Principal Offensive Cyber Research Engineer

Twenty is seeking a world-class Principal Offensive Cyber Research Engineer for an in-office position in its Arlington, VA office to serve as the preeminent technical authority and strategic leader for our offensive cyber capabilities. We're looking for someone with 8-12 years of distinguished expertise in offensive cyber operations, advanced research, and software development, combined with exceptional leadership experience shaping technical strategy, leading large-scale initiatives, and influencing organizational direction.

In this role, you'll define the long-term technical vision for our offensive cyber research program, drive breakthrough innovations in adversary emulation and attack automation, establish company-wide standards for offensive tooling, and serve as the principal technical advisor to executive leadership and government customers on offensive cyber matters. You'll leverage your extensive operational pedigree—ideally including senior leadership roles in government/military Digital Network Exploitation Analysis (DNEA), Exploitation Analyst (EA) operations, or elite red team operations—to shape not just our technical capabilities but our strategic approach to defending democracies in the cyber domain.

At Twenty, we’re taking on one of the most critical challenges of our time: defending democracies in the digital age. We develop revolutionary technologies that operate at the intersection of cyber and electromagnetic domains, where the speed and complexity of operations exceeds human cognition. Our team doesn’t just solve problems – we deliver game‑changing outcomes that directly improve national security. We’re pragmatic optimists who understand that while our mission of defending America and its allies is challenging, we can succeed.

• Define and drive the long-term technical vision and roadmap for Twenty’s offensive cyber research and capabilities

• Serve as the principal technical advisor to executive leadership on offensive cyber strategy, capability development, and technical risk

• Lead strategic planning for offensive cyber programs, including resource allocation, technology investments, and partnership opportunities

• Represent Twenty as a technical authority in customer engagements, industry conferences, and government forums

• Influence company-wide technical decisions and architecture to ensure alignment with offensive cyber requirements

• Lead groundbreaking research into advanced adversary techniques, nation-state capabilities, and next‑generation offensive cyber technologies

• Drive innovation in AI/ML‑powered attack automation, autonomous adversary emulation, and machine‑speed offensive operations

• Identify and pursue transformative research opportunities that position Twenty at the forefront of offensive cyber capabilities

• Establish research partnerships with government laboratories, academic institutions, and industry leaders

• Publish research findings in peer‑reviewed venues and contribute thought leadership to the cyber security community

• Serve as the ultimate technical authority on offensive cyber operations, adversary TTPs, and red team methodologies across the organization

• Establish company‑wide technical standards, frameworks, and best practices for offensive cyber tool development

• Lead architecture review boards and provide authoritative guidance on complex technical decisions

• Drive the evolution of Twenty’s offensive cyber technology stack to maintain technical superiority

• Ensure technical excellence across all offensive cyber capabilities and maintain alignment with operational requirements

• Lead and mentor the offensive cyber research team, including Staff and Senior engineers, establishing technical development plans and career growth paths

• Foster a culture of technical excellence, continuous learning, and innovation within the offensive cyber organization

• Conduct comprehensive technical reviews and provide expert guidance on complex research initiatives

• Recruit, interview, and assess top‑tier offensive cyber talent to build…