Security Research Team Lead

Accelerate Your Career in Cybersecurity Pentera is the market leader in AI-native Security Validation, equipping enterprises with the platform to proactively test their defenses against the latest cyber attacks. Pentera proves which exposures are truly exploitable across the entire attack surface and drives remediation workflows that reduce real risk. Anchored in real-attack validation, the Pentera platform powers the full Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) cycle, from exposure discovery through prioritization, validation, and mobilization. Thousands of security teams around the world trust Pentera to close their security gaps before threat actors can exploit them. With over 350 team members and 1,300 customers in more than 60 countries, Pentera is a growing company supported by top investors such as Insight Partners, K1, and The Blackstone Group. If you want to grow your skills, make an impact, and be part of an innovative team, Pentera is the place for you. About the Role: We are looking for an experienced Security Research Team Lead to join our R&D organization and lead a team of attack-oriented security researchers. You will set the research direction across multiple domains, from Windows internals and kernel-level security to cloud platforms, web technologies, and AI, ensuring your team stays one step ahead of real threat actors. Your team's research and attack methodologies will feed directly into our automated attack platform, enhancing its capabilities with new offensive techniques and AI-powered decision-making algorithms. Roles and Responsibilities: Lead, mentor, and grow a team of security researchers, setting priorities and driving execution. Define the team's research roadmap across areas such as AV/EDR evasion, binary exploitation, vulnerability discovery, and subversion of communication channels across OS-level, domain, cloud-native, and external surfaces. Accompany hands-on research alongside the team, maintaining deep technical credibility. Collaborate with product and engineering teams to translate research outputs into production-grade attack functionalities within our automation ecosystem. Drive the integration of AI-driven decision-making into the platform's automated operations. Foster a culture of innovation, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning within the team. Represent the research function in cross-team planning, roadmap discussions, and stakeholder alignment. 3+ years of experience in offensive security research: Windows internals, penetration testing, vulnerability research, or red team operations. 3+ years of experience leading or managing a technical research team. Deep knowledge of attack frameworks and tools such as Metasploit, Nmap, Cobalt Strike, Impacket, Burp, Pacu, and similar. Proficiency in reverse engineering and debugging (e.g., IDA, Radare2, WinDBG) for low-level research. Familiarity with cloud ecosystems and hybrid environments, specifically AWS, Azure. Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex research into actionable roadmaps. Excellent teamwork, adaptability, and a quick learning mindset. Preferred skills: Hands-on development experience in Python, C/C++, or similar languages used in offensive tooling. Experience applying AI or machine learning concepts to offensive security or automated decision-making. Experience with red/blue team operations. We are an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to building a diverse and talented workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, disability, or any other class or characteristic protected by applicable law. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us!