Software Security Researcher / Engineer

Cispa Helmholtz-zentrum Für Informationssicherheit
Sankt Ingbert, Germany
4 days ago

Role details

Contract type
Temporary contract
Employment type
Full-time (> 32 hours)
Working hours
Shift work
Languages
English

Job location

Remote
Sankt Ingbert, Germany

Tech stack

API
Artificial Intelligence
Computer Programming
Machine Learning
Open Web Application Security
Program Analysis
Software Architecture
Secure Coding
Software Engineering
Software Systems
Systems Integration
Software Security
Cyber Threat Analysis
Information Technology
Static Application Security Testing
Vulnerability Analysis
Dynamic Application Security Testing

Job description

  • Developing and maintaining a continuously updating security knowledge base, integrating sources such as CVE, CWE, and other security intelligence feeds.
  • Designing and curating high-quality datasets, including real-world vulnerabilities and synthetic scenarios for AI model training.
  • Developing software security analysis techniques to detect critical vulnerabilities across complex codebases.
  • Designing structured, context-rich representations of vulnerabilities and security insights for consumption by AI agents.
  • Contributing to the integration of security knowledge and analysis pipelines into AI-driven workflows.
  • Evaluating detection accuracy and improving coverage across different vulnerability classes.

For content-related questions regarding the position, Hossein Hajipour is available as your contact person via email.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field, Master's or PhD preferred.
  • Solid understanding of common vulnerability classes such as OWASP Top 10, CWE, and CVE ecosystems.
  • Solid knowledge of secure coding practices in various languages.
  • Experience with program analysis techniques, including static and dynamic analysis and taint tracking,
  • Solid experience with existing SAST and DAST tools.
  • Deep understanding of contextual and chained code-related vulnerabilities (real-world & CTF).
  • Experience working with vulnerability datasets and security benchmarks.
  • Understanding of software architecture, APIs, and modern development practices.
  • Strong programming skills, proficiency in Go or Rust is a plus.

We'd be lucky if you also:

  • Have experience applying machine learning to software security tasks.
  • Have worked on large-scale or real-world software systems and security analysis pipelines.
  • Have experience building or maintaining a security intelligence layer that integrates vulnerability data, threat intelligence, and system-specific context.
  • Have developed or applied code reachability analysis methods for vulnerability detection or prioritization.
  • Have experience with program analysis tools such as Tree-sitter.
  • Have a track record of contributing to the broader security community or publishing original research, finding vulnerabilities in various code bases.

Benefits & conditions

  • Work on cutting-edge research at the intersection of AI and software security
  • Contribute to technology that addresses real-world, high-impact security challenges
  • Be part of a highly ambitious, research-driven team
  • Shape the future of autonomous, intelligent security systems
  • A challenging and exciting role with a high degree of creative freedom in a research institution dedicated to shaping the future of information security in a scientific and strongly international environment
  • A strong commitment to work-life balance and equal opportunities; all positions are generally suitable for part-time work
  • Compensation and social benefits in accordance with the German public sector collective agreement (TVöD Bund)
  • A fixed-term position
  • Up to two days of remote work per week (subject to operational requirements)
  • Flexible working hours
  • Occupational pension scheme (VBL)
  • Opportunities for professional development and further training
  • Subsidized job ticket
  • Social and team-building activities
  • Workplace health management programs

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