Job Description
Research Scientist - Systems Software Security
Location
US-OH-Beavercreek
ID
2025-3859
Category
Research & Development
Position Type
Full Time Salary
Riverside Overview
Riverside Research is an independent National Security Nonprofit dedicated to research and development in the national interest. We provide high-end technical services, research and development, and prototype solutions to some of the country's most challenging technical problems.
All Riverside Research opportunities require U.S. Citizenship
Position Overview
The Secure and Resilient Systems group seeks a research scientist to support research and development of cutting-edge low-level systems software security technologies. The research scientist will support a team that invents, prototypes, and evaluates new security approaches throughout the systems software stack.
Some topics of interest to a good candidate may include: systems software (e.g., operating systems including RTOS, hypervisors), computer architecture (e.g., tagged architectures), peripheral hardware (e.g., custom device drivers, FPGA hardware, bus protocols), compilers (e.g., frontends, IR & optimization, backends) and/or program analysis (e.g., fuzzer implementation, automated static analysis).
Secure and Resilient Systems research scientists need a strong background in computer science fundamentals (e.g., algorithms, data structures, program languages), experience with software development practices for large projects (e.g., version control, debugging techniques), an understanding of the system software stack and the software/hardware interface (e.g., at least one ISA, assembly code), and propensity for the research process (e.g., breaking big problems down, designing experiments, analyzing data).
If you have taken computer architecture, operating systems, and/or compilers courses, you should apply for this position. If you have written a device driver, a scheduling algorithm, or a compiler optimization pass, you definitely should apply for this position. If you know why seL4 is more secure when run in a single core configuration, why the Rust compiler uses LLVM instead of GCC, or why malware writers love the CPUID instruction, then you need to apply for this position!
Responsibilities
Help the group design innovative solutions to customer problems related to systems software
Prototype and evaluate features within large software projects like Linux, Xen or LLVM
Build new tools and/or capabilities in a range of relevant programming languages
Contribute to whitepapers and/or published papers that document innovative work preformed
Document and communicate design decisions, technical challenges, and progress to technical program leadership
Collaborate with team members on debugging programs, pair programming, reviewing papers/proposals, etc.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree, preferred in related technical field, such as computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or cybersecurity
Experience with low-level software including C and assembly code
Software development fundamentals for working inside a large project (e.g., submitting PRs, git branches/merges/rebasing, build systems, etc)
Communication and creative skills to develop, prototype, benchmark, and document significant security features integrated into existing systems security technologies
Fluency in various programming languages, and strong background in programing languages, algorithms, and data structures fundamentals
Must be eligible to obtain a Top Secret security clearance.
Desired Qualifications:
2+ years experience with masters or advanced degree in Computer Science or related field
Strong grasp on the research process (e.g., reading & writing academic papers, ideation for inventing solutions to hard problems)
Ability to operate independently with limited supervision and feedback, and establish a solid working relationship with peers in the group and across Riverside Research
Self-starter and ability to manage time and technical tasks independently without direct supervision
Superior written and verbal communications skills
Familiarity with seL4, LLVM, Rust or other cutting-edge system software languages and tools
Global Comp
This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors.
Closing Statement
Riverside Research Institute is a not-for-profit, technology-oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees.
Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job-related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not-for-profit company, and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran's status or any other status legally protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.
Riverside Research is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local law.
