New

Staff Research Engineer - C/C++, Assembly, Reverse Eng.

US - Remote - California - Bay Area, US - Remote - Massachusetts , US - Headquarters - Maryland - Columbia

Who is Tenable?

Tenable® is the Exposure Management company. 44,000 organizations around the globe rely on Tenable to understand and reduce cyber risk. Our global employees support 65 percent of the Fortune 500, 45 percent of the Global 2000, and large government agencies. Come be part of our journey!

What makes Tenable such a great place to work?

Ask a member of our team and they’ll answer, “Our people!” We work together to build and innovate best-in-class cybersecurity solutions for our customers; all while creating a culture of belonging, respect, and excellence where we can be our best selves. When you’re part of our #OneTenable team, you can expect to partner with some of the most talented and passionate people in the industry, and have the support and resources you need to do work that truly matters. We deliver results that exceed expectations and we win together!

Your Role:
Tenable is looking for a Staff Research Engineer to join our security research team. This position will involve leading the research of disclosed vulnerabilities, looking for new vulnerabilities, developing advanced checks/plugins to detect these vulnerabilities via our products and leading cross-team collaborative strategic initiatives across Tenable. The role would involve significant interfacing with stakeholders within and outside of Tenable while being highly technical in nature.
Your Opportunity:

  • Leads complex research and development initiatives across Tenable and the industry
  • Expertly implements advanced detection logic while minimizing false positives & false negatives and considering the economics of each alternative
  • Leads/drives detection logic discussions and the research of new methods for detection thereby creating long term intellectual property for Tenable
  • Interfaces with internal and external stakeholders on externalizing the outcomes of the research
  • Participates in architecture & engine/sensor roadmap/planning discussion
  • Mentors team members and helps other researchers & engineers when needed

​What You'll Need:

  • Ability to work independently as a researcher as well as part of a team, leading the effort on most projects while also being an active member of the team on other initiatives
  • Keep abreast with the advancements and developments in the security industry and perform original research to keep our customers secure
  • Develop advanced detection scripts for Tenable’s sensors (Nessus vulnerability scanner and others) based on the research findings
  • Research and develop methods of detection for additional services and products from different vendors
  • Demonstrably strong programming and scripting skills in three or more languages
  • Significant experience in showcasing original research externally  – via blogs, whitepapers, conference presentations, PR interviews, etc.
  • Ability to work independently as a researcher as well as part of a larger team.
  • Is an expert in at least 3 platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux, HP-UX, etc.) and has consistently showcased diversity of research in 4 or more software types (host, network, cloud, OT, IoT, mobile, etc.)
  • Is recognized by peers as someone with stellar communication skills
  • Adaptable and able to shift priorities among initiatives, as needed
  • Obsessed with quality & accuracy
  • Strong team player
  • Ability to take calculated risks when dealing with limited requirements
  • Initiative and drive to explore and learn continually
  • Significant experience working with enterprise customers
  • Degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent work experience
  • At least 10 years of R&D experience
  • In depth understanding of common security vulnerabilities, CVSS scoring, vulnerability classification, detection, and exploitation techniques.
  • In-depth protocol analysis and interaction. Expert level knowledge of common protocols such as HTTP, DNS, SSH, SMB, etc. and fuzzing
  • Prior experience leading and performing open-ended security research when given high-level requirements and details of the desired outcome
  • Experience with pen-testing, researching, discovering, or publishing vulnerabilities
  • Solid reverse engineering experience including binary analysis, packet capture analysis, and firmware analysis (using binwalk). Prior experience with debuggers, disassemblers or decompilers (e.g. IDA Pro, Immunity Debugger, gdb)
  • Prior experience working with external vendors on coordinated vulnerability disclosures, creating security advisories, etc. 
  • Experience with C or C++, Assembly (x86/x64 and/or ARM/ARM64), and scripting languages
  • One or more security related certifications (e.g. OSCP)
  • Experience with systems administration and be comfortable working at the command line 

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-LP1

This is the base pay range for this position. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including the candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, location and experience, and may fall outside of the range shown. Employees are also eligible for variable compensation in addition to base pay (commission for sales roles, bonus for non-sales roles), depending on company and individual performance. Tenable also offers a variety of comprehensive and competitive benefits which include: medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance; 401(k) retirement savings with company match; an employee stock purchase plan; an employee referral program; flexible spending accounts; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); education assistance; parental leave; paid time off (PTO); company-paid holidays; health and wellness events; and community programs.

US Pay Ranges

$129,000 - $171,666.67 USD

We’re committed to promoting Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) at Tenable - through all equal employment opportunity laws and regulations at the international, federal, state and local levels.  If you need a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please contact Recruiting@Tenable.com for further assistance.

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