AI Security Researcher

Are you a cybersecurity and/or AI researcher who enjoys a challenge? Are you excited about pioneering new research areas that will impact academia, industry, and national security? If so, we want you for our team, where you’ll collaborate to deliver high‑quality results in the emerging area of AI security. The CERT Division of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is seeking applicants for the AI Security Researcher role.

Originally created in response to one of the first computer viruses – the Morris worm – in 1988, CERT has remained a leader in cybersecurity research, improving the robustness of software systems, and in responding to sophisticated cybersecurity threats. Ensuring the robustness and security of AI systems is the next big challenge on the horizon, and we are seeking life‑long learners in the fields of cybersecurity, AI/ML, or related areas, who are willing to cross‑train to address AI Security.

As part of the Threat Analysis Directorate, you will join a group of security experts focused on advancing the state of the art in AI security at a national and global scale.

• Develop state of the art approaches for analyzing robustness of AI systems.
• Apply these approaches to understanding vulnerabilities in AI systems and how attackers adapt their tradecraft to exploit those vulnerabilities.
• Reverse engineer malicious code in support of high‑impact customers, design and develop new analysis methods and tools, and identify and address emerging and complex threats to AI systems.
• Study the AI security and vulnerability disclosure ecosystems and evaluate the effectiveness of tools, techniques and processes developed by industry and the AI security research community.
• Uncover and shape some of the fundamental assumptions underlying current best practice in AI security.
• Develop thought models, tools and data sets that can be used to characterize the threats to, and vulnerabilities in, AI systems, publish those results, and use them to aid in the testing, evaluation and transition of technologies developed by government‑funded research programs.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI to improve existing cybersecurity research.
• Travel to various locations to support the SEI’s overall mission (within SEI, CMU, sponsor sites, conferences, and off‑site meetings on occasion, approximately 5%).
• Be subject to a background check and maintain a Department of War security clearance.

• BS in machine learning, cybersecurity, statistics, or related discipline with eight years of experience; OR MS with five years; OR PhD with two years.
• Deep interest in AI/ML and cybersecurity with intellectual curiosity and desire to make an impact beyond your organization.
• Practical experience applying cybersecurity knowledge to vulnerability research, analysis, disclosure, or mitigation.
• Experience advising on a range of security topics based on research and expert opinion.
• Familiarity with implementing and applying AI/ML techniques to practical problems.
• Knowledge or familiarity with common AI/ML software packages and tools such as Numpy, Pytorch, Tensorflow, ART.
• Knowledge or familiarity with reverse engineering tools such as Ghidra, IDA Pro.
• Experience with Python, C/C++, or low‑level programming.
• Experience developing frameworks, methodologies, or assessments to evaluate effectiveness and robustness of technologies.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, particularly regarding technical communications with non‑experts.
• Enjoy mentoring and cross‑training others and sharing knowledge within the broader community.
• Strong technical proficiency in either AI/ML or cybersecurity and demonstrated intellectual agility and commitment for accelerated learning within the role.

Work with cutting‑edge technologies and dedicated experts to solve tough problems for government and the nation, surrounded by friendly and knowledgeable staff across AI/ML, cybersecurity, software engineering, risk management and policy creation. Receive an 8% monthly contribution for your retirement, tuition benefits for you and your dependant children, a healthy work/life balance with flexible work arrangements and paid parental and military leave, annual professional development opportunities, and relocation assistance.

Location:

Pittsburgh, PA.

CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran. Statement of Assurance:
Always focused on the future, the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) advances software as a strategic advantage for national security. We lead research and direct transition of software engineering, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence technologies at the intersection of academia, industry, and government. We serve the nation as a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and are based at Carnegie Mellon University.