External Title Senior Research Scientist - Cyber Network Security

Peraton Labs is seeking a poly cleared Senior Research Scientist to support cleared research and development efforts for a Maryland-based customer. This role will focus on the research, design, development, and demonstration of advanced network security prototypes across classified and unclassified environments.

This position is ideal for a hands‑on researcher or senior engineer who can combine software development, networking, automation, virtualization, and cyber systems knowledge to rapidly build mission‑focused prototypes. Within this role you will work in a dynamic R&D environment, collaborate directly with government leadership and technical stakeholders, and help shape next‑generation research efforts in cyber network defense, secure networking, experimentation platforms, and emerging network technologies.

This position requires full-time on‑site work at a customer site near College Park, MD.

Key responsibilities may include

• Research, design, develop, and demonstrate network security prototypes for government research customers
• Develop software, scripts, tools, documentation, and test environments to demonstrate new cyber and networking capabilities
• Build prototypes involving high‑speed networks, wireless networks, cloud infrastructure, containers, virtualized environments, and network function virtualization
• Design and integrate large‑scale experimentation environments using technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, Helm, Ansible, Open Stack, Vagrant, or similar tools
• Support research involving network protocols, traffic analysis, network monitoring, data collection, cyber defense, secure‑by‑design networking, and cyber operations
• Apply software development skills in languages such as Python, Go, Java, C/C++, or similar
• Work with government leadership and technical stakeholders to shape research direction, explain technical approaches, and identify new prototype opportunities
• Collaborate with government, Peraton Labs, and contractor teams to integrate research prototypes into larger experimentation platforms
• Analyze, troubleshoot, and refine prototypes in fast‑moving R&D environments
• Document technical designs, prototype capabilities, test results, and research findings for customer briefings and technical reports

* This position may be eligible for an increased sign‑on bonus. Eligibility, bonus amount, and applicable terms and conditions will be discussed during the recruiting process*

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Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 12+ years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 10+ years of experience with a Master’s degree, or 8+ years of experience with a PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field. In lieu of a Bachelors, an additional 4 years of experience is required for a total of 16+ years relevant experience.
• Strong hands‑on experience in software development, network security research, cyber systems engineering, or advanced network prototyping
• Programming experience in one or more languages such as Python, Go, Java, C/C++, or similar
• Experience with Linux‑based development
• Understanding of network protocols, network devices, routing, switching, firewalls, packet analysis, and network troubleshooting
• Experience with virtualization, containers, or cloud‑native infrastructure such as Docker, Kubernetes, Vagrant, Open Stack or similar tools
• Experience with automation or configuration management tools such as Ansible, Helm, Puppet, Terraform, or similar
• Ability to rapidly learn new technologies, prototype solutions, redirect research as needed, and apply new technical concepts to mission problems
• Ability to clearly document and communicate technical concepts, research outcomes, and…