AI/Systems Engineer: Offensive Cybersecurity — Zealot

AI/Systems Engineer: Offensive Cybersecurity — Zealot

Location: Washington, D.C. (Onsite, 5 days/week)

Compensation: $160,000 – $250,000 base 0.25% – 0.75% equity

Visa Sponsorship: None available

Experience Level: 2–5 years

Employment Type: Full-Time

About Zealot

Zealot is building AI-driven offensive cyber systems for U.S. and allied cyber operations. The company focuses on automating end-to-end Cyber Network Operations using AI-native systems designed for vulnerability research, exploit development, and offensive security workflows.

Zealot is already operating under a high-seven-figure customer contract and recently raised funding from major defense and AI investors, including leadership connected to Palantir. The team includes former engineers and operators from xAI, Anthropic, Scale, and multiple YC-backed startups.

About The Role

Zealot is hiring AI/Systems Engineers to build production systems supporting AI-driven vulnerability research and offensive cyber operations. This is a deeply technical systems engineering role focused on operating systems, kernel-level engineering, runtime analysis, and production-grade low-level infrastructure. The company is specifically seeking engineers comfortable working close to the hardware layer with strong builder instincts and the ability to operate independently in highly ambiguous environments.

What You'll Own

• Build AI-driven vulnerability research and exploit development systems
• Work directly with OS internals, kernel interfaces, and runtime systems
• Optimize low-level system performance and correctness
• Own architecture, implementation, and deployment end-to-end
• Partner with vulnerability researchers and security operators
• Convert manual offensive cyber operations into scalable automated systems
• Help define technical standards for AI-native offensive security infrastructure
  
  
  

Requirements

• 2 years of engineering experience
• Deep low-level systems engineering expertise
• Experience with OS internals, kernel work, runtime detection, or dynamic analysis
• Strong production engineering and systems ownership mindset
• Comfortable operating in ambiguous environments
• Eligible for U.S. government security clearance requirements
• Willing to relocate onsite to Washington, D.C.
  
  
  

Nice to Have

• Vulnerability research or CTF background
• Offensive security experience
• Prior YC founder or early engineering experience
• Experience at elite AI or systems companies
• Open-source OS tooling contributions
• Security startup engineering experience
• Exposure to ML or AI systems
  
  
  

This Role Is NOT For

• Engineers with long tenure in low-agency enterprise environments
• Thought-leader style profiles without a strong builder track record
• Research-heavy profiles lacking production engineering ownership
• Candidates not eligible for U.S. government security clearance
  
  
  

Interview Process

• Intro call
• Technical interview
• Technical interview #2
• Offer stage
  
  
  

Logistics

• Role is fully onsite in Washington, D.C. — 5 days/week — please only apply if you can commit to this
• No visa sponsorship available — must be eligible for U.S. government security clearance
  
  
  

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by David Joseph & Co., the recruiting partner managing this search on behalf of Zealot.