Senior Cybersecurity Researcher

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability.

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Senior Cybersecurity Researcher to lead efforts to develop techniques and tools for red teaming and blue teaming in support of the defense of critical infrastructure systems and Federal networks. You will lead and support a range of highly complex security research projects, developing and deploying innovative methods to characterize and assess cyber-adversary behavior and to develop tools used to defend critical U.S. infrastructure and networks.

Your expertise will drive the evolution of advanced cyber capabilities, threat analysis, and mitigation strategies for operational technology and industrial control systems. This position is programmatically in Global Security's Energy and Homeland Security (E) Program and administratively in the Global Security Computing Applications Division (GS-CAD) within the Computing Directorate.

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

You will

• Guide and support advanced cyber research projects leveraging creative and automated methods to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities and weaknesses in software, firmware, and operational technology systems.
• Analyze and assess novel software, firmware, and malware to uncover weaknesses, malicious behavior, and potential attack vectors, creating repeatable workflows to support future red team and blue team engagements.
• Conduct in-depth assessments of OT/ICS networks to identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities that could lead to physical system impacts.
• Participate in the design and implementation of new tools and techniques for vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and/or adversary emulation to advance the understanding and mitigation of threats to operational technology.
• Identify emerging threats and opportunities for enhancing cyber defense and red team capabilities, helping shape the technical direction of LLNL's cybersecurity initiatives.
• Collaborate in the development of technical requirements for red team and/or blue team operations at LLNL, including creating tools for adversary emulation and threat mitigation.
• Engage with sponsors and stakeholders to develop new program growth opportunities, contribute to research proposals, and ensure alignment with mission objectives.
• Drive and execute innovative ideas and approaches to meet sponsor and project needs in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
• Mentor and collaborate with team members, utilizing technical expertise to attract and retain projects, programs, and funding.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.
4 level

• Direct technical tasks for a portfolio of highly complex technical tasks and projects that consistently require the application of creativity and innovation; set broad research/project vision and strategy and influence technical direction for Laboratory, self and/or others wielding extensive influence with senior management and policy makers.
• Provide highly innovative solutions to abstract complex problems/ideas, convert into useable algorithms/software modules, and provide solutions that require in-depth analysis of multiple factors and the creative use of established methods.
• Develop new ideas, modify approaches, and redefine requirements that significantly impact major Laboratory programs, set high-level goals, and contribute to the revolutionary advancement of knowledge.

Qualifications

• Ability to maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor's degree with significant focus in cybersecurity, computer science, information technology, computer engineering, or related technical field or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Significant experience leading program analysis of cyber-physical system security, OT network design and security, or intelligent adversary threat assessment and mitigation.
• Advanced experience in one or more of the following areas: mixed-integer programming, branch-bound-and-cut algorithms, branch-and-price algorithms, strong (polynomial- or exponential-sized) formulations and separation, parallel/distributed mathematical optimization techniques, electric energy systems operations and planning, or related relevant areas.
• Significant experience communicating technical…