About Flare

Flare is a breakout cybersecurity SaaS company with a mission to empower organizations to take control of their data and protect their customers, employees, and brand by shedding light on external threats. We enable cybersecurity teams to proactively detect high-risk external exposure across the dark and clear web, before threat actors have a chance to leverage it. We unify the core functionalities of cyber threat intelligence and external attack surface management into a single, intuitive platform.

TL;DR: We are a bunch of nerds who help protect our clients' data (and the people in their networks) by locating cyber risks.

About the role

Autonomous AI systems are increasingly impacting organizations around the world. 2026 has seen the first autonomous ransomware incident, an autonomous hack of Huggingface, and an increase in cybercriminals using AI systems. This role will be responsible for tracking misuse of AI systems in the cybercrime ecosystem, conducting novel research into offensive applications of AI, and presenting this research to ISACs and customers.

This is a high-ownership role with broad autonomy. The right person identifies problems independently and drives them to resolution. This role may require occasional after hours work to respond to fast moving threats.

Your purpose and impact

• Track the misuse of AI systems using Flare's decade-long archive of cybercrime intelligence.
• Serve as Flare's primary subject matter expert for customer RFIs and questions related to threat actor’s use of AI.
• Identify emerging threats early and rapidly develop briefings, research, and presentations on AI-enabled cybercrime and the risks posed by increasingly autonomous systems.
• Partner with sales and customer-facing teams to advise customers on AI-related threats, risks, and defensive strategies.
• Deliver regular threat briefings on the evolving misuse of AI by cybercriminals.

Produce original research on topics including:

• Autonomous AI systems used for cybercrime and offensive security
• The intersection of AI and Identity-based threats
• AI use in Dark web and Telegram ecosystems
• Emerging AI-driven attack chains

Present research at industry conferences, ISAC meetings, customer events, and executive briefings, translating technical findings into board-level business risk for CISOs and executive leadership. Work closely with marketing and sales to ensure research drives thought leadership, strengthens customer relationships, and contributes to pipeline growth. Represent Flare at conferences, trade shows, and industry events through speaking engagements and customer meetings.

You'll be a perfect fit if

• You have experience working with cybercrime data and in fast moving research organizations.
• You have real, hands-on technical depth in the cybercrime ecosystem: stealer logs, credential and identity threats, underground forums and markets, malware, command and control, and the actors and infrastructure behind them.
• You have 3+ years of experience in law enforcement, intelligence or security roles.
• You have a track record of original research and a public footprint: published work, conference presentations, media citations.
• You bring threat intelligence experience from a cybersecurity vendor, government cyber, or established independent research.
• You value feedback, embrace radical candor, and are motivated to continually improve.
• You are comfortable with structured processes but thrive in the ambiguity of a startup ("building the plane as it's flying") while holding a high bar for defensible, first-to-market work.

Nice to have

• Experience leveraging AI for detection and classification work
• History of working closely with product, marketing, or customer success to bring threat insights into strategy.
• Deep threat intelligence or cybercrime experience
• Software Engineering or DevOps experience

What it's like to be part of Flare

You'll receive:

• Competitive salary
• Stock options
• Insurance coverage
• Flexible
• Unlimited vacation
• Fun company events (Flamping, curling, rock climbing)

You will join a high-growth, innovative startup where you'll see your impact immediately and be empowered to take on challenges for your personal and professional growth. You will work with an inspiring, award-winning team who are passionate about what they do and the clients we serve, and whose work has been referenced in leading academic journals and international media.

What success looks like

First 30 Days

• Become fluent in Flare's platform, cybercrime intelligence, and identity threat coverage, and confidently deliver a full product demonstration to both technical and executive audiences.
• Develop a strong understanding of Flare's cybercrime archive and current research capabilities.
• Identify and validate 3–5 high-impact research opportunities focused on the criminal misuse of AI and emerging autonomous attack techniques.
• Contribute to the investigation or analysis of at least one emerging AI-enabled threat.
• Begin providing strategic input on how Flare should position itself as a leader in AI threat intelligence.

First 60 Days

• Launch your first original research project, with a defined publication, conference, and media strategy.
• Deliver your first customer-facing AI threat briefing for customers, prospects, or partners.
• Represent Flare in your first ISAC working group, industry briefing, or community engagement.
• Become an active participant in answering customer questions providing expert guidance on AI-enabled threats and autonomous attack techniques.
• Establish a regular cadence with Marketing and Product Marketing so research consistently supports thought leadership.
• Become the internal point of contact for questions related to AI-enabled cybercrime and emerging AI threats.

First 90 Days

• Publish or publicly present your first major piece of original research under the Flare brand.
• Establish yourself externally as a recognized voice on the criminal misuse of AI through conferences, media, webinars, and executive briefings.
• Define and align a 6–12 month research roadmap with leadership, owning a clear portfolio of AI threat research.
• Become the default technical expert supporting strategic customer engagements involving AI threats and autonomous cybercrime.