Be ...

Our team conducts Vulnerability Research and Reverse Engineering in a rapid prototyping, R&D ... remote work) and requires a TS/SCI + Poly clearance (acceptable to this customer). What You'll Be ...

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Remote Vulnerability Research information

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$37K

$106K

$142.5K

How much do remote vulnerability research jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for remote vulnerability research in the United States is $106,012.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,000.00 and $104,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Remote Vulnerability Research vs Penetration Tester?

AspectRemote Vulnerability ResearchPenetration Tester
CredentialsCertifications like OSCP, CEH often preferredSimilar certifications, often including OSCP, CEH, or GPEN
Work EnvironmentPrimarily remote, focused on analyzing vulnerabilities in systemsRemote or on-site, performing simulated attacks to test security
Industry UsageUsed in cybersecurity research, bug bounty programs, security assessmentsCommonly hired by organizations for security testing and audits

Remote Vulnerability Researchers analyze and identify security flaws remotely, focusing on discovering vulnerabilities. Penetration Testers simulate attacks to evaluate security defenses. While both roles require similar skills and certifications, vulnerability research emphasizes analysis, whereas penetration testing involves active exploitation. Both are vital in cybersecurity but serve different purposes in security assessments.

What are some common challenges faced by remote vulnerability researchers, and how can they be addressed?

Remote vulnerability researchers often encounter challenges such as staying up-to-date with rapidly evolving security threats, maintaining effective communication with distributed teams, and managing access to secure testing environments. To address these, it's important to participate in regular knowledge-sharing sessions, use secure communication tools, and follow strict protocols for remote access. Setting clear expectations with the team and leveraging collaborative platforms also help ensure productivity and data integrity while working remotely.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Remote Vulnerability Researcher, and why are they important?

To excel as a Remote Vulnerability Researcher, you need a strong background in cybersecurity, programming, and network protocols, often supported by a degree in computer science or related certifications like OSCP or CEH. Proficiency with tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra, Burp Suite, and familiarity with operating systems and exploit frameworks is essential. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective written communication are vital soft skills in this role. These competencies enable you to identify, analyze, and report security vulnerabilities efficiently, helping organizations strengthen their defenses against cyber threats.

What is a Remote Vulnerability Researcher?

A Remote Vulnerability Researcher is a cybersecurity professional who specializes in identifying, analyzing, and reporting security vulnerabilities in software, hardware, and network systems from a remote location. Their work often involves reverse engineering, penetration testing, and staying current with emerging threats. These researchers help organizations strengthen their defenses by discovering flaws before malicious actors can exploit them. Many work for security firms, bug bounty programs, or as independent consultants. The remote aspect allows them to collaborate with global teams or clients without being onsite.
More about Remote Vulnerability Research jobs
What cities are hiring for Remote Vulnerability Research jobs? Cities with the most Remote Vulnerability Research job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Vulnerability Research jobs? The most popular types of Vulnerability Research jobs are:
What states have the most Remote Vulnerability Research jobs? States with the most job openings for Remote Vulnerability Research jobs include:
Infographic showing various Remote Vulnerability Research job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $106,012 per year, or $51 per hour.
Vulnerability Researcher

Vulnerability Researcher

The Pennsylvania State University

Campus, IL • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago


Job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
  • CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

We are searching for a self-motivated Vulnerability Researcher to join our Cyberspace Operations Research Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. ARL/Penn State's purpose is to develop innovative solutions to challenging national problems in support of the Navy, DoD, and Intel communities engineering and technology needs. The Cyberspace Operations Research Department provides technical expertise in adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to support system evaluation and provide security hardening support to various sponsors.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You will:

  • Research cutting edge techniques and technologies for system exploitation

  • Leverage expertise in reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and software development to address established needs and investigate solutions to emerging requirements

  • Apply software engineering best practices to create proof-of-concept tools and configure test environments to perform demonstrations to sponsors and partners

  • Assist the Cyberspace Operations Research Department Head in maintaining relationships with sponsors through on-site technical discussions, preparation and presentation of technical materials, and project-related correspondence

  • Provide process enhancement for technical functionality evaluation, vulnerability analyses, cyberspace operations engineering, and penetration testing projects

  • Apply project management principles and methods to the leadership of tasks or projects

  • Provide guidance to lower-level engineers to foster professional growth

Additional responsibilities for higher level position includes:

  • Understand broad strategic objectives and contribute to them; nurture and maintain relationships with major customers/grantors of external research and development grant funding

  • Identify grant/project follow-on work and persuade customers/grantors to fund; impact customer decisions and strategies

  • Initiate new project concepts and seek funding; develop technical proposals and make presentations to customers/grant sponsors

  • Mentor department staff in the development technical, project, and business development skills

Required skills/experience areas include:

  • Documented application of reverse engineering and vulnerability testing tools (e.g. Ghidra/IDA, Kali Linux, Angr/AFL++, QEMU/Unicorn, etc)

  • Reverse engineering, vulnerability research, malware analysis, and/or CNO tool development

  • Computer networking fundamentals, Windows and *NIX operating systems, X86(64) and ARM or MIPS architectures

  • Cyber operations architecture and software engineering practices

  • Software programming, programming languages, and development environments (to include at a minimum C, Java, or Python)

  • Ability to express technical information clearly and concisely in documents and presentations for senior leaders to successfully comprehend and leverage for decision making

  • Active government security clearance at TS/SCI level with eligibility for special accesses

Preferred skills/experience areas include:

  • Cybersecurity exploit development and test environment configuration

  • Cybersecurity penetration testing / cybersecurity Red Team testing / white hat hacking

  • Military cyberspace operations or computer network operations

  • Demonstrated history of successful project initiation efforts

  • Agile software development methodology and tools

  • Atlassian products (e.g., JIRA, Confluence)


Your working location will be fully on-site located in Reston, VA, but options exist for occasional hybrid of on-site/work from home based on project-dependent ability. This position will require periodic travel to remote locations in support of testing as part of a small team of researchers, engineers, and technologists.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Senior Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 14+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 5+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Intermediate Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 2+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None

ARL at Penn State is an integral part of one of the leading research universities in the nation and serves as a University center of excellence in defense science, systems, and technologies with a focus in naval missions and related areas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site at www.arl.psu.edu.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.All positions at ARL require candidates topossess the ability to obtain a government security clearance; you will be notified during the interview process if this position is subject to a government background investigation. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $86,300.00 - $191,000.00.**THE PROPOSED SALARY RANGE MAY BE IMPACTED BY GEOGRAPHIC DIFFERENTIAL**

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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About Pennsylvania State University

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Pennsylvania State University, often referred to as Penn State, is a major, public, research-intensive university located in University Park, PA, US. This esteemed institution serves as an important player within the education industry, offering a plethora of academic programs across various disciplines. The university was founded in 1855 with the mission to provide quality education, advanced research, and service to society. Penn State holds firmly to values of integrity, respect, and excellence, fostering a diverse and inclusive community. The university is renowned for its research productivity and its high-ranking programs in areas like engineering, business, and education. One notable achievement of the institution is its designation as a "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity," demonstrating its commitment to scholarship and discovery.

Industry

Education

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

University Park, PA, US

Year founded

1855

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