Senior AI Security Researcher
- Employer
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Location
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Salary
- Competitive Salary
- Date posted
- Apr 24, 2024
View more categoriesView less categories
- Position Type
- Faculty Positions, Science & Mathematics, Computer Sciences & Technology, Other Science & Technology, Administrative, IT & Technology
- Employment Type
- Full Time
Job Details
Are you a cybersecurity and/or AI researcher who enjoys a challenge? Are you excited about pioneering new research areas that will impact academia, industry, and national security? If so, we want you for our team, where you’ll collaborate to deliver high-quality results in the emerging area of AI security.
The CERT Division of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is seeking applicants for the AI Security Researcher role. Originally created in response to one of the first computer viruses -- the Morris worm – in 1988, CERT has remained a leader in cybersecurity research, improving the robustness of software systems, and in responding to sophisticated cybersecurity threats. Ensuring the robustness and security of AI systems is the next big challenge on the horizon, and we are seeking life-long learners in the fields of cybersecurity, AI/ML, or related areas, who are willing to cross-train to address AI Security.
The Threat Analysis Directorate, is a group of security experts focused on advancing the state of the art in AI security at a national and global scale. Our tasks include vulnerability discovery and assessments, evaluation of the effectiveness and robustness of AI systems, exploit discovery and reverse engineering, and identifying new areas where security research is needed. We participate in communities of network defenders, software developers and vendors, security researchers, AI practitioners, and policymakers.
You'll get a chance to work with elite AI and cybersecurity professionals, university faculty, and government representatives to build new methodologies and technologies that will influence national AI security strategy for decades to come. You will co-author research proposals, execute studies, and present findings and recommendations to our DoD sponsors, decision makers within government and industry, and at academic conferences. The SEI is a non-profit, federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) at Carnegie Mellon University.
What you’ll do:
- Develop state of the art approaches for analyzing robustness of AI systems.
- Apply these approaches to understanding vulnerabilities in AI systems and how attackers adapt their tradecraft to exploit those vulnerabilities.
- Reverse engineer malicious code in support of high-impact customers, design and develop new analysis methods and tools, work to identify and address emerging and complex threats to AI systems, and effectively participate in the broader security community.
- Study and influence the AI security and vulnerability disclosure ecosystems.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of tools, techniques and processes developed by industry and the AI security research community.
- Uncover and shape some of the fundamental assumptions underlying current best practice in AI security.
- Develop models, tools and data sets that can be used to characterize the threats to, and vulnerabilities in, AI systems, and publish those results. You will also use these results to aid in the testing, evaluation and transition of technologies developed by government-funded research programs.
- Identify opportunities to apply AI to improve existing cybersecurity research.
- You have a deep interest in AI/ML and cybersecurity with a penchant for intellectual curiosity and a desire to make an impact beyond your organization.
- You have practical experience with applying cybersecurity knowledge toward vulnerability research, analysis, disclosure, or mitigation.
- You have experience with advising on a range of security topics based on research and expert opinion.
- You have familiarity with implementing and applying AI/ML techniques to solving practical problems.
- You have familiarity with common AI/ML software packages and tools (e.g., Numpy, Pytorch, Tensorflow, ART).
- You have knowledge or familiarity with reverse engineering tools (e.g. NSA Ghidra, IDA Pro)
- You have experience with Python, C/C++, or low-level programming.
- You have experience developing frameworks, methodologies, or assessments to evaluate effectiveness and robustness of technologies.
- You have superb communication skills (oral and written), particularly regarding technical communications with non-experts.
- You enjoy mentoring and cross-training others and sharing knowledge within the broader community.
- You have BS in machine learning, cybersecurity, statistics, or related discipline with ten (10) years of experience; OR MS in the same fields with eight (8) years of experience; OR PhD in the same fields with five (5) years of experience.
- Applicants with a solid technical background in AI/ML or cybersecurity, but not both, are encouraged to apply provided a strong desire to rapidly learn on the job.
- Travel to various locations to support the SEI’s overall mission. This includes within the SEI and CMU community, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings on occasion (5%).
- You will be subject to a background check and will need to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense security clearance.
