Cybersecurity Researcher - 5G & Wireless Resilience Expert

Posting TitleCybersecurity Researcher - 5G & Wireless Resilience Expert

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LocationCO - Golden

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Position TypeRegular

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Hours Per Week40

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Working at NRELNREL is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join NREL, where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NREL stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NREL, you’ll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

The NREL Cybersecurity Research Center is seeking a cybersecurity professional with deep technical expertise in 5G and wireless communication technologies to lead innovative research initiatives in energy system security. This role is central to our mission to build cyber resiliency and reduce risks across the nation’s energy infrastructure.

The successful candidate will combine expert knowledge in wireless networking, including 5G technologies, with advanced cybersecurity expertise to help secure critical infrastructure against modern threats. This includes leading R&D at the intersection of wireless tech and energy systems, guiding cross-functional teams, and working closely with stakeholders from DOE, other national laboratories, and the private sector.

Level IV researchers are expected to lead multidisciplinary teams, mentor junior staff, and contribute to organization-wide technical vision. They demonstrate broad mastery and deep specialization in one or more domains such as 5G security architecture, network protocols, software-defined networking, threat emulation, reverse engineering, red teaming, or other cybersecurity disciplines. Individuals at this level are recognized for their significant professional achievements, including publications, patents, or other contributions that have shaped their field. They operate with minimal oversight and are expected to influence research strategy and technical direction both within and beyond the organization. Other key research responsibilties are:

• Serve as a senior technical leader and recognized subject matter expert in 5G and wireless cybersecurity.
• Define new research directions, establish technical strategies and architectures, and develop advanced or novel cybersecurity solutions for next-generation wireless systems.
• Lead technical R&D efforts at the intersection of cybersecurity and 5G/wireless systems to support next-generation energy system architectures.
• Develop and implement secure communication protocols and architectures for distributed, edge, and wireless-connected energy devices
• Advance laboratory capabilities in wireless and 5G emulation environments, secure network modeling, simulation, testing, and evaluation
• Lead vulnerability analysis of wireless systems (e.g., 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi) integrated into critical infrastructure environments
• Develop new tools and methodologies for red teaming, penetration testing, and cyber-physical risk assessment in wireless energy systems
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams on projects involving hardware/software security, supply chain assurance, and system integration
• Be able to write scripts and develop applications to automate data collection, processing, and analysis tasks in cybersecurity contexts.
• Ability to collaborate with fellow researchers, Department of Energy staff as well as industrial partners to ensure research relevance and impact.
• In addition to technical research, the role requires technical writing skills as well as the ability to represent the NREL CRC team by presenting research results both internally and externally to sponsors and partners.
• Assist with staff planning, recruiting, mentoring, and team building.
• Support cyber business development efforts.
• Build research collaborations with the energy industry, other DOE labs and national security partners.

Level III researchers demonstrate knowledge and skills in one or more areas such as 5G, networking, software development, threat emulation, reverse engineering, red teaming, communications, or other cybersecurity disciplines. Individuals at this level work independently on complex tasks within defined project scopes, contribute innovative ideas, and are recognized for growing technical expertise and emerging professional accomplishments. While they may mentor junior team members, their work is typically reviewed by senior researchers who define overall project direction and objectives. Level III researchers demonstrate knowledge and skills in one or more areas such as 5G, networking, software development, threat emulation, reverse engineering, red teaming, communications, or other cybersecurity disciplines. Individuals at this level work independently on complex tasks within defined project scopes, contribute innovative ideas, and are recognized for growing technical expertise and emerging professional accomplishments. While they may mentor junior team members, their work is typically reviewed by senior researchers who define overall project direction and objectives.

• Serve as an experienced professional conducting applied cybersecurity research and development in the area of 5G and wireless communications.
• Design, prototype, and evaluate security technologies and methods under general guidance while exercising significant technical judgment and creativity.
• Contribute to technical reports, prototypes, and publications that document research findings, and collaborate closely with senior researchers to design experiments and develop new methodologies.
• Support technical R&D efforts at the intersection of cybersecurity and 5G/wireless systems to support next-generation energy system architectures.
• Implement secure communication protocols and architectures for distributed, edge, and wireless-connected energy devices.
• Conduct vulnerability analysis of wireless systems (e.g., 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi) integrated into critical infrastructure environments.
• Apply tools and methodologies for red teaming, penetration testing, and cyber-physical risk assessment in wireless energy systems.
• Ability to collaborate with fellow researchers, Department of Energy staff as well as industrial partners to ensure research relevance and impact

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Basic QualificationsResearcher IV
Relevant PhD and 4 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Master's Degree and 7 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 9 or more years of experience. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Excellent leadership, communication, problem solving and project management skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.
Researcher III
Relevant PhD. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience . Demonstrates broad understanding and wide application of engineering technical procedures, principles, theories and concepts in the field. General knowledge of other related disciplines. Demonstrates leadership in one or more areas of team, task or project lead responsibilities. Demonstrated experience in management of projects. Very good writing, interpersonal and communication skills.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance at the Q/TS/SCI level. A polygraph may be required.  Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE O 472.2A  for additional information
• Expertise in wireless communication protocols, 5G systems, and cybersecurity
• Experience leading and mentoring technical teams
• Expert understanding and application of project management principles, concepts, practices, and standards
• Exhibits an exceptional degree of ingenuity, creativity, resourcefulness, and teamwork
• Ability to travel as needed up to 10%

Preferred Qualifications

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)Job Profile: Researcher IV / Annual Salary Range: $117,200 - $211,000

Job Profile: Researcher III / Annual Salary Range: $97,800 - $176,000

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits SummaryBenefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging RequirementNREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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