Principal Cyber Researcher

Principal Cyber Researcher - c £100k package

Location:

Gloucester (Hybrid Working) Security Clearance:
Must be eligible and willing to obtain SC and enhanced DV Clearance (eDV)
- * Sole UK national with 10 years UK residency Are you a highly technical cyber specialist looking to work on some of the UK's most challenging and innovative research programmes? We're partnering with a leading organisation at the forefront of cyber innovation, seeking a Principal Cyber Researcher to join their growing Cyber Research Group (CRG). This is an exceptional opportunity to drive pioneering research, develop novel cyber capabilities, and influence the future direction of cutting-edge cyber technologies.

As a Principal Cyber Researcher, you'll combine hands-on technical research with strategic leadership, helping shape research initiatives, guide technical teams, and support the growth of the wider business.

The Role You'll be responsible for conducting advanced research and development across a range of cyber disciplines, investigating emerging threats, discovering vulnerabilities, and developing innovative solutions to complex technical challenges. Working alongside multidisciplinary experts, you'll design and build rapid prototypes, lead technical investigations, and contribute to the strategic direction of the Cyber Research Group.

Key Responsibilities Conduct advanced research in areas including vulnerability discovery, reverse engineering, embedded systems, and cyber capability development. Design, develop, and evaluate rapid prototypes to prove and validate new concepts. Analyse network protocols, system architectures, and software behaviours to identify vulnerabilities and security weaknesses. Collaborate with engineers, researchers, and stakeholders to deliver high-quality research outcomes. Produce clear technical documentation, reports, and recommendations for customers and internal teams.

Lead small research teams, managing project delivery, progress reporting, and customer engagement. Contribute to the strategic planning and operational management of the Cyber Research Group. Support business development activities through proposal writing, technical input, and customer presentations. Essential Skills & Experience Strong software development skills in C, C++ and/or Python . Excellent knowledge of Linux-based operating systems , including command-line tooling and system configuration.

Solid understanding of networking fundamentals and protocols including TCP/IP, UDP, DNS, HTTP, and ICMP . Strong analytical mindset with proven problem-solving and investigative skills. Experience developing rapid prototypes using technologies such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and virtualised environments . Proven ability to manage research projects from concept through to successful delivery. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to varied audiences.

Desirable Experience Experience in any of the following areas would be highly beneficial:
Hardware prototyping, PCB design, and microcontroller development. Penetration testing, red teaming, or offensive security tooling. Reverse engineering using Ghidra, IDA Pro, or Binary Ninja . Vulnerability research, exploit development, and mitigation bypass techniques. Embedded software development on ARM, AVR, PowerPC, or MIPS platforms. Radio Frequency (RF) technologies and Software Defined Radio (SDR) systems. Experience working with 2G, 4G, or 5G technologies and tools such as GNU Radio, Osmocom, srsRAN, or USRP .

Network engineering experience gained through professional environments or advanced home lab projects. What's on Offer? Opportunity to work on genuinely cutting-edge cyber research programmes. Exposure to a broad range of cyber disciplines and emerging technologies. A collaborative environment with some of the industry's leading cyber specialists. Hybrid working arrangement based from Gloucester. Long-term career development and leadership opportunities. The chance to make a real impact on nationally significant cyber capabilities.

If you're passionate about cyber research, thrive on solving complex technical problems, and want to help shape the future of cyber security innovation, we'd love to hear from you. Benefits:
Competitive salary with annual bonuses eDV bonus once achieving eDV level clearance Excellent pension and benefits Work on highly impactful, secure programmes Strong career development and progression opportunities Collaborative, engineering led environment