Systems Security Researcher

Location

US-MA-Lexington

ID

2026-4197

Riverside Research is an independent National Security Nonprofit dedicated to research and development in the national interest. We provide high-end technical services, research and development, and prototype solutions to some of the country’s most challenging technical problems.
All Riverside Research opportunities require U.S. Citizenship.

Riverside Research’s Secure and Resilient Systems group seeks a computer scientist with a focus on systems security research.

The researcher will contribute to applied research projects from cradle to grave including: ideation (e.g., system architecture, technical proposal writing), planning (e.g., designing new methods and approaches), execution (e.g., prototyping, experimentation) and transition (e.g., publishing and/or briefing results).

Research problems tackled in this position may involve systems software (e.g., real time operating systems (RTOS), secure hypervisors), computer architecture (e.g., tagged architectures), peripheral hardware (e.g., custom device drivers, FPGA hardware, bus protocols), compiler extensions (e.g., LLVM passes, custom backends) and/or program analysis (e.g., fuzzer implementation, symbolic execution). Awareness of peripheral domains such as cryptography, formal methods and reverse engineering will enable better collaboration across the Secure and Resilient Systems group.

Successful candidates for this role will have the deep technical and big-picture skills necessary to both decompose big problems and communicate effectively with both technical and less-technical stakeholders and contributors. If you can see a forest made of weeds, if you know how to eat an elephant (hint: one bite at a time), or if you can explain virtual memory to your grandmother… you may have the right skills to join Riverside Research’s Secure and Resilient Systems group.

Help design and implement innovative solutions to customer problems related to systems software security
• Prototype and evaluate features within large system software projects (e.g., Linux, Xen, QEMU, etc.)
• Build new tools features, and/or capabilities in languages like C/C++, Python, Rust, Assembly, etc.
• Contribute to whitepapers and/or published papers that document innovative work performed.
• Document and communicate design decisions, technical challenges, and progress to technical and less-technical internal and external stakeholders
• Collaborate with team members on debugging programs, pair programming, reviewing papers/proposals, etc.

Required:

• Thesis-based MS degree with 3+ years experience or PhD degree. Equivalent work experience in systems research may substitute. Degree is preferred in related technical field, such as computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or cybersecurity.
• Strong systems software development fundamentals, including proficiency with C/C++, Assembly (1 or more architecture), and Python. Knowledge of principles in computer architecture, operating systems, and compilers.
• Strong software development fundamentals such as source code version control, documentation, debugging, toolchains, build systems, etc
• Experience working inside a large project (e.g., submitting PRs, interacting with open-source communities and mailing lists, git branches/merges/rebasing, tiered build systems, etc)
• Strong grasp on the research process (e.g., reading & writing academic papers, ideation for inventing solutions to hard problems)
• Superior written and verbal communications skills
• Must have a secret clearance and be eligible to obtain a Top Secret security clearance.

Bonus/Desired:

• Healthy balance between technical orientation and business acumen
• Ability to operate independently with limited supervision and feedback, and establish a solid working relationship with technical staff and business leaders in the group and across Riverside Research
• Experience with both defensive and offensive cyber tools
• Familiarity with seL4, Rust, LLVM, AFL++, or other cutting-edge system software languages and tools
• Existing/prior security clearance

$120,000- $165,000 This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors.

Riverside Research Institute is a not-for-profit, technology-oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees.
Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job-related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not-for-profit company, and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran’s status or any other status legally protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.