Sr. Principal Reverse Engineering/Vulnerability Research Engineer

Clarity Innovations is a trusted national security partner, dedicated to safeguarding our nation’s interests and delivering innovative solutions that empower the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) to transform data into actionable intelligence, ensuring mission success in an evolving world.

Our mission-first software and data engineering platform modernizes data operations, utilizing advanced workflows, CI/CD, and secure DevSecOps practices. We focus on challenges in Information Warfare, Cyber Operations, Operational Security, and Data Structuring, enabling end-to-end solutions that drive operational impact.

We are committed to delivering cutting-edge tools and capabilities that address the most complex national security challenges, empowering our partners to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensuring the success of their critical missions. At Clarity, we are people-focused and set on being a destination employer for top talent, offering an environment where innovation thrives, careers grow, and individuals are valued. Join us as we continue to lead innovation and tackle the most pressing challenges in national security.

Principal Security Researcher - IC4

Discipline: Reverse Engineering / Vulnerability Research

Location: Rome, NY

Clearance: Secret with the ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI

Company Overview

Clarity Innovations equips customers with the technology, expertise, and support needed to conduct successful cyber operations. We bring together talented engineers, researchers, and operators to solve some of the U.S. Government’s most challenging technical problems. Our teams combine technical excellence, creativity, and collaboration to deliver capabilities that advance customer missions.

Role

Clarity Innovations is seeking a Senior Principal Security Researcher to provide advanced technical leadership for complex vulnerability research and reverse engineering efforts. You will remain hands-on while guiding investigations through ambiguous technical problems and delivering capabilities that support customer-authorized objectives.

You will lead research efforts with a major impact on the research function and departmental results. In addition to delivering technical findings, you will improve research methods, systems, and practices; influence stakeholders within and outside the immediate team; and coach other professionals. This is an individual contributor role with technical leadership responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex research efforts from strategy and feasibility assessment through execution, validation, and delivery; establish technical priorities and success criteria.
• Resolve difficult research problems through advanced static and dynamic analysis across relevant systems, architectures, and operating environments.
• Guide vulnerability discovery, root-cause analysis, exploit development, and mitigation bypass for authorized customer requirements.
• Evaluate exploit reliability and research evidence, resolve conflicting findings, and establish appropriate technical review and validation practices.
• Improve processes, systems, and work methods across the research function to increase quality, repeatability, and effectiveness.
• Guide development of reusable tooling, automation, and research infrastructure that support broader team needs.
• Influence stakeholders within and outside the research team on research practices, technical procedures, and proposed policy improvements.
• Lead technical coordination for small to medium-sized research teams, manage technical dependencies, and communicate tradeoffs, risks, and recommendations.
• Coach and train other professionals, review technical work, and communicate findings to customers and partners; share research externally when authorized.

Minimum Qualifications

• 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, and a minimum of 7 years of prior relevant experience.
• Advanced knowledge of vulnerability research and reverse engineering, with demonstrated ownership of complex investigations and technically sound research outcomes.
• 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.
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP, routing, switching, and common network protocols, with experience using packet capture and analysis tools such as Wireshark or tcpdump to troubleshoot connectivity and investigate network-based vulnerabilities.
• 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.
• Experience developing reliable exploits, applying techniques such as arbitrary read/write primitives and return- or jump-oriented programming, and evaluating modern mitigations.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, including improving research processes, systems, or methods beyond an individual assignment.
• Experience influencing stakeholders within and outside the immediate team, explaining technical tradeoffs, and providing guidance, coaching, or training to other professionals.
• Experience participating in capture-the-flag competitions, hackathons, or other cybersecurity competitions.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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 leading technical reviews and research teams, establishing shared research practices, and guiding customer discussions on research priorities.

Pay Range

The posted pay range reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position and is provided to give candidates a general understanding of the compensation opportunity. The actual salary offered will be determined based on the requirements of the position and a variety of job-related factors, which may include geographic location, applicable Federal Government contract labor categories and wage rates, relevant experience, skills and competencies, education, certifications, and the scope and responsibilities of the role.

Because this position may be performed in multiple locations and may be subject to different contract requirements, the salary ultimately offered may vary based on the applicable location and contract. The posted range is not a guarantee of a specific starting salary or an indication that an offer will be made at any particular point within the range.

Total Rewards

In addition to competitive base pay, Clarity provides a Total Rewards package designed to attract and retain exceptional professionals committed to excellence. Our benefits reflect the value we place on skilled individuals who drive our impact in critical digital missions.

At Clarity, a career means joining a high-performing team advancing vital work in the digital landscape. We encourage you to consider the total value of joining us-competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and resources that support your growth and impact.

Our Total Rewards package includes performance-based bonuses, extensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan with company match, substantial paid time off and holidays, flexible work arrangements where possible, and a range of income protection benefits. We are committed to supporting your well-being, professional growth, and ability to contribute to essential digital missions.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.