Security Research Engineer

Cisco

Security Research Engineer evaluating and securing Cisco’s global products against vulnerabilities. Collaborating with engineering teams and researching independent security topics.

Posted 5/3/2026full-timeRTP • North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $101,500 - $144,500 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Cyber SecurityUnix

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Evaluate global products and services to identify security vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and potential improvements to ensure the integrity of Cisco’s infrastructure.
Adopt an attacker mentality using specialized tools and techniques to emulate real-world adversaries and proactively secure our systems.
Partner with industry-leading engineering teams to assess complex architectures and contribute to creative security solutions that protect our customers.
Research emerging security topics independently or collaboratively to develop new tools and ideas that drive the evolution of our security posture.
Achieve success by delivering highly secured solutions that meet the rigorous demands of our most critical global clients.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Master’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field (with security research or project-based experience) or a Bachelor’s degree with 2+ years of professional security experience.
2+ years of experience in secure coding/development, code analysis for vulnerabilities, or software testing.
Experience with operating system concepts, including memory management or binary analysis.
2 years of demonstrated experience in building, maintaining, and supporting technical tooling.
Experience with AI/ML frameworks and research tooling.
Experience in at least two of the following: Unix system hardening, applied cryptography, network protocol analysis, or DevOps security.
Possession of industry-recognized certifications such as OSCP.
Strong ability to work collaboratively within a diverse, high-energy research team.
Consistent record of innovative problem-solving and independent research.
Excellent communication skills for multi-functional engagement with engineering teams.
Adaptability to work with emerging technologies and evolving security landscapes.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental and vision insurance
401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution
Paid parental leave
Short and long-term disability coverage
Basic life insurance
10 paid holidays per full calendar year
1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
1 paid day off for employee’s birthday
Paid year-end holiday shutdown
4 paid days off for personal wellness
16 days of paid vacation time accrued at a rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time non-exempt employees
Flexible vacation time off program for exempt employees
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
Up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

secure codingcode analysissoftware testingoperating system conceptsmemory managementbinary analysistechnical toolingAI frameworksML frameworksUnix system hardening

Soft Skills

collaborationproblem-solvingindependent researchcommunicationadaptability

Certifications

OSCP