Senior Attack Engineer - Vulnerability Research

Get to Know Us

Horizon3.ai is a fast-growing, remote cybersecurity company dedicated to the mission of enabling organizations to proactively find, fix and verify exploitable attack vectors before criminals exploit them. Our flagship product, the NodeZeroTM platform, delivers production-safe autonomous pentests and other key assessment operations that scale across the largest internal, external, cloud, and hybrid cloud environments. NodeZero has been adopted by organizations of all sizes, from small educational institutions to government agencies and Global 100 enterprises. It is used by IT Ops/SecOps teams, consulting pentesters, and MSSPs and MSPs.

We are a fusion of former U.S. Special Operations cyber operators, startup engineers & operators, and formerly frustrated cybersecurity practitioners. We're committed to helping solve our common security problems: ineffective security tools and false positives, resulting in alert fatigue, blind spots, "checkbox” security culture, cybersecurity skills shortage, and the long lead time and expense of hiring outside consultants. Collectively, we are a team of learn-it-alls, committed to a culture of respect, collaboration, ownership, and results.

What You’ll Do

The Senior Attack Engineer - Vulnerability Research role is responsible for developing and maintaining core parts of NodeZero’s autonomous penetration testing platform while leveraging the latest InfoSec news to swiftly weaponize newly discovered public vulnerabilities. This platform coordinates execution of an ever-growing set of “attack modules” to efficiently and safely conduct a penetration test in the target environment. You will be involved in tasks ranging from vulnerability research, such as analyzing the web components of popular virtualization technologies, to patch-diffing firmware updates in VPN applications, to software development aimed at enhancing and extending the capabilities of our core product.

This is a dynamic position that offers the opportunity to work on a wide range of tasks, from building proof-of-concept exploits to advancing our red teaming technologies.

• Acquire and configure vulnerable test systems to replicate and validate attack scenarios.

• Reverse engineer application binaries and patches to identify vulnerabilities.

• Develop and validate proof-of-concept exploits for identified vulnerabilities and ensure their integration into the core product.

• Design and implement foundational technology improvements to enable rapid development of exploitation modules.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to enhance product capabilities and develop new features.

• Maintain a comprehensive global view of emerging vulnerabilities, ensuring Horizon3 remains current with the latest threat landscape.
  

What You’ll Bring

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills with an aptitude for solving complex technical problems.

• Self-Motivation: The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, demonstrating initiative and a high level of energy.

• Collaboration: Work closely with the NodeZero team, N-Day researchers, and adjacent teams to weaponize reverse-engineered exploits for product integration and rapidly develop new cross-functional features.

• Communication: Strong technical writing and documentation skills, with the ability to convey findings and methodologies to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Technical Design: Proficiency in designing, presenting, and evaluating technical solutions, ensuring high-quality software and secure development practices.

• Adaptability: Ability to independently learn and adapt to new technologies, tools, and methodologies.

Required Experience/Education:

• Proficiency in Python: Proficiency in large-scale Python software development.

• Software Engineering: Strong understanding of secure software development practices, including experience with version control systems like Git and effective team workflows.

• Reverse Engineering: Experience reversing Java applications, C#, .NET, and native application binaries and experience in reverse engineering technologies like IDA or Ghidra.

• Vulnerability Exploitation: In-depth knowledge of common Remote Code Execution (RCE) techniques such as SQL injection, path traversal, and buffer overflow exploits.

• Network Protocols: Strong understanding of network protocols and their intricacies, including their role in exploitation vectors.

• Database Experience: Experience with relational (Postgres) or graph (Neo4j) database systems.

• Equivalent experience may be considered if demonstrable through proof-of-concept write-ups, published vulnerability research, or similar achievements.

Desired Skills:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related field.

• Experience with vulnerability disclosure processes.

• Published CVEs or experience with bug bounty and web app pentesting.

• Experience with additional programming languages, including C, C++, Rust, or Assembly.

• Familiarity with Nuclei and Metasploit for automated vulnerability scanning and exploitation.

• Experience working in AWS and other cloud environments.

• Previous experience working on large-scale software projects.

• Knowledge of and experience with Docker, Kubernetes and related containerization technologies.

Certifications (optional but preferred)

• OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) or equivalent certifications.

Travel Required

We are a fully remote company, and this job may require up to 5% of travel to be successful.

Compensation and Values

At Horizon3, we believe that our people are our greatest asset, and our compensation philosophy reflects this core value. We are committed to fostering an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and rewarded for their contributions. Our compensation structure is designed to be fair, competitive, and transparent, ensuring that every team member is recognized and compensated equitably across roles, levels, and locations.

In accordance with various State’s transparency regulations, we provide the following salary range information for this position:

• Base salary range: $195,000 - $242,000 annually. The exact salary will be determined based on the selected candidate’s location, qualifications, experience, and relevant skills.

• Additional compensation: All full-time roles are eligible for an equity package in the form of stock options.

Perks of Horizon3.ai

• Inclusive Team: We value diversity and promote an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.

• Growth Opportunities: Be part of a dynamic and growing team with numerous career development opportunities.

• Innovative Culture: Work in a collaborative environment that encourages creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

• Remote Work: We are a 100% remote company. Enjoy the flexibility to work in the way that supports you and brings out your best.

• Competitive Compensation: We offer competitive salary, equity and benefits. Our benefits include health, vision & dental insurance for you and your family, a flexible vacation policy, and generous parental leave.

You Belong Here

Horizon3 is not just an equal opportunity employer - we are a community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental principles of our culture and success. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, hair length or any other legally protected status by law.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion means we strive to attract, develop, and retain a workforce that reflects the varied communities we serve. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation and strengthen our ability to create cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. At Horizon3, every team member is valued and supported in an environment that encourages personal and professional growth.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences, and we encourage all qualified individuals to apply. Come be a part of Horizon3, where your unique contributions are recognized, and your potential is limitless.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Application Note

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information