Overview
Investigates emerging cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and defense mechanisms. Often involves deep technical analysis, experimentation, and publishing findings to advance the field.
Responsibilities
- Investigate new security threats
- vulnerabilities
- and technologies
- develop proof-of-concept exploits or defensive techniques
- publish research findings (papers, blog posts, conference talks)
- contribute to open-source projects
- analyze malware or attack campaigns
Required Skills
- Deep technical skills in a specific area (malware analysis, vulnerability research, network protocols, cryptography, etc
- )
- programming/scripting
- analytical thinking
- creativity
- strong writing and presentation skills
Salary Expectations
$90,000 - $160,000+ USD (Can be higher with notable publications/expertise)
Relevant Certifications
No specific certifications listed for this role yet.
Common Career Pathway
Requires deep technical expertise, often built from roles like Penetration Tester, Malware Analyst, or Incident Responder, combined with a passion for exploration and discovery. Academia is also a common path.
Learning Roadmap
Deep technical specialization -> Develop research methodology -> Practice writing/presenting -> Contribute to community (blogs, talks, code) -> Potentially advanced degree.