Senior Level Research Fellow Jobs
Senior level research fellow jobs put experienced researchers in charge of study design, scientific direction, and the teams and collaborators that carry projects forward. Roles are spread across on-site, remote, and hybrid settings in Technology & Software, Science & Research, and Education, with employers like The Clear Fund, Articul8, and Indeed hiring at this level now.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 42+ Senior Level Research Fellow jobs
We are seeking a Principal Security Researcher to join our security research organization. You will investigate complex software and systems, conduct vulnerability research, and develop AI-assisted tools that expand our ability to answer challenging security research questions.
You will own research projects from initial investigation through delivery of validated findings, reproducible technical evidence, and reusable research capabilities. We value technical depth, careful experimentation, and clear communication of what the research demonstrates, its limitations, and its relevance to the organization’s priorities.
What you will do
- Build AI-assisted research tools. Connect large language models (LLMs) and AI agents to code analysis and testing tools. Develop workflows that help researchers examine unfamiliar software, investigate suspected flaws, and test their reasoning against observed system behavior.
- Investigate complex software and systems. Use static and dynamic analysis techniques, such as source code review, binary reverse engineering, fuzzing, and debugging to assess applications, cloud services, and infrastructure. Identify security boundary failures and determine their underlying causes.
- Conduct original security research. Discover previously unknown vulnerabilities, including zero-days, and develop novel methods for investigating difficult targets. Explore emerging attack surfaces and potential new vulnerability classes as part of the broader research program.
- Validate findings and demonstrate impact. Create reproducible proofs of concept and controlled exploits that establish attack prerequisites and realistic consequences. Preserve the evidence needed for another researcher to reproduce and assess each result.
- Develop reusable research infrastructure. Automate target configuration and test execution, create fuzzing harnesses, and maintain shared analysis components. Make successful experiments repeatable across software versions and suitable for use by other researchers.
- Measure and improve research automation. Use benchmarks and independent checks to evaluate results. Study crashes, incorrect findings, and unsuccessful investigations to identify weaknesses in the workflow and guide improvements to its accuracy and coverage.
- Communicate research to stakeholders. Prepare technical briefings that explain findings, supporting evidence, and research limitations. Discuss open questions with stakeholders and identify opportunities for further investigation.
- Lead research projects. Choose promising investigations, define objectives, and manage technical uncertainty. Communicate progress and tradeoffs, adjust priorities as evidence develops, and deliver research results and tools aligned with organizational needs.
- Share expertise and strengthen the team. Review technical work, document research methods, and mentor colleagues. Contribute to technical publications, conference presentations, and open-source projects when appropriate and approved.
Required qualifications
- Relevant education and experience meeting one of the following combinations:
- Bachelor’s degree and 7 years of relevant experience.
- Master’s degree and 5 years of relevant experience.
- Doctorate and 3 years of relevant experience.
- 11 years of relevant experience without the degree combinations above.
Relevant fields include computer science, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, mathematics, or related disciplines. Relevant experience includes security research, security assessments, penetration testing, software engineering, software architecture, or related technical work.
- Demonstrated contributions to security research or research tooling, with the ability to explain your technical approach, individual contribution, and results. Evidence may include validated findings, analysis tools, technical reports, or comparable public or confidential work.
- Deep expertise in one or more areas such as binary analysis, application security, operating system security, cloud security, virtualization, network protocols, fuzzing, or program analysis.
- Strong programming skills for developing research tools and proofs of concept, including proficiency in a language such as Python and the ability to analyze code in languages relevant to your research area.
- Practical experience with debuggers, disassemblers, decompilers, instrumentation frameworks, or comparable tools, supported by a strong understanding of vulnerability classes, exploitation principles, and defensive mitigations.
- Ability to independently investigate ambiguous problems, design reproducible experiments, distinguish evidence from assumptions, and document limitations.
- Clear technical communication, effective collaboration with researchers and stakeholders, and sound judgment when handling sensitive findings and conducting authorized research.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience developing LLM-based research tools or AI agents that interact with code repositories, debuggers, analysis tools, and test environments.
- Experience creating evaluation datasets, automated validation systems, or benchmarks for security research automation.
- Experience discovering zero-day vulnerabilities or contributing novel security research methods, exploitation techniques, or insights into emerging attack surfaces.
- Experience analyzing native code and assembly, investigating memory corruption, or researching kernels, hypervisors, containers, and isolation boundaries.
- Experience supporting client-sponsored security research, presenting complex findings, and handling confidential technical information.
- Experience mentoring researchers or guiding investigations that advanced a team’s research methods or technical capabilities.
We are seeking a Principal Security Researcher to join our security research organization. You will investigate complex software and systems, conduct vulnerability research, and develop AI-assisted tools that expand our ability to answer challenging security research questions.
You will own research projects from initial investigation through delivery of validated findings, reproducible technical evidence, and reusable research capabilities. We value technical depth, careful experimentation, and clear communication of what the research demonstrates, its limitations, and its relevance to the organization’s priorities.
What you will do
- Build AI-assisted research tools. Connect large language models (LLMs) and AI agents to code analysis and testing tools. Develop workflows that help researchers examine unfamiliar software, investigate suspected flaws, and test their reasoning against observed system behavior.
