Senior/ Lead Security Researcher

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior/ Lead Security Researcher based in India. This is an opportunity to join a Product Security team focused on cutting-edge mobile cybersecurity research and advanced threat defense. You will investigate sophisticated threats across Android, iOS, and HarmonyOS Next, helping develop innovative protections for mobile applications and devices. The role combines reverse engineering, vulnerability research, penetration testing, exploitation, and mitigation techniques. You will contribute to security architecture spanning mobile devices, applications, and connected systems. As a senior contributor, you will take ownership of research projects while mentoring junior researchers and influencing technical direction. The environment is fast-moving, highly technical, collaborative, and designed for researchers who enjoy solving complex security problems. Research emerging threats affecting mobile operating systems and applications, including rooting/jailbreaking, app tampering, runtime tampering, and techniques used to conceal malicious modifications. Conduct reverse engineering, vulnerability research, exploitation, and mitigation work to develop effective mobile security protections. Perform penetration testing and security assessments of mobile products and applications, identifying vulnerabilities and recommending practical defenses. Develop scripts, tooling, and attack/defense techniques for mobile devices and applications to accelerate security research and testing. Create customer-facing security demonstrations that clearly communicate attack scenarios, vulnerabilities, and corresponding defensive mechanisms. Contribute to security solution architectures spanning mobile devices, applications, and networked components, including authentication technologies such as OAuth2 and FIDO2. Research and assess cryptographic protocols and algorithms when required as part of broader security architecture and product development. Take ownership of selected research and development projects, driving them from investigation through implementation and delivery. Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior security researchers, while contributing to a culture of quality, creativity, and continuous improvement. Collaborate closely with the wider Product Security team to develop innovative approaches to emerging mobile security challenges. Requirements: 5+ years of relevant experience in security research, application security, mobile security, vulnerability research, penetration testing, or a closely related field. Strong understanding of operating system internals across one or more platforms such as Android, iOS, HarmonyOS Next, Linux, or comparable systems. Solid knowledge of mobile application development and security, with practical familiarity with rooting/jailbreaking, runtime tampering, app tampering, and related evasion techniques. Hands-on experience with security research and reverse-engineering tools such as Frida, Theos, Ghidra, and IDA Pro. Familiarity with web application security and VAPT tools such as Burp Suite. Ability to understand how security tools and methodologies work internally and use that knowledge to develop creative, customized approaches rather than relying solely on standard workflows. Strong understanding of threat modeling and familiarity with at least one established threat-modeling framework. Experience with scripting or building custom tools to support security research, testing, attack simulation, or defensive development. Strong analytical and critical-thinking abilities, with a systematic and methodical approach to research and testing. Demonstrated ownership of technical projects, with the ability to work independently and make progress with minimal supervision. Excellent attention to detail and a strong commitment to quality, security, and technical rigor. Strong communica