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Vulnerability Researcher Contractor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

GRVTY

Vulnerability & Exploitation Specialist

Annapolis, MD · On-site

$180K - $230K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Our team conducts Vulnerability Research and Reverse Engineering in a rapid prototyping, R&D ... Work on this program takes place in both customer and contractors SCIFs in the Annapolis Junction ...

G2IT

Vulnerability Scan Administrator

Millington, TN · On-site

... such as, Independent Research and Development (IR&D), and operating cybersecurity testing ... contracting environment.Active Secret Clearance (must be able to obtain and maintain). * Six or ...

G2IT

Vulnerability Scan Administrator

Millington, TN · On-site

... such as, Independent Research and Development (IR&D), and operating cybersecurity testing ... contracting environment.Active Secret Clearance (must be able to obtain and maintain). * Six or ...

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How much do vulnerability researcher contractor jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for vulnerability researcher contractor in the United States is $113,102.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,000.00 and $154,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a vulnerability researcher contractor do?

A Vulnerability Researcher Contractor is an information security professional who specializes in identifying, analyzing, and documenting security vulnerabilities in software, systems, or networks. They are often hired on a temporary or project basis to assess the security posture of an organization or specific products. Their responsibilities may include conducting penetration tests, reverse engineering software, developing proof-of-concept exploits, and providing recommendations for mitigating discovered vulnerabilities. Contractors in this role typically work independently or as part of a security team and may present their findings to stakeholders or assist in developing security patches.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a vulnerability researcher contractor?

To thrive as a Vulnerability Researcher Contractor, you need a deep understanding of computer systems, networking, programming languages (such as C/C++, Python), and a strong background in cybersecurity, often supported by relevant degrees or certifications like OSCP or CEH. Familiarity with vulnerability assessment tools (e.g., IDA Pro, Burp Suite, Metasploit), reverse engineering platforms, and bug tracking systems is typically required. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective written communication are vital soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the accurate identification, documentation, and mitigation of security vulnerabilities, which are crucial for protecting organizational assets.

What are the typical collaboration dynamics for a vulnerability researcher contractor within cybersecurity teams?

As a Vulnerability Researcher Contractor, you’ll often work closely with internal security teams, developers, and sometimes external clients to identify, analyze, and document security flaws. Despite being a contractor, you’ll participate in regular team meetings, share findings, and sometimes assist in developing proof-of-concept exploits or remediation guidance. The role requires strong communication skills, as you’ll need to clearly explain technical vulnerabilities to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Contract positions may also require rapid onboarding and adaptability to different workflows, making flexibility and proactive communication essential.

What is the difference between Vulnerability Researcher Contractor vs Penetration Tester?

AspectVulnerability Researcher ContractorPenetration Tester
CredentialsCertifications like OSCP, CEH, CISSP often preferredSimilar certifications, often including OSCP, CEH, GPEN
Work EnvironmentResearch-focused, analyzing vulnerabilities in systems and softwarePractical testing, simulating attacks to identify security gaps
Employer & Industry UsageConsulting firms, cybersecurity companies, freelance rolesSecurity firms, internal security teams, consulting roles
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding research vs active testing rolesDistinguishing between research and hands-on attack simulation

While both roles involve cybersecurity expertise, Vulnerability Researcher Contractors focus on discovering and analyzing vulnerabilities through research, whereas Penetration Testers actively simulate attacks to evaluate security defenses. Both roles often require similar certifications and work in related environments, but their core activities differ: research versus practical testing.

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Vulnerability Researcher Contractor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Vulnerability Researcher Contractor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 19% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,102 per year, or $54.4 per hour.

Vulnerability & Exploitation Specialist with Security Clearance

GRVTY

Annapolis, MD • On-site

Other

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

What You'll Be Owning: GRVTY is seeking a Vulnerability & Exploitation Specialist with a TS/SCI + Poly clearance (applicable to this customer) to join one of our top projects in Annapolis Junction, MD. We are looking for candidates who have discovered a 0-day vulnerabilities or a list of CVEs (public vulnerability disclosures) they discovered or contributed to. We are also looking for any specific work they've done exploiting vulnerabilities. What You Must Have: * Active TS/SCI with Polygraph Clearance * Skills/experience listed out in order of priority: * 0-day vulnerabilities or CVEs discovered and attributed to themselves * History performing vulnerability research * Experience with writing or using fuzzers - AFL, LibFuzzer, ClusterFuzz, oss-fuzz * Experience with code analysis tools - CodeQL, Joern, Semgrep * History of exploiting or productizing 0-day vulnerabilities * History of exploiting or productizing n-day vulnerabilities/CVEs/publicly disclosed vulnerabilities * History of reverse engineering malware or other code for CNE purposes * Experience with reverse engineering tools - Ghidra, Ida Pro, Binary Ninja Experience using debuggers - GDB or WinDbg * Experience writing, navigating, and building C/C++ code * Experience with tools like VsCode, Visual Studio, VIM/Emacs * Familiarity with ARM or MIPS architectures and Linux variants * We also use Python to write a lot of our tools, so that is good to see

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