Principal Reverse Engineering/Vulnerability Research Engineer

Clarity Innovations•Charleston, SC

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Clarity Innovations is seeking a senior principal security researcher to independently conduct complex vulnerability research and reverse engineering within customer-authorized research activities. The role investigates system behavior, identifies weaknesses, and develops reproducible demonstrations of their impact. The researcher owns defined efforts from planning through delivery, chooses analysis methods, adapts as evidence develops, and contributes to research outcomes and departmental results. The position also involves collaboration, recommending improvements, and assisting junior researchers. The researcher will perform static and dynamic analysis, identify and document vulnerabilities, develop proof-of-concept exploits and operational exploit components for authorized customer requirements, and build reusable tooling and automation. The role communicates findings and recommendations to stakeholders, collaborates to resolve dependencies, participates in peer reviews, and provides guidance to less experienced researchers. The position is hybrid and requires a Secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI; U.S. citizenship is required. The salary range is $145,900–$248,000 USD. Clarity offers performance-based bonuses, medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan with company match, paid time off and holidays, flexible work arrangements where possible, and income protection benefits.

Requirements

Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent experience.
Minimum of 5 years of prior relevant experience.
Ability to independently conduct vulnerability research and reverse engineering, taking defined investigations from planning through documented results.
Experience using Ghidra, Binary Ninja, IDA, or comparable reverse-engineering and disassembly tools.
Strong knowledge of Linux fundamentals, including sockets, file descriptors, networking, iptables, file systems, and kernel behavior; ability to troubleshoot basic networking issues.
Ability to read and write C and analyze assembly for architectures such as ARM, MIPS, or x86-64.
Strong programming fundamentals, including networking, data structures, and data models.
Practical experience with exploitation techniques such as arbitrary read/write primitives, shellcode development, return-oriented programming, or jump-oriented programming.
Experience adjusting research methods or recommending tooling and process improvements to solve technical problems.
Ability to collaborate across technical boundaries, explain findings clearly, and provide guidance to less experienced contributors.
Experience participating in capture-the-flag competitions, hackathons, or other cybersecurity competitions.

Nice To Haves

Active Top Secret security clearance.
Experience reverse engineering operating systems and kernels.
Experience with AFL++ or libFuzzer and security mechanisms such as SELinux, seccomp, ASLR, and control-flow integrity.
Experience with GDB, gdbserver, compiler toolchains, and the Android Native Development Kit.
Experience using QEMU or Unicorn to emulate code in non-native environments.
Demonstrated experience discovering previously unknown vulnerabilities, including zero-days.
Experience coordinating a research workstream, reviewing peers’ findings, or mentoring junior researchers.

Responsibilities

Independently plan and execute assigned research efforts, define milestones, assess feasibility, and deliver results aligned with customer priorities.
Perform static and dynamic analysis using disassemblers, debuggers, emulators, tracers, and fuzzers.
Identify vulnerabilities, conduct root-cause analysis, and document reproducible findings and technical limitations.
Develop reliable proof-of-concept exploits and operational exploit components for authorized customer requirements, and evaluate and bypass relevant mitigations.
Adjust research tools and processes, and recommend enhancements that improve the effectiveness of the research team.
Build reusable tooling and automation to accelerate discovery, analysis, and validation.
Communicate progress, risks, findings, and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders; share results externally when authorized.
Collaborate within and occasionally outside the research team to resolve dependencies and build support for research approaches.
Provide guidance and assistance to junior researchers, participate in peer reviews, and coordinate technical tasks within assigned efforts.