AI Research Scientist Jobs in Sunnyvale, CA

As a global leader in cybersecurity, CrowdStrike protects the people, processes and technologies that drive modern organizations. Since 2011, our mission hasn’t changed — we’re here to stop breaches, and we’ve redefined modern security with the world’s most advanced AI-native platform. We work on large scale distributed systems, processing almost 3 trillion events per day and this traffic is growing daily. Our customers span all industries, and they count on CrowdStrike to keep their businesses running, their communities safe and their lives moving forward. We’re also a mission-driven company. We cultivate a culture that gives every CrowdStriker both the flexibility and autonomy to own their careers. We’re always looking to add talented CrowdStrikers to the team who have limitless passion, a relentless focus on innovation and a fanatical commitment to our customers, our community and each other. Ready to join a mission that matters? The future of cybersecurity starts with you.

About the Role:

As an AI Threat Researcher, you will lead the charge in identifying, documenting, and mitigating emerging threats against Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI Agents. You will go beyond traditional prompt engineering to dissect the security of complex AI Workflows and Agentic Loops, uncovering how multi-step reasoning and tool-calling can be exploited by sophisticated adversaries.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is hybrid, requiring 2-3 days per week on-site at one of the posted locations.

What You'll Do:

• Vulnerability Research: Conduct deep-dive analysis into LLM architectures and agentic frameworks to identify potential security weaknesses, including risks associated with prompt injection and safety filter bypasses.

• Agentic Security Analysis: Evaluate the security boundaries in Agent-to-LLM and Agent-to-Application interactions, focusing on how autonomous loops and multi-step reasoning processes can be secured against manipulation.

• Security Assessment: Develop methodologies to test the robustness of RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipelines and third-party tool integrations, ensuring resilience against adversarial inputs.

• Framework Alignment: Map research findings and defensive strategies to industry standards, such as the MITRE ATLAS framework and the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications.

• Thought Leadership: Contribute to the security community by publishing whitepapers or presenting research on the safety and security challenges of AI agents at industry conferences.

What You'll Need:

• Core AI Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of transformer architectures, attention mechanisms, and the lifecycle of LLM development.

• Agentic Systems Expertise: Experience with AI orchestration frameworks and the security implications of autonomous decision-making and long-term memory in AI systems.

• Comprehensive understanding of LLM Prompts, MCP, A2A and various emerging AI protocols.

• Threat Landscapes: Knowledge of the evolving LLM risk landscape, specifically regarding insecure output handling, data integrity, and model robustness.

• Security Evaluation: Proficiency in Python and experience with AI security evaluation frameworks or custom red-teaming methodologies designed to improve system defenses.

Bonus Points:

• A record of academic publications or public research regarding AI/ML security and risk mitigation.

• Experience in AI red teaming or participating in security evaluation programs.

• Experience developing defensive layers, such as guardrail systems or monitoring solutions for agentic workflows.

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Benefits of Working at CrowdStrike:

• Market leader in compensation and equity awards

• Comprehensive physical and mental wellness programs

• Competitive vacation and holidays for recharge

• Paid parental and adoption leaves

• Professional development opportunities for all employees regardless of level or role

• Employee Networks, geographic neighborhood groups, and volunteer opportunities to build connections

• Vibrant office culture with world class amenities

• Great Place to Work Certified™ across the globe

CrowdStrike is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where everyone is valued for who they are and empowered to succeed. We support veterans and individuals with disabilities through our affirmative action program.

CrowdStrike is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy or pregnancy-related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status, veteran status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, or any other characteristic protected by law. We base all employment decisions-including recruitment, selection, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, promotions, transfers, lay-offs, return from lay-off, terminations and social/recreational programs-on valid job requirements.

If you need assistance accessing or reviewing the information on this website or need help submitting an application for employment or requesting an accommodation, please contact us at recruiting@crowdstrike.com for further assistance.

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Right to Work

CrowdStrike, Inc. is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. Placement within the pay range is dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications, job level, supervisory status, and location. The base salary range for this position for all U.S. candidates is $140,000 - $215,000 per year, with eligibility for bonuses, equity grants and a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, 401k and paid time off.

For detailed information about the U.S. benefits package, please click here.