Cleared Cyber Security Manager (Vulnerability Research)

One of our clients, a fast-growing startup in the defense space focused on OT maintenance prediction and compliance, is seeking a Cyber Security Manager to join their vulnerability research team!

Location: Rosslyn, VA – Hybrid (3-4 days onsite)

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Mentorship: Manage and mentor a team of vulnerability researchers; oversee multiple projects and foster a culture of innovation and technical excellence.

• Hands-On Research: Conduct vulnerability analysis and reverse engineering of embedded systems (firmware, RTOS, hardware), OT protocols, and RF communications.

• Capability Development: Build proof-of-concept exploits and cyber capabilities to support product and defense use cases.

• Tool Development: Design and prototype custom tools to streamline research and accelerate capability development.

• Collaboration: Partner with cross-functional teams to integrate research findings into products and operational solutions.

• Technical Communication: Translate complex research into actionable insights for technical and executive audiences.

Required Qualifications:

• Active Top Secret Clearance (US Citizenship required)

• 8+ years of hands-on vulnerability research targeting embedded systems

• 1-2+ years in technical leadership or team management

• Expertise in reverse engineering tools (IDA Pro, Ghidra, Binary Ninja) and fuzzing frameworks (AFL, LibFuzzer)

• Strong coding skills in C/C++ and Python

• Deep knowledge of embedded architectures (PPC, ARM, MIPS), OS internals, and hardware interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C)

• Familiarity with wireless communication systems and protocols

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Experience:

• Research on serial bus protocols (CAN bus, MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429)

• Vulnerability research in RF systems (ADS-B, ACARS, Link16, etc.)

• Background working with military or transportation platforms
  
  
  
  
  
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