Windows Kernel & Vulnerability Research Engineer

Chantilly, Virginia

Windows Kernel & Vulnerability Research Engineer
Chantilly, VA
TS/SCI to start

Key Responsibilities

Conduct in-depth research into Windows internals, including system architecture, memory management, drivers, processes, and kernel-mode operations.
Perform reverse engineering of Windows binaries, drivers, and firmware using industry-standard tools.
Identify, analyze, and document zero-day vulnerabilities and security weaknesses across kernel and user-mode components.
Develop proof-of-concept (PoC) code to demonstrate impact and exploitability of discovered vulnerabilities.
Collaborate with engineering teams to design mitigations, security patches, and hardening strategies.
Analyze exploit techniques, malware samples, and emerging threat vectors affecting Windows platforms.
Contribute to internal knowledge bases, tooling, and automation that streamline research workflows.

Required Qualifications

Strong understanding of Windows operating system internals, including kernel architecture, drivers, APIs, memory layout, and subsystem behavior.
Proficiency in C/C++, with experience writing or analyzing kernel-mode code and Windows drivers.
Expertise in reverse engineering tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra, WinDbg, x64dbg, or Binary Ninja.
Solid grasp of assembly language (x86/x64) and low-level debugging.
Experience conducting vulnerability research or exploit development in Windows environments.
Familiarity with common exploit mitigation techniques (ASLR, DEP, CFG, SMEP/SMAP, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience discovering and responsibly disclosing security vulnerabilities.
Knowledge of kernel exploitation techniques, sandbox escapes, or privilege escalation attacks.
Understanding of malware analysis, rootkits, or advanced persistent threats.
Contributions to open-source security tools or research publications.
Experience with scripting languages (Python, PowerShell) for automation.

Who You Are