Vulnerability Research and Exploit Developer
Company websitecaci.com (CACI, opens in new tab)
Base salary $113,200 to $237,800
Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Fort Meade, MD
You apply on the employer's own site. Six Figure Work does not handle applications.
- LocationFort Meade, MD
- WorkplaceOn-site
- Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
- Last checked (2 h ago) · observed since
About this job
The Opportunity:
As a Vulnerability Research and Exploit Developer (VRED) at CACI, you will play a crucial role supporting DoD and IA/IC requirements analyzing and exploiting mobile and network devices. You will be responsible for identifying and exploiting security weaknesses in complex systems while working closely with interagency partners within an interagency facility. Your role will involve seamless integration with Joint Cyber Operations Group (JCOG) personnel to ensure non-disruptive mission execution. This position demands strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. The successful candidate will attain and maintain a Polygraph and Top Secret/SCI (TS/SCI) security clearance.
Responsibilities:
· Conduct in-depth vulnerability research and exploit development for mobile and network devices.
· Identify and analyze security weaknesses in complex systems, providing actionable insights and solutions.
· Experience applying artificial intelligence models and AI-assisted workflows to accelerate vulnerability discovery and exploit development (e.g., LLM-assisted code analysis, reverse engineering, and triage).
· Collaborate effectively with interagency partners and JCOG personnel to support mission objectives.
· Develop and maintain tools and scripts for automated vulnerability detection and exploitation.
· Ensure seamless integration of developed solutions into existing systems without disrupting ongoing operations.
· Provide technical guidance and support to team members, fostering a collaborative work environment.
· Maintain detailed documentation of research findings, exploit development processes, and solution implementations.
· Stay current with cybersecurity/VR/exploit development.
Qualifications:
Required:
· Current Top Secret/SCI (TS/SCI) security clearance with polygraph.
· Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or a related field, with a minimum of five years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
· Proven track record of identifying and exploiting security weaknesses in mobile and network devices.
· Strong proficiency in programming languages such as C/C++, Python, and assembly (ARM/x86).
· Experience with exploit development techniques, reverse engineering, and vulnerability assessment tools and frameworks (e.g., IDA Pro, Ghidra, Binary Ninja, Frida, GDB/LLDB, QEMU).
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
· Ability to work independently with minimal oversight and function effectively within a team.
Desired:
· Master’s degree in a related field.
· Certifications such as OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), OSED/OSEE (Offensive Security exploit development certifications), GXPN (GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester), and GREM (GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware).
· Experience building fuzzing harnesses (e.g., AFL++, libFuzzer, honggfuzz) and triaging the resulting crashes to root cause.
· Deep understanding of memory-corruption vulnerability classes (stack/heap overflow, use-after-free, type confusion) and techniques for bypassing modern exploit mitigations (ASLR, DEP/NX, stack canaries, CFI/CFG, PAC, application sandboxing).
· Proficiency in reverse engineering closed-source binaries and embedded firmware (static and dynamic analysis).
· Hands-on experience with iOS and/or Android internals—sandbox escape, kernel exploitation, baseband, and TrustZone/Secure Enclave—beyond general familiarity.
· Demonstrated research output—published CVEs, Pwn2Own results, DEFCON/Black Hat talks, or competitive CTF placements.
· Experience with kernel-mode/low-level exploitation and OS internals (e.g., XNU, Linux, Windows), including drivers.
· Java/Kotlin for Android-focused vulnerability research; familiarity with Rust or similar memory-safe systems languages is a plus
What You Can Expect:
A culture of integrity.
At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team member, you’ll be part of a high-performing group dedicated to our customer’s missions and driven by a higher purpose – to ensure the safety of our nation.
An environment of trust.
CACI values the unique contributions that every employee brings to our company and our customers - every day. You’ll have the autonomy to take the time you need through a unique flexible time off benefit and have access to robust learning resources to make your ambitions a reality.
A focus on continuous growth.
Together, we will advance our nation's most critical missions, build on our lengthy track record of business success, and find opportunities to break new ground — in your career and in our legacy.
Pay Range:
There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.
The proposed salary range for this position is:
$113,200 - $237,800CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic.
Source: CACI on Workday · View original posting (opens in new tab)
Pay in context
This role's base floor ($113,200) is above 13% of the 103 IT & Security roles in Maryland listed on this site; 2 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $139,000; the middle half runs from $120,800 to $151,500.
Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 7, 2026.
This listingVulnerability Research and Exploit Developer$113,200 to $237,800
Senior DevSecOps Engineer$113,200 to $237,800
Computer Network Operator, Senior$113,200 to $237,800
Cyber Security Analyst$113,200 to $237,800
Penetration Tester, Senior$113,200 to $237,800
Engineering Team Lead$113,200 to $237,800
Full Stack Developer, Senior$113,200 to $237,800
Chart as a table
| Role | Published base |
|---|---|
| Vulnerability Research and Exploit Developer (this listing) | $113,200 - $237,800 |
| Senior DevSecOps Engineer | $113,200 - $237,800 |
| Computer Network Operator, Senior | $113,200 - $237,800 |
| Cyber Security Analyst | $113,200 - $237,800 |
| Penetration Tester, Senior | $113,200 - $237,800 |
| Engineering Team Lead | $113,200 - $237,800 |
| Full Stack Developer, Senior | $113,200 - $237,800 |
Observed changes
- First observed on the employer's board
- Began meeting the published-salary criteria
- Observed since
- Employer-stated posting date
- 2026-10-05
Where this pay comes from
Location as the employer wrote it: Fort Meade, MD, US
$113,200 - $237,800
- Method
- Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
- Checked
- Rule set
- us-base-v2
The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.
What we verified
- The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
- The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
- The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.
We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.
