Principal Security Researcher

Summary

Join Censys as a Principal Security Researcher and lead technical advancements in identifying and tracking adversary infrastructure. You will conduct end-to-end research, collaborate with product and engineering teams, and represent Censys at conferences. This role demands expertise in internet infrastructure, malware reverse engineering, and threat intelligence. You will mentor researchers and contribute to building a world-class research team. The position is remote, offering a competitive salary, bonus eligibility, and equity. Censys values diversity and inclusion.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in cybersecurity research, threat intelligence, or related fields
• 3+ years of experience in a senior or principal-level research role with demonstrated technical leadership
• Expert-level knowledge of Internet infrastructure, protocols, and scanning technologies
• Proven experience in reverse engineering malware and analyzing adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)
• Demonstrated ability to lead research projects from conception to completion
• Demonstrated experience tracking infrastructure of advanced threat actors and groups
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for both technical and executive audiences
• Experience writing Snort, Yara, Sigma, Yara-L, Splunk, and other detection rules or direct experience with network protocol and malware analysis

Responsibilities

• Conduct hands-on end-to-end research from ideation to publication and presentation, with an emphasis on tracking adversary infrastructure
• Work with Product and Engineering to define technical priorities and the future of the Censys Internet Map
• Build prototypes and help transfer Internet measurement and analysis techniques from research phase to production
• Serve as a public face for Censys Research at research conferences (e.g., LABScon) and in private collaborations with trusted partners
• Track recent events within the security industry and global politics; monitor key developments across classified and OSINT sources
• Provide technical mentorship to researchers, help to set the bar for Censys Research output, and assist in building a world-class research team

Preferred Qualifications

• Track record of publishing high-quality security research in peer-reviewed venues or industry publications
• Experience presenting research findings at major security conferences (Black Hat, DEF CON, USENIX Security, etc.)
• Experience working with government agencies or holding security clearance
• Background in threat hunting, incident response, or SOC operations
• Knowledge of geopolitical events and their impact on cybersecurity landscape
• Experience with commercial threat intelligence platforms and feed

Benefits

• Our target salary range for this role is between $210,000 and $265,000 + bonus eligibility and equity
• Our roots are in Ann Arbor, Michigan but this position is located remotely with no expectations to come into an office