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Researcher Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Penn State University

Vulnerability Researcher

Reston, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Research cutting edge techniques and technologies for system exploitation * Leverage expertise in reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and software development to address established needs ...

ICF

Transportation Researcher

Arlington, VA · Hybrid

Transportation Researcher Location: Arlington, Virginia ICF Office (Hybrid) Application Instructions: If not currently local to DMV, please include relocation date in cover letter and/or resume.

Redhorse Corporation

Vulnerability Researcher

Herndon, VA · On-site

$150K - $300K/yr

In this role, you will apply advanced vulnerability research (VR), reverse engineering (RE), and vulnerability exploitation (VE) skills to support a variety of defensive and offensive cyber ...

Redhorse Corporation

Vulnerability Researcher

Herndon, VA · On-site

$150K - $300K/yr

In this role, you will apply advanced vulnerability research (VR), reverse engineering (RE), and vulnerability exploitation (VE) skills to support a variety of defensive and offensive cyber ...

Nightwing

Technology Researcher

Arlington, VA · On-site

$99K - $206K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Nwis

Technology Researcher

Arlington, VA · On-site

$99K - $206K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Accenture Federal Services

UX Researcher

Arlington, VA · On-site

This role will set the tone for research across product design, communications, and customer success efforts. You'll work with designers, analysts, and service design practitioners to synthesize ...

Cmu

Network Security Researcher

Arlington, VA · On-site

As a network security researcher on the Network Situational Awareness team, you will research network threats to develop methods of detection and tailor these for partner environments. Transition of ...

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How much do researcher jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for researcher in Virginia is $24.37, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.73 and $30.39 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a researcher?

Researchers are professionals who systematically investigate topics to discover new information, validate existing knowledge, or solve problems. They work in various fields such as science, medicine, social sciences, and technology. Researchers design studies, collect and analyze data, and present their findings through reports, articles, or presentations. Their work is crucial for advancing knowledge and innovation in many industries.

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

To thrive as a Researcher, you need strong analytical skills, critical thinking, and a solid educational background relevant to the research field, often at least a master's or doctoral degree. Familiarity with data analysis software, laboratory equipment, academic databases, and research methodologies is typically required. Excellent written and verbal communication, curiosity, and collaboration are standout soft skills in this role. These skills ensure rigorous, innovative research outcomes and effective knowledge sharing within the scientific community.

What do researchers do?

The main duty of a researcher is to perform research, the type depending greatly on the field in which you work. For example, someone who works in documentary film might do archival research and look for visual material that would fit well with a particular film. A researcher in a scientific field, such as biomedical technology, may look into particular drug treatments and provide information to clinical trial designers or other academic researchers. Many professors or academics perform research as part of their scholarly duties.

What are some common challenges researchers face when working on collaborative projects, and how can they be addressed?

Researchers often encounter challenges such as coordinating across different disciplines, aligning project goals, and managing communication within collaborative teams. These issues can be addressed by establishing clear roles and responsibilities from the outset, holding regular meetings to ensure alignment, and using collaborative tools to track progress. Open communication and mutual respect among team members are essential for overcoming misunderstandings and fostering a productive research environment.

What is the difference between Researcher vs Data Analyst?

AspectResearcherData Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in relevant field; often advanced degrees for research rolesBachelor's or Master's in statistics, data science, or related fields
Work EnvironmentAcademic, laboratory, or research institutions; sometimes corporate R&DBusiness, finance, marketing, or healthcare settings; often office-based
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutes, government agenciesCorporations, consulting firms, government agencies
Common Search & ComparisonResearcher vs Data Analyst

The main difference between a Researcher and a Data Analyst lies in their focus and work environment. Researchers typically conduct experiments, develop theories, and work in academic or research settings, often requiring advanced degrees. Data Analysts analyze data to inform business decisions, usually working in corporate environments with a focus on data interpretation and reporting. While both roles require strong analytical skills, their daily tasks and industry applications differ significantly.

Do I need a PhD to be a researcher?

A PhD is not always required to be a researcher, as many roles accept candidates with a bachelor's or master's degree, especially if they have relevant skills and experience. However, for advanced research positions or academic roles, a PhD is often preferred or required. Skills in data analysis, critical thinking, and familiarity with research tools are also important for success in research roles.
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Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various 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, with an average salary of $50,696 per year, or $24.4 per hour.

Experienced Vulnerability Researcher

Breakpoint Research

Falls Church, VA • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

Breakpoint Research builds novel, mission-critical offensive cyber capabilities, to strengthen and advance democracy. We're hiring experienced vulnerability researchers to join our team, alongside some of the best in the industry.

What you’ll be doing

  • Vulnerability research across mobile, operating systems, firmware, and embedded systems.

  • Reliable exploit development that demonstrates real mission impact.

  • Low-level engineering for the hardest customer problems.

How we work

VRED is a tough game. We are relentlessly curious, unafraid to try new things, and we own our failures alongside our wins. We act with honesty, integrity, humility and kindness. The capabilities we've built came from a culture of deep collaboration, and we work hard to keep it that way.

About you

We're especially keen to hear from researchers who've taken work through to deployable products or capabilities, but it's not a requirement. You're comfortable working low-level (kernels, firmware, embedded systems, or similar), with strong reverse engineering skills alongside a fluent toolkit: C/C++, assembly (i.e. ARM/AArch64), fuzzing, static and dynamic analysis, exploit primitive development, modern mitigation bypass.

You take pride in the quality of your work and push yourself and others to make it better. You approach VR as a team sport — sharing what you know, asking when you don't, and picking teammates up when they get knocked down.

Much of the best work in this field can't be talked about publicly, and a track record without public artefacts is no obstacle for us. We are also open to candidates with non-traditional backgrounds.

Nice to have

  • Experience leading technical projects or mentoring researchers.

  • Depth in platforms relevant to our work: mobile (Android/iOS), browsers, hypervisors, embedded RTOS, kernel internals.

  • Public research, CVEs, or conference talks.

Where you'll work

Remote, globally. We consider applicants from any country and any background. The team works in English, so you'll need to be fluent. We have a particular interest in UK-based candidates; holding or being eligible for Developed Vetting is a positive but not a requirement.

What we offer

Salaries are benchmarked for each local market we hire from — whether UK, US, Australia, or elsewhere. Come to us with your expectations. On top of that:

  • 25 days annual leave plus your local public, bank, or federal holidays. We expect everyone to take it.

  • Bonus scheme — when the business does well, everyone shares in it.

  • Training and conference budgets — go to the cons that matter, wherever they're happening.

  • Employee assistance program giving you and your immediate family confidential access to counselling, mental health support, and financial and legal advice.

  • Regular get-togethers — seasonal parties, technical workshops, and an annual offsite that brings the whole team into one place.

Plus, depending on where you're based:

UK

  • Annual leave rises by 1 day per year up to 28 days

  • 6% matched pension

  • Private medical insurance

  • 4x death in service

  • Cycle-to-work scheme

USA

  • Matched 401(k) up to 4%

  • Healthcare, dental, and vision cover

Australia

  • Minimum 12% superannuation

For candidates elsewhere in the world, we'll put together a package matched to your local market.

Breakpoint Research is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We aim to respond to all candidates via email within a week of their application. Please note that emails may go to your spam or junk folder.