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Salaried Exploit Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

STR

Senior Reverse Engineer

San Diego, CA

$134K - $184K/yr

Performing vulnerability weaponization, exploit development, payload development, and exploit ... Information Full-Time Salary Range: $134,000 - $184,000 The salary range listed is based on ...

Socket.dev

Software Developer - iOS - Senior

Columbia, MD · On-site

$258 - $262/hr

Competitive salary * Dental insurance * Flexible schedule * Health insurance * Paid time off ... Experience with embedded development * Experience with vulnerability research (e.g., exploit ...

New

STR

Software Reverse Engineer

Arlington, VA

$112K - $154K/yr

Performing vulnerability weaponization, exploit development, payload development, and exploit ... Information Full-Time Salary Range: $112,000 - $154,000 The salary range listed is based on ...

STR

Senior Reverse Engineer

Woburn, MA · On-site

$134K - $184K/yr

Performing vulnerability weaponization, exploit development, payload development, and exploit ... Information Full-Time Salary Range: $134,000 - $184,000 The salary range listed is based on ...

STR

Senior Reverse Engineer

Arlington, VA

$134K - $184K/yr

Performing vulnerability weaponization, exploit development, payload development, and exploit ... Information Full-Time Salary Range: $134,000 - $184,000 The salary range listed is based on ...

Redhorse Corporation

CNO Developer

Herndon, VA

$125K - $300K/yr

Apply expertise in vulnerability research, reverse engineering, and exploit development to guide ... In addition to base salary, eligible employees may participate in Redhorse's comprehensive benefits ...

Socket.dev

Software Developer - Android

Columbia, MD · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Competitive salary * Dental insurance * Flexible schedule * Health insurance * Paid time off ... Experience with vulnerability research (e.g., exploit development, fuzzing, or security analysis of ...

New

Redhorse Corporation

CNO Developer

Herndon, VA

$125K - $300K/yr

Apply expertise in vulnerability research, reverse engineering, and exploit development to guide ... The salary range provided for this position represents the anticipated base salary for successful ...

Redhorse Corporation

CNO Developer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$129K - $177K/yr

Apply expertise in vulnerability research, reverse engineering, and exploit development to guide ... The salary range provided for this position represents the anticipated base salary for successful ...

Redhorse Corporation

CNO Developer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$125K - $300K/yr

Apply expertise in vulnerability research, reverse engineering, and exploit development to guide ... In addition to base salary, eligible employees may participate in Redhorse's comprehensive benefits ...

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Salaried Exploit Development information

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How much do salaried exploit development jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for salaried exploit development in the United States is $17.04, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $19.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a salaried exploit developer?

A Salaried Exploit Developer is a cybersecurity professional who is employed by an organization to research, identify, and develop software exploits—ways to take advantage of vulnerabilities in computer systems or applications. Unlike freelance or independent security researchers, salaried exploit developers work as part of a security team, often within penetration testing firms, defense contractors, or tech companies. Their work can involve both offensive (discovering vulnerabilities to test defenses) and defensive (helping to patch or mitigate vulnerabilities) tasks. These roles require strong programming skills, a deep understanding of operating systems, and knowledge of security protocols. Salaried Exploit Developers may also be involved in responsible disclosure of vulnerabilities to affected vendors.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a salaried exploit developer?

To thrive as a Salaried Exploit Developer, you need deep expertise in computer science, reverse engineering, vulnerability analysis, and low-level programming, often backed by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with tools like IDA Pro, Ghidra, debuggers, and operating system internals is crucial, and certifications such as OSCP or OSCE can be advantageous. Creativity, persistence, and strong problem-solving abilities are standout soft skills in this role. These qualifications are essential for identifying, developing, and responsibly handling software exploits in a secure and ethical manner.

What are some typical challenges encountered by professionals in salaried exploit development roles?

Professionals in salaried exploit development roles often face challenges such as staying current with rapidly evolving security technologies and patch cycles. They must continuously research new vulnerabilities and develop creative solutions to bypass updated security mechanisms, which can be highly demanding. Collaborating closely with security analysts and other developers is essential to ensure responsible disclosure and risk management. Additionally, balancing project deadlines with the need for meticulous testing and documentation can be a significant challenge in this field.

What is the difference between Salaried Exploit Development vs Penetration Tester?

AspectSalaried Exploit DevelopmentPenetration Tester
CredentialsSecurity certifications, programming skillsSecurity certifications, testing experience
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, security firms, internal teamsClient sites, corporate environments, consulting firms
Industry UsageCybersecurity, offensive securityCybersecurity, vulnerability assessment

Salaried Exploit Developers focus on creating and testing exploits for security research or defensive purposes, often working in labs or R&D settings. Penetration Testers simulate attacks to identify vulnerabilities in client systems. While both roles require security knowledge and technical skills, Exploit Developers primarily develop exploits, whereas Penetration Testers perform assessments and reporting. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and employer expectations in cybersecurity.

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Salaried Exploit Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Salaried Exploit Development job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $35,436 per year, or $17 per hour.

Senior Reverse Engineer

STR

San Diego, CA

$134K - $184K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago

Job description

STR is hiring aSenior Reverse Engineerwho has a passion for research and analysis of vulnerabilities in cyber physical systems. Work must be performed onsite. 

What you'll do: 

  • Reverse engineering complex software or firmware targets, ranging from typical Windows/Linux binaries to embedded firmware running non-traditional computer architectures and operating systems
  • Developing and applying automated reverse engineering and binary analysis tools to characterize protocols, interfaces, and functionality of target systems
  • Working in multi-discipline teams to develop innovative offensive cyber solutions to challenging problems from a wide variety of technologies 
  • Performing vulnerability weaponization, exploit development, payload development, and exploit mitigation on a variety of challenging targets 
  • Documenting, demonstrating, and presenting research 
  • Solving real world problems that have an impact on national security

Who you are: 

  • This position requires the ability to obtain anActive Top Secret (TS) security clearance, for which U.S. citizenship is needed by the U.S. Government 
  • Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity or related field plus a minimum of 5 years relevant experience 
    (MS or PhD with equivalent work experience may also be considered) 
  • Experience with binary analysis of software/firmware 
  • Experience with disassembly tools, such as IDA Pro, Binary Ninja, or Ghidra 
  • Proficiency in one or more programming languages: C/C++, Python, etc. 
  • Proficiency in one or more Assembly Languages: x86, ARM, etc. 
  • General understanding of reverse engineering fundamentals: memory layout, calling conventions, etc. 

Nice to haves: 

  • Vulnerability research and analysis
  • Knowledge of weaponizing discovered vulnerabilities into exploits 
  • Implant or software patch development 
  • Familiarity with binary emulation or vulnerability research, including tools such as QEMU or AFL++ 
  • Experience with DSP architectures, such as Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, NXP, or Analog Devices. 
  • Knowledge of operating system internals including memory/process/thread management 
  • Embedded systems or firmware analysis 
  • Experience development custom emulation tools to enable dynamic analysis 
  • Disassembler/decompiler module development 
  • Experience analyzing and reconstructing code/data flow 
  • Automated reverse engineering or software analysis tool development 
  • Experience debugging software without source code 
  • Knowledge of binary file structures and formats 
  • Experience analyzing protocols or message structures 
  • Knowledge of anti-reverse engineering techniques 
  • Knowledge of intrusion detection and anti-malware systems and techniques

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $134,000 - $184,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

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