Within Riverside Research, the Open Innovation Center (OIC) conducts internally funded and contract-funded R&D to develop technologies with lasting practical impact. The Secure and Resilient Systems (SRS) group within OIC focuses on rigorous approaches to building trustworthy computing systems.
SRS seeks a Research Scientist – Cryptography to design, develop, prototype and evaluate cryptographic solutions (primitives, protocols, systems, etc.). The researcher will contribute to a range of collaborative R&D projects, working with colleagues across formal methods, cryptography, programming languages, and systems software.
We are looking for a cryptographer interested in applying their skillset to a wide-range of problems including, but not limited to, multiparty computation (MPC), cryptographic device design and implementation, and cryptographic analysis. A strong candidate has worked on concretely efficient protocols for problems such as (but not limited to) distributed key generation (DKG), private information retrieval (PIR), or privacy-preserving machine learning (PPML), and on formally proving the security of said schemes.
Responsibilities- Conduct cryptography research, including designing and proving the security of new solutions.
- Develop prototype implementations of cryptographic solutions and analyze existing cryptographic solutions.
- Collaborate on multidisciplinary research with colleagues in formal methods, cryptography, programming languages, systems software, and related areas.
- Communicate research results through publications, reports, presentations, and briefings to technical and nontechnical audiences.
- Support research planning and proposal development by identifying new opportunities and contributing technical approaches.
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, cybersecurity, or a related field; 5+ years of relevant research or engineering experience. Advanced degree preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
- Research experience in cryptography and cryptographic protocol development.
- Experience in implementing cryptographic schemes, primitives, and multiparty protocols.
- Ability to formulate technical problems, evaluate alternative approaches, and conduct research independently and collaboratively.
- Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly in writing and in presentations, and to collaborate effectively with researchers from different disciplines.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
Desired:
- Experience implementing cryptography with the Rust programming language.
- Experience formally verifying cryptographic implementations or protocols, compilers, operating systems, hypervisors, or other security-critical software.
- Experience developing protocols proven in the Universal Composability (UC) model of security.
- Experience evaluating implementations for cryptographic weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
- Familiarity with recent post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards and primitives.
- A publication record or other demonstrated contributions to research in security or cryptography.
- Existing TS security clearance.
Global Comp$120,000 - $180,000 This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors. Closing StatementRiverside Research Institute is a not-for-profit, technology-oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees. Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job-related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not-for-profit company, and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran’s status or any other status legally protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, cybersecurity, or a related field, plus 5 or more years of relevant research or engineering experience; equivalent combinations may be considered.
- Research experience in cryptography and cryptographic protocol development.
- Experience implementing cryptographic schemes, primitives, and multiparty protocols.
- Ability to formulate technical problems, evaluate alternative approaches, and conduct research independently and collaboratively.
- Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly in writing and presentations and collaborate across disciplines.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
- U.S. citizenship.
- Advanced degree.
- Experience implementing cryptography with Rust.
- Experience formally verifying cryptographic implementations or protocols, compilers, operating systems, hypervisors, or other security-critical software.
- Experience developing protocols proven in the Universal Composability model of security.
- Experience evaluating implementations for cryptographic weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
- Familiarity with recent post-quantum cryptography standards and primitives.
- Publication record or other demonstrated contributions to security or cryptography research.
- Existing TS security clearance.
What We Do
Founded in 1967, Riverside Research is a not-for-profit organization chartered to advance scientific research for the benefit of the US government and in the public interest. Through our open innovation concept, we invest in multi-disciplinary research and development and encourage collaboration to accelerate innovation and advance science. Riverside Research conducts independent research in machine learning, trusted systems, optics and photonics, electromagnetics, plasma physics, radio frequency systems, and biomedical engineering. We move science from the laboratory to the field by building teams of recognized experts who deliver effective, high-value solutions and services to our customers. From public service to national security, we aspire to be a valued partner through our unwavering commitment to innovative and mission-focused solutions.
