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Vulnerability Researcher Intern – 2025

About Nightwing

The Nightwing business provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers’ most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial spanets. Nightwing CODEX (Cyber Offense and Defense Experts) Solutions bring together an elite team of mission-focused industry experts who are well known for their ability to overcome the most advanced technical challenges. Where pushing the limits of our technical ability is the norm. Occasional failure does not deter us.  True innovation comes from trying new things and seeing what works.

Job Summary

This position is an onsite role.

Nightwing is looking for interns interested in a career focused on offensive cyber practices as a Vulnerability Researcher.  Nightwing’s goal is to teach interns offensive cyber practices that they would not encounter in everyday normal curriculum.  Ultimately interns at Nightwing learn to analyze systems to understand how they work and how they behave when they break. Candidates must be able to play both sides of the fence, both developing and defeating new and advanced security techniques. Projects are undertaken in small teams in close coordination with mentors to maximize growth potential. All our engineers write code, but many of our engineers spend as much time reverse engineering and taking systems apart and building new ones. A typical day can involve studying disassembly or writing Python to audit a piece of C++ code.

Responsibilities to anticipate:

• Growth in knowledge of target being researched
• Regular documentation on research results
• Evaluation of research results
• Modifications to research tools and directions
• Productizing successful research to deliver to a customer

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Understanding of OS Internals (any major OS)
• Experience reading or writing assembly (x86, x64, ARM, PPC, MIPS, SPARC, 68k, or others)
• Understanding of network protocols (TCP/IP stacks, wire-level protocols, RF communications, BGP, routing protocols, or others)
• Understanding of exploit mitigations such as DEP and ASLR
• Experience using reverse engineering tools such as IDA Pro, HexRays, Ghidra, Binary Ninja, or objdump.
• Experience using debuggers such as gdb, WinDbg, OllyDbg
• Experience building and using tools to find, exploit, and productize vulnerabilities in complex software systems
• Candidates must be professional, self-starters, possess a positive attitude, and work well with engineering and technician teams.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience with C or C++
• Must be enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Masters degree program in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) typically Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related area
• Please upload a copy of your most recent transcripts with your resume when applying to this requisition. Include your cumulative GPA and projected graduation date on your resume.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

NWIntern2025

Previously part of a leading Fortune 100 company and headquartered in Dulles, VA; Nightwing became independent in 2024 but continues to support the nation’s most mission impactful initiatives.

When we formed Nightwing, we brought a deep set of credentials and an unfaltering commitment to the mission. For over four decades, our team has been providing some of the world’s most technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence support services to the U.S. government on its most important missions.

At Nightwing, we value collaboration and teamwork. You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside talented individuals who are passionate about what they do. Together, we’ll leverage our collective expertise to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and deliver exceptional results for our clients.

Thank you for considering joining us as we embark on this new journey and shape the future of cybersecurity and intelligence together as part of the Nightwing team

The salary range for this role is - . The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.

Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance.

This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply.

RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.

RTX is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

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