Cleared Embedded Cyber 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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