Researcher - AI for Cybersecurity

THE ROLE

The Offensive Security Unit (OSU) forms part of the Government’s wider Laboratory for AI Security Research initiative, which brings together academia, industry, and government to advance UK leadership in AI security research.

Without truly understanding the future of cyber-attacks we are limited in our ability to defend. OSU will be a dedicated team that will identify, design and assess new AI-enabled offensive techniques. 

As a Researcher in the OSU, you will investigate how modern AI changes what is possible for cyber adversaries. Working from realistic threat scenarios, you will design and evaluate controlled experiments that explore emerging AI-enabled offensive techniques before they appear in the wild. Outputs may include experimental designs, prototype implementations, reproducible evaluations, technical reports, demonstrations, and briefings for government partners. All work will be conducted within appropriate legal, ethical, and governance frameworks. 

HOW YOU’LL MAKE AN IMPACT

• Identify high-value research questions at the intersection of AI and offensive cyber.
• Translate realistic adversary behaviours into testable hypotheses and experimental designs.
• Co-design and run rigorous evaluations of AI-enabled offensive techniques, including where they work, fail, or introduce new risks.
• Develop prototypes and reproducible implementations with Research Engineers.
• Analyse AI-altered attack surfaces, including how AI may support discovery, chaining, automation, or amplification of cyber techniques. 

YOU’LL THRIVE IN THIS ROLE IF YOU

• Have strong instincts for adversarial thinking and are curious about how systems can be probed, stressed, and exploited
• Are energised by anticipating where offensive capability is heading, rather than only responding to what already exists
• Enjoy turning ideas into well-designed experiments and concrete evidence
• Are comfortable working in ambiguous problem spaces where the right questions are not always obvious
• Can move fluidly between real-world scenarios, abstract reasoning, and experimental validation
• Are motivated by producing work that has real operational relevance and impact
• Like collaborating across disciplines, particularly with engineers and domain experts
• Communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Produce clear technical evidence through reports, demonstrations, and briefings.
• Work closely with government and technical stakeholders to ensure research remains grounded, relevant, and actionable.

Terms and Conditions

This full-time post is offered on a two-year fixed term basis. The annual salary is £45,505 - £51,465 plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies, Employee-only benefits guide | The Alan Turing Institute

Eligibility for Developed Vetting (DV) clearance is a requirement for this role. Eligibility criteria and further information on the process can be found on the UK Government security vetting website. Applicants should check if they are eligible for DV clearance before applying to this role.

Application procedure

Please see our jobs portal (via the 'Apply' button above) for full details on how to apply and the interview process. 

Equality Diversity and Inclusion

We value diversity of background, experience, and perspective, and are proud to be an inclusive employer. We warmly encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from groups currently under-represented in our sector.  If you feel passionate about this role but don’t meet every single requirement, please apply – we recognise that great candidates may bring strengths beyond the criteria listed.