Principal Security Researcher
About The Position
i3 is building a security research team focused on rapid triage, reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and proof-of-concept exploit development. The Principal Security Researcher will serve as a hands-on technical lead, conducting complex investigations while establishing the team’s research practices, tooling, and quality standards. Practical experience with LLMs and associated agent harnesses is required; the role will integrate these tools into the research process and establish methods for testing and verifying their outputs. The position leads investigations from initial triage through root-cause analysis, exploitability assessment, PoC development, and reporting; reverse engineers unfamiliar software and systems; prioritizes research; reviews findings and deliverables; improves LLM-assisted workflows; and mentors researchers. The pay range is $142,000–$222,000. An active Top Secret/SCI clearance and U.S. citizenship are required. i3 is a technically diverse, 100% team member-owned business headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. It specializes in missile and aviation systems engineering and logistics, electronic warfare, UAS integration and flight operations, C5ISR engineering, cybersecurity and IT/IA solutions, and virtual training, simulation, and serious game development and implementation. Its customers include DoD military services, the Missile Defense Agency, NASA, other government organizations, and private industry.
Requirements
- At least 7 years in security research, reverse engineering, exploit development, or closely related work, including substantial direct vulnerability research.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field; additional years of experience may substitute for the degree.
- A record of independently completing complex investigations and producing reliable proof-of-concept exploits.
- Experience leading technical projects, reviewing research, or mentoring other researchers.
- Hands-on familiarity with LLMs and agent harnesses, including their limitations and methods for validating results.
- Strong programming, debugging, and technical writing skills.
- Judgment to communicate what is confirmed, what remains uncertain, and what deserves further investigation.
- Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.
- U.S. citizenship.
Nice To Haves
- Experience building research teams, extending agent harnesses, or developing fuzzing and analysis infrastructure.
Responsibilities
- Lead investigations from initial triage through root-cause analysis, exploitability assessment, proof-of-concept development, and reporting.
- Reverse engineer unfamiliar software and systems to identify vulnerabilities and understand their impact.
- Prioritize research, manage technical uncertainty, and help the team balance rapid assessments with deeper investigations.
- Review findings, exploits, and reports for technical accuracy, reproducibility, and clarity.
- Develop and improve LLM-assisted research workflows, including tool integration and evaluation.
- Mentor researchers and establish reusable tooling, documentation, and research standards.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
