Research Engineer Jobs in Maryland
Research engineer jobs in Maryland are concentrated in defense systems, biomedical research, and applied sciences, with steady demand from early-career through senior principal levels. The Baltimore-Columbia corridor, the greater Washington suburbs including Bethesda and Rockville, and the Aberdeen area are the state's main hiring centers, with anchors such as Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Northrop Grumman, and the National Institutes of Health driving consistent openings. The most in-demand specialties are systems engineering research, biomedical device development, and materials science. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Research Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 27+ Research Engineer jobs
Req #: 1969
Job Title: Senior Vulnerability Researcher & Reverse Engineer
Location: Fort Meade, MD
Clearance Level: TS/SCI with CI Poly
Summary
Agile Defense is looking for an amazingly talented Vulnerability Researcher/Reverse Engineer to join our team! In this role you will get to conduct advanced vulnerability research and reverse engineering on target software and hardware systems to identify exploitable weaknesses for cyberspace capability development.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Perform technical analysis of target platforms, including discovery of zero-day vulnerabilities through fuzzing and code analysis.
- Reverse engineer software applications, firmware, and hardware components using disassemblers, debuggers, and binary analysis tools.
- Perform vulnerability discovery through automated fuzzing, manual code review, and dynamic/static analysis techniques.
- Rapidly prototype proof-of-concept exploits to validate vulnerability findings and assess operational utility.
- Analyze target system architectures, protocols, and security mechanisms to identify attack surfaces and weakness patterns.
- Document vulnerability technical details, exploitation methodology, and recommended capability development approaches.
- Provide technical intelligence briefs to capability developers on target system weaknesses and exploitation pathways.
- Collaborate with capability development teams to translate vulnerability research into operational tools.
- Maintain awareness of public vulnerability disclosures, exploit techniques, and adversary tradecraft relevant to target systems.
- Apply offensive cyber domain expertise, including red/purple team operations, to develop and deliver mission-critical solutions.
- Conduct limited TDY travel as mission requires.
What Required Skills You'll Bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
- 10+ years of related professional experience; Master's degree and 8+ years of related professional experience
- Proficiency with disassemblers/decompilers (IDA Pro, Ghidra, and/or Binary Ninja)
- Strong understanding of x86/x64/ARM assembly language and processor architectures
- Practical experience with debuggers (WinDbg, GDB, and/or LLDB) and dynamic analysis tools
- Demonstrated capability discovering vulnerabilities in compiled software (C/C++/Rust applications)
- Understanding of common vulnerability classes (memory corruption, logic flaws, race conditions)
- Proficiency with fuzzing frameworks (AFL, libFuzzer, Honggfuzz) and corpus management
- Strong scripting skills (Python, Ruby, or similar) for automation and analysis
- Experience documenting technical research for both technical and operational audiences
- Active TS/SCI with Poly
- Happy - Be Infectious. Happiness multiplies and creates a positive and connected environment where motivation and satisfaction have an outsized effect on everything we do.
- Helpful - Be Supportive. Being helpful is the foundation of teamwork, resulting in a supportive atmosphere where collaboration flourishes, and collective success is celebrated.
- Honest - Be Trustworthy. Honesty serves as our compass, ensuring transparent communication and ethical conduct, essential to who we are and the complex domains we support.
- Humble - Be Grounded. Success is not achieved alone, humility ensures a culture of mutual respect, encouraging open communication, and a willingness to learn from one another and take on any task.
- Hungry - Be Eager. Our hunger for excellence drives an insatiable appetite for innovation and continuous improvement, propelling us forward in the face of new and unprecedented challenges.
- Hustle - Be Driven. Hustle is reflected in our relentless work ethic, where we are each committed to going above and beyond to advance the mission and achieve success.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Req #: 1969
Job Title: Senior Vulnerability Researcher & Reverse Engineer
Location: Fort Meade, MD
Clearance Level: TS/SCI with CI Poly
Summary
Agile Defense is looking for an amazingly talented Vulnerability Researcher/Reverse Engineer to join our team! In this role you will get to conduct advanced vulnerability research and reverse engineering on target software and hardware systems to identify exploitable weaknesses for cyberspace capability development.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Perform technical analysis of target platforms, including discovery of zero-day vulnerabilities through fuzzing and code analysis.
- Reverse engineer software applications, firmware, and hardware components using disassemblers, debuggers, and binary analysis tools.
- Perform vulnerability discovery through automated fuzzing, manual code review, and dynamic/static analysis techniques.
- Rapidly prototype proof-of-concept exploits to validate vulnerability findings and assess operational utility.
- Analyze target system architectures, protocols, and security mechanisms to identify attack surfaces and weakness patterns.
- Document vulnerability technical details, exploitation methodology, and recommended capability development approaches.
- Provide technical intelligence briefs to capability developers on target system weaknesses and exploitation pathways.
