Research Software Engineer

We are seeking a full-time Senior Research Software Engineer (SRSE) with a background in software compartmentalisation and the CHERI architecture to contribute to the CHERI Project. This post will maintain and enhance existing software-compartmentalisation prototypes on Arm’s CHERI-enabled Morello processor and arising CHERI-RISC-V application cores. CHERI is the result of a highly successful 15-year research collaboration between the University of Cambridge, SRI International, Arm, Google, Microsoft, and other collaborators, with support of the US and UK governments, to develop new architectural security primitives. The CHERI protection model extends off-the-shelf processor Instruction-Set Architectures (ISAs) and processors with new capability-based security primitives supporting fine-grained C/C++-language memory protection and scalable software compartmentalization.

Successful candidates will have significant research and engineering expertise in the CHERI ISA, software compartmentalization, and compiler toolchains and/or OS internals.

The position will benefit from strong existing experience with the C/C++ programming languages, RISC-V or Armv8-a assembly, decentralised development tools, release engineering, continuous integration, and participation in distributed collaborative research projects. Strong interpersonal and organisational skills and the ability to work in a diverse international team at multiple sites will also be important in this role.

This post will require active engagement with downstream industrial and open-source user communities, as well as research collaborators and sponsors. This will involve greater UK and international travel.

This post is intended to start on 1 April 2026, but there is potential flexibility with respect to earlier or later start dates. Applications should include: • Curriculum Vitae (including details of relevant past projects, and of at least two references) * • Brief statement of the contribution you could make to the project, drawing attention to relevant experience with OS research and/or development * • A completed form CHRIS6

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