H-1B Visa Security Researcher Jobs
Security Researcher roles qualify as H-1B specialty occupations under the computer occupations SOC codes, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or a closely related field. Employers in defense contracting, cloud infrastructure, and financial services are among the most active H-1B sponsors for this role.
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Get Access To All JobsThe application window is expected to close on: 05/11/2026. Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.
The successful applicant will be performing work on US Government classified environments, and therefore, must be a U.S. Person (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee). This position may also perform work that the U.S. government has specified can only be performed by a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil.
Meet the Team
Our security team is dynamic, hardworking, fun, and high-energy, but the work is done in a very casual environment that strongly encourages a work/life balance. Not only will you work alongside a team of skilled security researchers with a diverse spectrum of talents and experience levels, but you will also be interacting with a variety of engineering teams across Cisco. Cisco ASIG cultivates an environment where every individual's input and experience is valued. We prioritize training sessions and a mentor program surrounding you with the resources you will need to succeed.
The Advanced Security Initiatives Group (ASIG) serves as Cisco’s elite security research unit, dedicated to identifying vulnerabilities and hardening our global products against real-world threats. By adopting an attacker mentality, the team ensures that Cisco’s critical infrastructure remains resilient for global ISPs, Fortune 500 companies, and world governments. This dynamic, high-energy group is composed of skilled researchers with diverse technical backgrounds who thrive in a casual, supportive, and collaborative environment. What makes this team truly exciting is the unique opportunities to research security topics independently or collaboratively to explore and develop tools and ideas as part of our "Free Frida" innovation and incubation process.
Your 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.
Minimum Qualifications
- 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.
Preferred Qualifications
- 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.
Why Cisco?
At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.
Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.
We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.
Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:
The starting salary range posted for this position is $101,500.00 to $144,500.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.
Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.
U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.
U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:
- 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
- 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
- Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
- Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
- 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
- Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
- Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.
Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:
- .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;
- 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;
- 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and
- Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.
For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.
The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:
New York City Metro Area:
$123,600.00 - $200,100.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$109,900.00 - $181,600.00
- For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.
Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.
The application window is expected to close on: 05/11/2026. Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.
The successful applicant will be performing work on US Government classified environments, and therefore, must be a U.S. Person (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee). This position may also perform work that the U.S. government has specified can only be performed by a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil.
Meet the Team
Our security team is dynamic, hardworking, fun, and high-energy, but the work is done in a very casual environment that strongly encourages a work/life balance. Not only will you work alongside a team of skilled security researchers with a diverse spectrum of talents and experience levels, but you will also be interacting with a variety of engineering teams across Cisco. Cisco ASIG cultivates an environment where every individual's input and experience is valued. We prioritize training sessions and a mentor program surrounding you with the resources you will need to succeed.
The Advanced Security Initiatives Group (ASIG) serves as Cisco’s elite security research unit, dedicated to identifying vulnerabilities and hardening our global products against real-world threats. By adopting an attacker mentality, the team ensures that Cisco’s critical infrastructure remains resilient for global ISPs, Fortune 500 companies, and world governments. This dynamic, high-energy group is composed of skilled researchers with diverse technical backgrounds who thrive in a casual, supportive, and collaborative environment. What makes this team truly exciting is the unique opportunities to research security topics independently or collaboratively to explore and develop tools and ideas as part of our "Free Frida" innovation and incubation process.
Your 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.
Minimum Qualifications
- 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.
Preferred Qualifications
- 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.
Why Cisco?
At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.
Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.
We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.
Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:
The starting salary range posted for this position is $101,500.00 to $144,500.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.
Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.
U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.
U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:
- 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
- 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
- Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
- Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
- 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
- Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
- Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.
Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:
- .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;
- 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;
- 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and
- Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.
For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.
The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:
New York City Metro Area:
$123,600.00 - $200,100.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$109,900.00 - $181,600.00
- For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.
Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.
See all 90+ Security Researcher jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Security Researcher
Align your degree to SOC codes
Security Researcher positions file under SOC codes like 15-1212 (Information Security Analysts). Confirm your degree field maps directly to the role's O*NET classification before applying, a mismatch is the most common specialty occupation RFE trigger.
Target employers with security clearance programs
Defense contractors and federal IT vendors file H-1B petitions regularly for security researchers because cleared roles are hard to fill domestically. Employers already invested in clearance sponsorship are structurally more likely to sponsor H-1B status for the same roles.
Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Filter for Security Researcher roles on Migrate Mate to see employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history in this occupation. That filing history tells you the employer has already navigated DOL certification for this job category.
Request the prevailing wage tier before negotiating
Your employer must certify your wage against the DOL prevailing wage for your job title and location. Pull the OFLC Wage Search to see which Level applies to your seniority, Level I covers entry roles, Level IV covers senior researchers, before salary discussions begin.
Document your CVEs and published research early
USCIS adjudicators scrutinize specialty occupation claims for security researchers. Compile CVE credits, published vulnerability disclosures, conference presentations, and any bug bounty acknowledgments into your petition support file before the employer files the I-129.
Account for premium processing in your start date
Standard I-129 processing can run several months. If your offer letter sets a firm start date, ask your employer to file with premium processing through USCIS, which guarantees a decision within 15 business days and protects against a delayed transfer or new-hire onboarding gap.
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Find Security Researcher JobsSecurity Researcher H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Security Researcher role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. Security Researcher positions typically fall under computer occupations SOC codes and require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as computer science, cybersecurity, or information systems. The key is that your employer's job description must require a specific degree, not just accept any bachelor's degree. USCIS will scrutinize the degree-to-role connection, so the job posting language matters.
Which industries sponsor H-1B visas most often for Security Researchers?
Defense contractors, cloud infrastructure providers, financial services firms, and cybersecurity product companies are among the most consistent H-1B sponsors for Security Researcher roles. These sectors face persistent talent shortages in security specializations, which drives repeat LCA filings. You can identify employers with verified filing history in this occupation by searching Migrate Mate, which surfaces DOL LCA data by job category.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new Security Researcher role without restarting the process?
Yes, H-1B portability under AC21 lets you start working for a new employer once they file a non-frivolous I-129 transfer petition, provided your current H-1B has been approved for at least 180 days. The new employer still needs to file a fresh LCA with DOL for the new position and location. You don't need to wait for USCIS approval before starting, but you must not stop working for your current employer before the transfer petition is filed.
Does a Security Researcher role with a government contractor require special H-1B considerations?
Government contractor roles sometimes require security clearances, which are separate from H-1B status but affect practical employability. H-1B status itself doesn't bar clearance eligibility, but clearance adjudication for non-U.S. citizens involves additional scrutiny. Some contractor positions are also on federal premises subject to place-of-employment LCA rules, meaning your employer must post the LCA at each worksite, which can complicate multi-site or remote arrangements under DOL regulations.
What happens to my H-1B if my Security Researcher role shifts to a different focus area?
If your job duties change materially, such as moving from vulnerability research to a primarily managerial or product function, your employer may need to file an amended I-129 with USCIS to reflect the new role. The amended petition requires a new LCA if the SOC code, job title, or work location changes. Minor scope expansions within the same occupation generally don't require amendment, but significant structural role changes do trigger the filing obligation under USCIS guidance.
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