- Investigate complex software and systems. Use static and dynamic analysis techniques, such as source code review, binary reverse engineering, fuzzing, and debugging to assess applications, cloud services, and infrastructure. Identify security boundary failures and determine their underlying causes.
- Conduct original security research. Discover previously unknown vulnerabilities, including zero-days, and develop novel methods for investigating difficult targets. Explore emerging attack surfaces and potential new vulnerability classes as part of the broader research program.
- Validate findings and demonstrate impact. Create reproducible proofs of concept and controlled exploits that establish attack prerequisites and realistic consequences. Preserve the evidence needed for another researcher to reproduce and assess each result.
- Develop reusable research infrastructure. Automate target configuration and test execution, create fuzzing harnesses, and maintain shared analysis components. Make successful experiments repeatable across software versions and suitable for use by other researchers.
- Measure and improve research automation. Use benchmarks and independent checks to evaluate results. Study crashes, incorrect findings, and unsuccessful investigations to identify weaknesses in the workflow and guide improvements to its accuracy and coverage.
- Communicate research to stakeholders. Prepare technical briefings that explain findings, supporting evidence, and research limitations. Discuss open questions with stakeholders and identify opportunities for further investigation.
- Lead research projects. Choose promising investigations, define objectives, and manage technical uncertainty. Communicate progress and tradeoffs, adjust priorities as evidence develops, and deliver research results and tools aligned with organizational needs.
- Share expertise and strengthen the team. Review technical work, document research methods, and mentor colleagues. Contribute to technical publications, conference presentations, and open-source projects when appropriate and approved.
Required qualifications
- Relevant education and experience meeting one of the following combinations:
- Bachelor’s degree and 7 years of relevant experience.
- Master’s degree and 5 years of relevant experience.
- Doctorate and 3 years of relevant experience.
- 11 years of relevant experience without the degree combinations above.
Relevant fields include computer science, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, mathematics, or related disciplines. Relevant experience includes security research, security assessments, penetration testing, software engineering, software architecture, or related technical work.
- Demonstrated contributions to security research or research tooling, with the ability to explain your technical approach, individual contribution, and results. Evidence may include validated findings, analysis tools, technical reports, or comparable public or confidential work.
- Deep expertise in one or more areas such as binary analysis, application security, operating system security, cloud security, virtualization, network protocols, fuzzing, or program analysis.
- Strong programming skills for developing research tools and proofs of concept, including proficiency in a language such as Python and the ability to analyze code in languages relevant to your research area.
- Practical experience with debuggers, disassemblers, decompilers, instrumentation frameworks, or comparable tools, supported by a strong understanding of vulnerability classes, exploitation principles, and defensive mitigations.
- Ability to independently investigate ambiguous problems, design reproducible experiments, distinguish evidence from assumptions, and document limitations.
- Clear technical communication, effective collaboration with researchers and stakeholders, and sound judgment when handling sensitive findings and conducting authorized research.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience developing LLM-based research tools or AI agents that interact with code repositories, debuggers, analysis tools, and test environments.
- Experience creating evaluation datasets, automated validation systems, or benchmarks for security research automation.
- Experience discovering zero-day vulnerabilities or contributing novel security research methods, exploitation techniques, or insights into emerging attack surfaces.
- Experience analyzing native code and assembly, investigating memory corruption, or researching kernels, hypervisors, containers, and isolation boundaries.
- Experience supporting client-sponsored security research, presenting complex findings, and handling confidential technical information.
- Experience mentoring researchers or guiding investigations that advanced a team’s research methods or technical capabilities.
See All 42 Senior Level Research Fellow Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSenior Level Research Fellow Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software14
- Science & Research13
- Education4
- Media & Entertainment3
- Electronics & Hardware3
Senior Level Research Fellow Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level research fellow job?
Employers at this level want candidates who have led independent research programs, published in peer-reviewed outlets, and secured or co-led external funding. Demonstrating that you have shaped a research agenda rather than simply executed one is what separates senior candidates from mid-level applicants. Strong mentorship experience and a record of cross-functional collaboration with clinical, industry, or policy partners also give candidates a clear edge.
Which companies hire senior level research fellows?
Companies hiring senior level research fellows right now include The Clear Fund, Articul8, and Indeed, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level tends to come from research universities, academic medical centers, national laboratories, large life sciences companies, and think tanks with established research divisions.
Are there remote senior level research fellow jobs?
Yes, though availability varies by discipline and employer type. About 63% of senior level research fellow openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with computational, policy, and data-intensive roles more likely to offer flexible arrangements than lab-based or clinical research positions.
What makes a research fellow role senior level?
Senior level research fellow roles are defined by independent ownership of a research program, not just contribution to one. Expectations include setting the scientific or analytical direction, managing junior researchers or graduate students, leading grant applications, and producing work that shapes broader field conversations. These roles carry accountability for outcomes rather than task completion.
Which industries hire the most senior level research fellows?
Senior Level research fellow roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Science & Research, and Education, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors sustain senior research hiring because they depend on original investigation, long-term study programs, and specialized expertise that takes years of focused work to develop.