Lead Security Researcher

We are seeking a
Lead Security Researcher
to join Escape and play a central role in advancing the detection capabilities of our DAST and ASM products. This role focuses on applied research: discovering novel vulnerability detection techniques, improving existing algorithms, and ensuring Escape remains best-in-class in terms of accuracy, performance, and real-world relevance.

As part of the Security Research team, you will work on transforming security insights into concrete detection logic that runs at scale in production. Your work will directly shape the effectiveness of Escape's scanners and have a measurable impact on customer security outcomes.

Context

• Location
  : Paris , 2 days remote/week
• Company
  : 
  Escape
   – Leading AI Cybersecurity Startup
• Cofounders
  : CEO (
  Tristan Kalos
  ) and CTO (
  Antoine Carossio
  )
• Engineering Team
  : 
  15
   Engineers, 
  4
   Technical Leads, 
  1
   Product Owner
• You'll be working in a 
  close-knit team of 3 outstanding engineers under supervision of a technical lead

Key Responsibilities:

• Vulnerability Research:
  Research and identify new classes of vulnerabilities and novel detection techniques across web applications, APIs, and modern application architectures.
• Algorithm Design & Improvement:
  Design, evaluate, and continuously improve detection algorithms with a strong focus on signal quality, performance, and reduction of false positives.
• Applied R&D:
  Turn research ideas into practical, implementable detection logic suitable for large-scale, automated scanning.
• Performance & Accuracy Focus:
  Evaluate trade-offs between coverage, accuracy, and execution cost to ensure scanners remain efficient at scale.
• Cross-Team Collaboration:
  Work closely with the Scanners and Platform teams to ensure research outputs are effectively integrated into production systems.
• Technical Leadership:
  Act as a senior contributor within the research team, setting technical direction, reviewing research approaches, and mentoring other researchers.
• Technology Watch:
  Stay up to date with emerging vulnerabilities, exploitation techniques, and defensive research in the application security ecosystem.

Tech Stack

• Languages:
  Compiled languages (C/C++, Go, Rust), scripting languages for prototyping
• Research Focus:
  Vulnerability discovery, detection algorithms, and performance-oriented analysis
• Execution Context:
  Research outputs integrated into large-scale automated scanners
• Collaboration Surface:
  Close interaction with production systems and distributed scanning workloads
• Engineering Focus:
  Accuracy, performance, and applicability of detection logic at scale

Perks

• Significant equity (Stock Options/BSCPE)
  , making you a true stakeholder in our success.
• Top-tier
  health insurance
  with 
  Alan
• Meal vouchers
   with a 
  Swile
•  
  Sport
   
  subscription
   with EGYM Wellpass (ex Gymlib)
• A place to learn and grow
  : Access to books and online courses to help you excel in your role
• Top-tier equipment
  to do your best work
• Free time to work on cool
  Open Source
  Projects.
• Opportunities to present research and engineering work at international conferences like
  RSAC
  ,
  BSides
  ,
  BlackHat
  ,
  DEFCON
  ,
  APIDays
  (New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, London, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona)
• 5+ years of experience:
  Proven experience in a security research or R&D-focused role, ideally within an applied or product-oriented environment.
• Deep Expertise:
  Strong depth in at least one security or computer science domain (e.g. web security, program analysis, protocols, compilers, networking).
• Broad CS Knowledge:
  Solid understanding of computer science fundamentals, enabling cross-domain reasoning and problem solving.
• Compiled Languages:
  Proficiency in at least one compiled language such as C/C++, Go, or Rust.
• Results-Oriented Research:
  Demonstrated ability to drive research from idea to tangible, measurable outcomes.
• Collaboration Skills:
  Comfortable working with software engineers to transition research into scalable, production-ready systems.
• Curiosity & Rigor:
  Strong analytical mindset, intellectual curiosity, and high standards for technical rigor.

We respect your time and will make it quick and efficient. 
The entire process will be completed within
 
1 week
.

1 meeting with the 
HR representative
 - 30 minutes

Technical challenge

 1 
technical deep dive
 with the 
Technical Lead
 - 1 hour

 1 
personal experience
 interview the 
Head of Engineering
 - 1 hour

 1 
leadership
 & 
strategy
 interview the 
CTO
 - 30 minutes

 Formal 
hiring proposal
.