- Collaborate with capability development teams to translate vulnerability research into operational tools.
- Maintain awareness of public vulnerability disclosures, exploit techniques, and adversary tradecraft relevant to target systems.
- Apply offensive cyber domain expertise, including red/purple team operations, to develop and deliver mission-critical solutions.
- Conduct limited TDY travel as mission requires.
What Required Skills You'll Bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
- 10+ years of related professional experience; Master's degree and 8+ years of related professional experience
- Proficiency with disassemblers/decompilers (IDA Pro, Ghidra, and/or Binary Ninja)
- Strong understanding of x86/x64/ARM assembly language and processor architectures
- Practical experience with debuggers (WinDbg, GDB, and/or LLDB) and dynamic analysis tools
- Demonstrated capability discovering vulnerabilities in compiled software (C/C++/Rust applications)
- Understanding of common vulnerability classes (memory corruption, logic flaws, race conditions)
- Proficiency with fuzzing frameworks (AFL, libFuzzer, Honggfuzz) and corpus management
- Strong scripting skills (Python, Ruby, or similar) for automation and analysis
- Experience documenting technical research for both technical and operational audiences
- Active TS/SCI with Poly
- Happy - Be Infectious. Happiness multiplies and creates a positive and connected environment where motivation and satisfaction have an outsized effect on everything we do.
- Helpful - Be Supportive. Being helpful is the foundation of teamwork, resulting in a supportive atmosphere where collaboration flourishes, and collective success is celebrated.
- Honest - Be Trustworthy. Honesty serves as our compass, ensuring transparent communication and ethical conduct, essential to who we are and the complex domains we support.
- Humble - Be Grounded. Success is not achieved alone, humility ensures a culture of mutual respect, encouraging open communication, and a willingness to learn from one another and take on any task.
- Hungry - Be Eager. Our hunger for excellence drives an insatiable appetite for innovation and continuous improvement, propelling us forward in the face of new and unprecedented challenges.
- Hustle - Be Driven. Hustle is reflected in our relentless work ethic, where we are each committed to going above and beyond to advance the mission and achieve success.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
See All 27 Research Engineer Jobs in Maryland
Find roles in Maryland that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Engineer JobsResearch Engineer Jobs by City in Maryland
Where Maryland roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Engineer Job Market in Maryland
A snapshot from current Maryland openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Science & Research
What Maryland Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research engineer jobs across Maryland.
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in engineering, physical sciences, or a closely related technical field
- Experience with federal or DoD research programs, clearance eligibility preferred for many Maryland roles
- Proficiency in data analysis tools, simulation software, or laboratory instrumentation relevant to the specialty area
- Demonstrated publication record or contribution to funded research projects in a university or industry setting
- Ability to collaborate across interdisciplinary teams including scientists, program managers, and subject matter experts
- Strong written and oral communication skills for technical reporting and proposal development
Research Engineer Jobs in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research engineer in Maryland?
A bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline is the standard entry point, with most Maryland employers in defense and biomedical sectors preferring a master's or doctorate for independent research roles. Maryland does not require a state-issued professional license specifically for research engineers, though roles involving public-facing design work may require a Professional Engineer license through the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers. Strong candidates typically build a portfolio through university research, federal lab internships, or industry co-ops before applying.
Which companies hire research engineers in Maryland?
Companies currently hiring research engineers in Maryland include Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, and ST Engineering, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Maryland's concentration of federal contractors and research institutions means many openings are tied to government-sponsored programs in defense, health sciences, and energy.
Which Maryland cities have the most research engineer jobs?
Baltimore, Laurel, and Columbia account for the largest share of research engineer openings in Maryland. The Baltimore and Bethesda-Rockville areas are anchored by Johns Hopkins, the NIH campus, and a dense cluster of federal contractors, while Aberdeen draws openings tied to Aberdeen Proving Ground and associated defense research organizations.
Are there remote research engineer jobs in Maryland?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely analytical fields because much research engineering work requires lab access, specialized equipment, or facility clearances. About 60% of research engineer openings tied to Maryland are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with most of those concentrated in data analysis, modeling, and simulation-heavy sub-disciplines rather than hands-on experimental roles.
How can I get hired as a research engineer in Maryland with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a research internship or co-op at one of Maryland's federal laboratories or major contractors, such as the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, which runs structured internship and junior associate programs, or Northrop Grumman's early-career technical programs. Adjacent roles like research technician, test engineer associate, or laboratory analyst are common stepping stones. A relevant graduate degree, a security clearance application, or a professional engineer-in-training credential from the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers can meaningfully strengthen a new-graduate application.
Where can I find and apply to research engineer jobs in Maryland?
You can find and apply to research engineer jobs in Maryland on Migrate Mate, which lists current Maryland openings updated regularly. Search the listings, identify the roles that match your background and specialization, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 27 Research Engineer Jobs in Maryland
Find roles in Maryland that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Engineer Jobs