- Join a world-class organization that continues to have a significant impact on software.
- Work with cutting-edge technologies and dedicated experts to solve tough problems for the government and the nation.
- Be surrounded by friendly and knowledgeable staff with broad expertise across AI/ML, cybersecurity, software engineering, risk management, and policy creation.
- Get 8% monthly contribution for your retirement, without having to contribute yourself.
- Get tuition benefits to CMU and other institutions for you and your dependent children.
- Enjoy a healthy work/life balance with flexible work arrangements and paid parental and military leave.
- Get access to university resources including mindfulness programs, childcare and back-up care benefits, a monthly transit benefit on WMATA, free transportation on the Pittsburgh Regional Transit System.
- Enjoy annual professional development opportunities; attend conferences and training or obtain a certification and get reimbursed for membership in professional societies.
- Qualify for relocation assistance and so much more.
Arlington, VA, Pittsburgh, PA
Job Function
Software/Applications Development/Engineering
Position Type
Staff – Regular
Full time/Part time
Full time
Pay Basis
Salary More Information:
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becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change
the world.
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Employer/Disability/Veteran .
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Company
Carnegie Mellon University challenges the curious and passionate to imagine and deliver work that matters.
A private, global research university, Carnegie Mellon stands among the world's most renowned educational institutions, and sets its own course.
Carnegie Mellon was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie under the premise that a school established to foster and develop the technical skills of its students would soon produce students and graduates whose work would astound Pittsburgh and the world. Over 120 years later, our institution continues to produce talented alumni and draws faculty and staff eager to be a part of the university's creative, passionate and close-knit community. We place emphasis on practical problem solving, interdisciplinary learning, an entrepreneurial spirit, and collaboration.
Over the past 10 years, more than 400 startups linked to CMU have raised more than $7 billion in follow-on funding. Those investment numbers are especially high because of the sheer size of Pittsburgh’s growing autonomous vehicles cluster – including Uber, Aurora, Waymo and Motional – all of which are here because of their strong ties to CMU.
With cutting-edge brain science, path-breaking performances, innovative startups, driverless cars, big data, big ambitions, Nobel and Turing prizes, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn't imagine the future, we create it.
Pittsburgh is home to over 86,000 students from 10 colleges and universities. Pittsburgh was ranked as one of the top U.S. cities for millennials.
Some 177,000 people work in Pittsburgh's tech-related industries, and their ranks continue to grow as the city tops lists for jobs. Networking opportunities, small business accelerators, and an innovative community make the city appealing to entrepreneurs, especially recent graduates.
Pittsburgh is emerging as a tech and culture hub that The Washington Post praises for its "world-class art museums and colorful neighborhoods."
Robotics and software engineering lead the way. The city is home to Google, Uber and Apple offices and a budding ecosystem of tech startups including Duolingo, Modcloth and 4Moms, all of which have CMU roots.
Many seek Pittsburgh for being a hot spot for entrepreneurship and a model for future cities. Others come for the city's burgeoning food scene.
You’ll find CMU locations nationwide — and worldwide. Silicon Valley. Qatar. Africa. Washington, D.C. To name a few.
If your heart is in your work, come work with us.
Carnegie Mellon University isn't just one of the world’s most renowned educational institutions — it’s also a hotspot for some of the most talented doers, dreamers and difference-makers on the planet. When you join our staff, you’ll become an important part of our mission to create a healthier, safer and more just life for all. No matter what your role or location, you’ll connect and collaborate with dedicated, passionate colleagues — and you’ll have the satisfaction of delivering work that truly matters.
Carnegie Mellon University offers a wide range of competitive employee benefits to help you live well. Benefit eligibility varies based on the hours per week employees are scheduled to work and the employee's geographic location
We seek to cultivate diverse populations and perspectives and promote equity and inclusion. Our devotion to these ideals springs from a core belief in the power of education to be a transformative and enriching force for every person, irrespective of their background, identity or life circumstances.
Inclusion and belonging are intricately interwoven into the very essence of our university, helping to shape our values, policies and practices. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are not only central to our ethos but also indispensable to our pursuit of academic excellence and innovation.
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