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Senior Security Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Microsoft

Senior Security Researchers

Redmond, WA · On-site

$160K - $261K/yr

Responsibilities As a Senior Security Researcher, you will: * Research emerging attack vectors and techniques. * Analyze detection and prevention gaps and understand root cause. * Design and develop ...

IRIS Consulting LLC

Sr. Security Analyst

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$92K - $120K/yr

... research, evaluate, design, test, recommend, and plan implementation of new or improved information security technology. • Train information owners in the implementation of necessary computer ...

Qualys

Senior Security Engineer, AI/ML

Foster City, CA · On-site

$133K - $183K/yr

This is a senior, dual-mandate role for an engineer who is equally comfortable orchestrating multi ... Conduct in-depth research on security vulnerabilities in LLMs and AI systems, including prompt ...

Genesis10

Sr. Security Analyst

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$92K - $120K/yr

Genesis10 is currently seeking a Sr. Security Analyst Consultant with our client in the ... in Research, evaluate, design, test, recommend, and plan implementation of new or improved ...

Mach7 Technologies

Senior Security Engineer

Burlington, VT · On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

Senior Security Engineer Team: Engineering Location: Remote-Friendly About the Role: We're looking ... tooling or security research • Relevant certifications: OSCP, CSSLP, GWEB, or similar We ...

Qualys

Senior Security Engineer, AI/ML

Foster City, CA · On-site

$130K - $179K/yr

This is a senior, dual-mandate role for an engineer who is equally comfortable orchestrating multi ... Conduct in-depth research on security vulnerabilities in LLMs and AI systems, including prompt ...

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How much do senior security researcher jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior security researcher in the United States is $51.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49.76 and $53.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior Security Researchers when working with cross-functional teams?

Senior Security Researchers often collaborate with engineers, product managers, and IT teams to identify and address security vulnerabilities. One common challenge is bridging the gap between technical security findings and the priorities or understanding of non-security stakeholders. Communicating complex risks in a clear, actionable way and advocating for security improvements without disrupting project timelines requires strong interpersonal skills. Building mutual trust and staying adaptable helps foster effective collaboration and ensures security is integrated into all stages of development.

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

To thrive as a Senior Security Researcher, you need deep expertise in cybersecurity principles, threat analysis, vulnerability assessment, and typically a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with tools like IDA Pro, Wireshark, Metasploit, and experience with programming languages such as Python or C/C++, as well as relevant certifications like OSCP or CISSP, are highly valuable. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and strong written and verbal communication skills make someone stand out in this role. These skills are crucial for identifying and mitigating complex security threats, effectively sharing findings, and contributing to organizational resilience.

What does a Senior Security Researcher do?

A Senior Security Researcher is responsible for identifying, analyzing, and mitigating security threats and vulnerabilities in software, systems, or networks. They conduct advanced research on emerging cyber threats, develop new security tools and techniques, and often collaborate with other teams to improve an organization’s overall security posture. Additionally, they may publish findings, present at conferences, and contribute to the security community by sharing knowledge about the latest attack vectors and defense strategies.
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Senior Security Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Security Researcher job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 89% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,000 per year, or $51.4 per hour.
Senior Vulnerability Researcher (Cyber262)

Senior Vulnerability Researcher (Cyber262)

Research Innovations

Saint Petersburg, FL • On-site

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Position Title: Senior Security Researcher
Location: St. Petersburg, FL \u007C Melbourne, FL \u007C San Antonio, TX
Clearance Requirement: Top Secret/SCI
Employment type: Full Time
Research Innovations Inc. (RII) is redefining defense technology. We combine mission-driven impact with cutting-edge research and a culture that values autonomy, creativity, and technical excellence.
 
We are seeking security researchers to independently explore and exploit complex systems, from kernels to embedded platforms, to solve the unsolvable. This role combines deep technical problem-solving with real-world impact on defense and homeland security systems. Get s#it done.
 
This position requires an Active US Top Secret security clearance, and the ability to upgrade to TS/SCI Special Access Program access
WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

  • Leading advanced vulnerability research efforts across operating systems, kernels, firmware, hypervisors, embedded platforms, and complex application stacks.

  • Independently scoping ambiguous or underexplored attack surfaces and driving research from initial hypothesis through validated findings.

  • Performing deep reverse engineering and in-memory analysis of compiled binaries across multiple architectures (x86/x64, ARM, PowerPC, etc.).

  • Designing and executing novel exploitation techniques and mitigation evaluations, including identifying real-world weaknesses in modern defense mechanisms.

  • Analyzing undocumented or partially documented system behavior and extending internal interfaces or tooling to support research goals.

  • Collaborating with other senior researchers to shape technical direction, review complex work, and raise the overall quality of research output.

  • Translating low-level technical findings into clear, actionable insights for internal stakeholders and, when appropriate, customers.

  • Contributing to research culture through mentorship, knowledge sharing, and improvements to tools, methodologies, and workflows.

WHAT YOU HAVE DONE

  • Conducted high-impact vulnerability research on real-world systems with minimal guidance, producing findings that influenced security decisions or mitigations.

  • Demonstrated deep understanding of operating system internals (Windows, Linux, macOS), kernel subsystems, and low-level execution models.

  • Reverse engineered complex binaries, firmware, or kernel components and reasoned about their behavior in memory.

  • Developed proof-of-concept exploits or mitigation bypasses that go beyond simple crashes and demonstrate meaningful impact.

  • Shown strong intuition for exploit mitigations such as ASLR, DEP/NX, stack canaries, CFI, and where their assumptions break down.

  • Written research tooling, scripts, or frameworks (e.g., Python, C/C++) to support analysis, exploitation, or automation.

  • Collaborated closely with other researchers, provided technical feedback, and influenced how work is approached or evaluated.

  • Communicated complex technical concepts clearly in writing and discussion, including with other experts.

EVEN BETTER

  • Experience with hypervisors, virtualization stacks, firmware boot chains, or trusted execution environments.

  • Background in embedded systems, RTOS environments, or mobile platforms (iOS/Android).

  • Familiarity with networking or wireless stacks (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular) and their security models.

  • Contributions to the vulnerability research community (publications, talks, open source).

  • Experience with symbolic execution, constraint solving, fuzzing frameworks, or advanced program analysis techniques.

  • Malware analysis experience, including deobfuscation, behavioral analysis, or adversarial tooling.

  • Interest in shaping long-term research direction, mentoring other researchers, or acting as a technical authority without moving into management.

REFERRALS
Know someone who would make a great Senior Vulnerability Researcher? Refer them at www.researchinnovations.com/external-referrals!
At RII, we believe that diversity in our workforce is critical to our success. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes us stronger. We work to help your intellectual passions and creativity thrive. It’s one of our core values: Let your geek flag fly.
 
We also offer all employees comprehensive benefits including: flexible work schedules, health insurance coverage, paid time off, 401k with a company match, paid parental leave, access to wellness programs and much more. You get this all from day one, and all paid for by RII. It’s all part of another of our core values: Stay human. It’s why our comfortable and colorful offices such as our headquarters, include a community game room, pantry, massage chair, and an escape room, among other amenities. It’s why we have community ambassadors and regular community events.
 
Research Innovations, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetics, disability status, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal or local law.
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We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.