Senior Research Engineer, Systems Engineering Team

Senior Research Engineer, Systems Engineering Team Tenable is the Exposure Management company. 44,000 organizations around the globe rely on Tenable to understand and reduce cyber risk. Our global employees support 65 percent of the Fortune 500, 45 percent of the Global 2000, and large government agencies. Come be part of our journey!Tenable is looking for a highly motivated Senior Research Engineer to join our Research Solutions Engineering Team.This team serves as the critical bridge between our Research organization and Product teams, driving technology transfer and productization of cutting-edge security innovations. You'll transform novel research concepts into tangible MVPs, PoCs, and production-ready systems that directly impact how Tenable customers manage their exposure.We need a proactive problem-solver—someone who recognizes that the initial request isn't always the whole story. You will be expected to listen to the goal, ask the tough questions, and suggest creative alternatives if you see a better way. You are the type of engineer who pauses to ensure we're solving the right problem before building the solution.This is a highly autonomous role operating at the intersection of innovation and execution. You'll work on ambiguous, dynamic projects at the forefront of security research. You'll serve as both designer/architect and implementer, with your work ranging from rapid PoCs to full-production implementations, depending on project needs.Drive technology transfer between organizations by building MVPs, PoCs, and production-ready implementations of novel security capabilitiesDesign and architect solutions that bridge the gap between prototypes and scalable product systems that serve Tenable customers at scalePartner cross-functionally with researchers to deeply understand their innovations and with product teams to understand customer needs and technical constraintsOperate autonomously on cutting-edge projects—translating strategic goals into concrete plans and execution with minimal directionPrototype rapidly to validate research concepts, then iterate toward production quality based on feedback and evolving requirementsNavigate technical breadth across technical domains, picking up new technologies and concepts quickly as projects demandMake critical architecture decisions about what to build, how to build it, and when to pivot based on evolving understandingCommunicate effectively across diverse audiences—explaining research concepts to product teams and product constraints to researchersTake ownership of projects end-to-end, from initial conception through delivery and handoffCollaborate with a small, high-impact team (3 ICs, 1 senior manager, 1 director/research architect) while engaging with the broader Research and Product organizations5+ years of professional software engineering or security research experienceB.S. degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field, or equivalent work experienceDeep expertise in at least one relevant security domain (e.g., Application Security, Vulnerability Management, Cloud Security, Container Security, Threat Intelligence, Software Supply Chain, Network Security, Cryptography), combined with broad general knowledge across security and engineeringDemonstrably strong programming skills in multiple languages; comfortable picking up new technologies and tech stacks as projects requireProven track record of working autonomously—taking strategic direction and independently charting the technical path from architecture through implementationExperience designing systems that balance innovation with production constraints (reliability, scalability, maintainability)Experience building both rapid PoCs and production-grade systems; understanding when each approach is appropriateStrong cross-functional collaboration skills—ability to work effectively with both research-oriented and product-oriented teamsOutstanding written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiencesComfort with ambiguity and rapid context-switching; thrives in dynamic environments where requirements evolveExtreme curiosity and learning agility—genuine drive to understand how things work and explore new domainsPragmatic decision-making skills; knows when to prototype vs. polish, when to pivot vs. persistExperience with vulnerability management platforms, particularly Tenable products (Nessus, Tenable One, Security Center)Familiarity with NASL (Nessus Attack Scripting Language) or willingness to learnExperience working in both research and product organizations; understanding of the different mindsets and prioritiesBackground in security research or novel capability developmentExperience with AI/ML systems or emerging security technologiesOpen source contributions or published security researchExperience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and container technologiesSkilled in presentation on complex topics at conferences, in blogs, or through technical papers