OverviewWe are looking for a talented Senior Cybersecurity R&D Engineer who can bridge the worlds of AI and information security. The ideal candidate will have relevant R&D experience in at least one of the following areas, and interest in developing expertise in the other:
Applying state-of-the-art AI techniques to strengthen cyber defense (e.g., deep learning-based intrusion detection, anomaly detection), and/or
Interest in developing expertise in the other area (AI/ML with cybersecurity or security-focused AI)
This role will lead applied research projects, translating results into validated prototypes and pilot-ready solutions, and facilitating technology transfer to industry partners. The candidate will also mentor junior researchers and contribute to collaborative R&D initiatives at national and European levels.
Key Responsibilities:
Conceive and contribute to applied R&D initiatives combining AI/ML with cybersecurity (e.g., adversarial ML, LLM guardrails, secure AI pipelines, or AI for threat detection), depending on expertise.
Advance solutions across Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), from proof-of-concept to validation in real-world or operational environments.
Contribute to the development of deployment-oriented prototypes, considering performance, security, and usability constraints.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including software engineers, data scientists, and infrastructure teams, to integrate research into practical applications.
Engage with industry partners to support validation and technology transfer activities.
Stay informed about emerging trends and threats in AI and cybersecurity.
Contribute to national and European R&D projects and proposals.
Mentor junior team members and contribute to a collaborative research environment.
Qualifications:
Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics or a closely related discipline.
Ph D is valued but not required.
Experience:
Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in academia or industry.
Proven track record of successfully leading or contributing to R&D activities (e.g., research projects, prototypes or applied developments).
Skills:
Strong programming skills in Python; experience with ML frameworks (e.g., Py Torch, Tensor Flow, or similar).
Experience or interest in either cybersecurity or AI/ML (hands-on experience in both is a plus, but not required).
Familiarity with software development practices (version control, containerization, or CI/CD) is beneficial.
Understanding of security concepts (e.g., network security, cryptography, or secure coding) or machine learning fundamentals.
Awareness of AI/ML security challenges (e.g., adversarial attacks, prompt injection, data leakage) is a plus.
Interest in applied research, experimentation, and validation in real-world settings.
Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
Motivation to learn and expand expertise across AI and cybersecurity domains.
Applications to recrutamento.lis@ipn.pt by31 May 2026