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Senior Vulnerability Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Vulnerability Researcher

Annapolis Junction, MD ยท On-site

$99K - $206K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Vulnerability Researcher: Use advanced systems to find zero-day (O-day) vulnerabilities. Responsible for analyzing, designing, and identifying programmatic behaviors. Have an opportunity to develop ...

Senior Vulnerability Researcher

Annapolis, MD ยท On-site

$99K - $206K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Vulnerability Researcher: Use advanced systems to find zero-day (O-day) vulnerabilities. Responsible for analyzing, designing, and identifying programmatic behaviors. Have an opportunity to develop ...

Senior Vulnerability Researcher

Annapolis, MD ยท On-site

$99K - $206K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Vulnerability Researcher: Use advanced systems to find zero-day (O-day) vulnerabilities. Responsible for analyzing, designing, and identifying programmatic behaviors. Have an opportunity to develop ...

Senior Vulnerability Researcher

Dulles, VA

$99K - $206K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Vulnerability Researcher: Use advanced systems to find zero-day (O-day) vulnerabilities. Responsible for analyzing, designing, and identifying programmatic behaviors. Have an opportunity to develop ...

Senior Vulnerability Researcher

Annapolis, MD ยท On-site

$99K - $206K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Vulnerability Researcher: Use advanced systems to find zero-day (O-day) vulnerabilities. Responsible for analyzing, designing, and identifying programmatic behaviors. Have an opportunity to develop ...

Showing results 41-60

Senior Vulnerability Researcher information

See salary details

$28.5K

$76.6K

$137.5K

How much do senior vulnerability researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior vulnerability researcher in the United States is $76,607.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,000.00 and $98,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior vulnerability researcher do?

A Senior Vulnerability Researcher is responsible for identifying, analyzing, and reporting security vulnerabilities in software, hardware, or network systems. They use advanced techniques to discover potential security flaws that could be exploited by attackers. Their work involves reverse engineering, penetration testing, and developing proof-of-concept exploits to demonstrate risks. Additionally, they often collaborate with development teams to recommend mitigation strategies and help improve overall security posture.

What are some common challenges faced by senior vulnerability researchers when working on complex systems?

Senior Vulnerability Researchers often encounter challenges such as reverse engineering proprietary software, analyzing obfuscated code, and dealing with a lack of documentation for complex systems. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as software developers and security analysts, is essential to understand system intricacies and coordinate responsible disclosure. Staying updated with the latest attack techniques and adapting to rapidly evolving technology landscapes are also key aspects of the role.

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

To thrive as a Senior Vulnerability Researcher, you need deep expertise in cybersecurity, reverse engineering, exploit development, and a strong background in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like IDA Pro, Ghidra, debuggers, and proficiency in programming languages such as C, Python, and assembly are essential, along with relevant certifications like OSCP or CEH. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are critical soft skills for collaborating with teams and presenting complex findings. These competencies are vital for identifying and mitigating security risks, ensuring robust protection of digital assets, and driving advancements in security research.

What is the difference between Senior Vulnerability Researcher vs Security Analyst?

AspectSenior Vulnerability ResearcherSecurity Analyst
Required CredentialsCertifications like OSCP, CISSP, CEH; strong technical backgroundCertifications like Security+, CISSP; focus on monitoring and analysis
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, cybersecurity firms, R&D teamsSecurity operations centers, corporate IT departments
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, cybersecurity firms, government agenciesFinancial institutions, healthcare, enterprise organizations
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding advanced vulnerability research rolesComparing security roles in cybersecurity teams

While both roles focus on cybersecurity, a Senior Vulnerability Researcher specializes in identifying and analyzing security flaws through research and testing, often working in labs or R&D environments. In contrast, a Security Analyst monitors security systems, responds to incidents, and maintains overall security posture within organizations. The roles complement each other but differ in focus and daily responsibilities.

More about Senior Vulnerability Researcher jobs

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Infographic showing various Senior Vulnerability Researcher job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 7% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $76,607 per year, or $36.8 per hour.

Senior Vulnerability Researcher/Reverse Engineer

Nightwing

San Antonio, TX โ€ข On-site

$94K - $129K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services. The Senior Vulnerability Researcher/Reverse Engineer will cover the full life cycle from emulation, reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and tool development for various operating systems.
Responsibilities:
โ€ข perform as a team member on activities involved with research, reverse engineering, development, testing, maintenance, and modification of complex classified and unclassified software applications.
Qualifications:
Required:
โ€ข TS/SCI Clearance Required
โ€ข Typically requires a Bachelorโ€™s in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM preferred) and a minimum of 3-5 years of prior engineering experience or equivalent experience unless prohibited by local laws/regulations
โ€ข Vulnerability research experience of public targets
โ€ข Reverse engineering utilizing any of IDA/Ghidra/BinaryNinja
โ€ข Utilizing full system emulation for research and analysis
โ€ข Experience with assembly language (x86/64, ARM, PPC, Mips, etc.)
โ€ข All candidates must be US citizens and be able to obtain and maintain a government security clearance
Preferred:
โ€ข C/C++/Python
โ€ข Capture the Flag (CTF) experience
โ€ข Fuzzer development
โ€ข Understanding of network protocols (TCP/IP stacks, wire-level protocols, RF communications, BGP, routing protocols, or others)
โ€ข Linux or other OS reversing
โ€ข May have practical knowledge of project management
Company:
Nightwing provides cyber, data operations, systems integration, and intelligence services for government and commercial customers. Founded in 2024, the company is headquartered in Sterling, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.