---
title: 'Sr Research Engineer at Verisign'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sr-research-engineer-verisign-reston-f2bnmcrr9rpm'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-10'
---

# Sr Research Engineer at Verisign

- **Company:** Verisign
- **Location:** Reston, VA
- **Posted:** 2026-07-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/verisign/jobs/7810286003

## Job description

Verisign helps enable the security, stability, and resiliency of the internet. We are a trusted provider of internet infrastructure services for the networked world and deliver unmatched performance in domain name system (DNS) services.

We are a mission focused, values driven company where each individual can contribute to building a stronger, more secure internet.  We offer a dynamic and flexible work environment with competitive benefits and the ability to grow your career.

Seeking enthusiastic candidates for a truly exciting opportunity to strengthen and extend the core security substrate at the heart of the Internet. Successful candidates for this position will be in a position to make fundamental and broadly impactful enhancements to the very foundations of Internet security. The Sr Engineer - Research Engineering plays a lead technical role in identifying and developing novel and operationally relevant research concepts related to Internet infrastructure applications and protocols.  The applicant is expected to be ready to understand how technology impacts Verisign's business and pursue solutions that will mitigate risk or accelerate opportunities for Verisign's business. This role is responsible for collaborating on integration strategies for technologies across the company and the industry.

Key responsibilities:

- Works closely with business and technology leaders to identify research and development opportunities based on long-term business strategy and objectives. Provides business and technology leaders with active support enhancing the forward direction and innovative potential of their areas.
- Develops real world solutions to difficult technology problems through innovative yet programmatic approaches.
- Develops compelling and easy to understand use cases as well as software and systems prototypes.
- Serves as a recognized technical expert. Mentors and provides guidance to more junior level engineers.  Coordinates and provides leadership in interdepartmental research projects and efforts, for example, organizing and directing the Research summer internship program.
- Represents Verisign in related external forums to build our reputation as an industry thought leader; publicizes research results in appropriate internal and external forums.

Education and experience requirements:

- Bachelors and Masters degrees in Computer Science, Engineering or a related technical field are required; PhD is preferred
- 8-10+ years’ experience in research engineering, ideally with a mix of professional and academic experience
- Experience with systems development research and/or prototype development
- Experience with network security, including cryptography, privacy, identification, and authentication
- Experience presenting ideas and prototypes at public forums, such as technical conferences
- Authorship on one or more peer reviewed publication(s)
- Experience with open standard Internet protocols and/or services (such as DNS, IP, RDAP, etc.)
- Experience with large scale data analysis and evaluation of network traffic data
- Deep hands on technical skills combined with experience working in research teams on fast paced, high impact projects
- Knowledge of *nix operating systems
- Strong development background
- C, C++, Java, and/or Python
- SQL, NoSQL, or equivalent data storage schema creation and use

This position is based in our Reston, VA office and offers a hybrid work schedule.

We are seeking candidates at the Engineer IV or V level.

- The pay range for Engineer IV is $135,800 - $183,300.
- The pay range for Engineer V is $164,300 - $222,300.

The anticipated annual base salary range for this position is noted above, however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience. Verisign offers a discretionary bonus which is based on individual and company performance, and certain roles may be eligible for discretionary stock awards. Verisign is an equal opportunity employer. That means we recruit, hire, compensate, train, promote, transfer, and administer all terms and conditions of employment without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, protected veteran status, disability, or other protected categories under applicable law.

Additional Information: [Our Careers Page](https://www.verisign.com/en_US/company-information/verisign-careers/index.xhtml?dmn=verisign.careers) [Our Benefits Summary](https://www.verisign.com/careers/benefits/) [Verisign in the Community](https://www.verisign.com/about-us/verisign-cares/) [Our EEO Statement](https://www.verisign.com/assets/Equal-Employment-Opportunity.pdf) [Our Privacy Notice for Job Applicants/Candidates](https://www.verisign.com/legal-center/privacy/privacy-job-applicants/) [Reasonable Accommodations](https://www.verisign.com/en_US/company-information/verisign-careers/index.xhtml?loc=en_US#:~:text=Reasonable%20Accommodations%20for%20Those%20With%20Disabilities)

Staffing agency policy: No fees will be paid for unsolicited resumes submitted to Verisign or our employees by third parties.

## About Verisign

## Core Business
- Primary industry/industries: Internet infrastructure, domain name registry services, DNS security and stability
- Target customers: ICANN-accredited registrars (B2B), the global internet community (indirectly B2C through domain registrations)
- Mission or purpose statement: "Verisign enables the world to connect online with reliability and confidence – anytime, anywhere."

## Products & Services
- **.com and .net Registry Services**: Authoritative resolution and registration for the two largest top-level domains, supporting the majority of global e-commerce.
- **Root Zone Maintainer**: Operates two of the 13 global internet root servers and provides root zone maintainer services for the DNS.
- **DNS Security & Stability**: Proprietary infrastructure and tools to protect the Domain Name System from cyber threats, with uninterrupted resolution since 1997.
- **Data & Insights**: Publishes data about .com and .net zone trends and contributes to internet standards development.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Public company (NYSE: VRSN) – current market cap not disclosed in provided sources.
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue – not publicly available in provided sources. (Public financials can be found in SEC filings.)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: U.S. Department of Commerce (Cooperative Agreement for .com), Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), approximately 3,000 ICANN-accredited registrars worldwide.
- **Growth Signals**: Manages relationships with ~3,000 registrars who typically submit over 100 million domain name transactions daily; operates two of the 13 global root servers; continues to invest in DNS infrastructure to meet growing global internet engagement.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Uninterrupted service**: Provided resolution for .com and .net without interruption since 1997.
- **Proprietary infrastructure**: Custom-built DNS registration infrastructure and toolset designed for high dependability in an evolving cyber threat environment.
- **Content neutrality obligation**: Under the Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, .com registry must remain content neutral – a unique obligation that ensures equal access.
- **Root zone stewardship**: As root zone maintainer and operator of two root servers, Verisign holds a critical, irreplaceable role in the global DNS.
- **Scale and trust**: Billions of people and a significant portion of the world’s economy rely on the infrastructure Verisign helps manage.

## Strategic Focus
- **Infrastructure investment**: Committed to investing in DNS infrastructure to meet ever-growing demand as global internet engagement continues to rise.
- **Security leadership**: Working with government regulators, ICANN, industry groups, and law enforcement to combat DNS-related security threats and illegal activity.
- **Community collaboration**: Actively contributes to policy development and internet standards, sharing expertise through publicly available data on .com and .net zones.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven culture**: Employees help keep the internet secure, stable, and resilient – with impact felt globally.
- **Diversity and inclusion**: Equal opportunity employer with active employee communities (APIC, BELIEVE, BienVenidos, Women in Technology, Young Professionals Group).
- **Comprehensive benefits**: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with match, employee stock purchase plan, tuition reimbursement, parental bonding leave, volunteer hours, and more.
- **Work environment**: Emphasis on work-life balance; onsite fitness center in Reston; telemedicine and family building support.
- **Veteran-friendly**: Mission-focused and veteran-driven culture; many veterans thrive in the company’s purpose-oriented environment.
- **Remote/hybrid policy**: Not explicitly stated in provided sources; likely office-based with flexibility (Reston HQ and international locations).

## Sources
1. [verisign.com - About Us](https://www.verisign.com/about-us/)
2. [verisign.com - Careers Overview](https://www.verisign.com/careers/)
3. [verisign.com - Our Culture](https://www.verisign.com/careers/our-culture/)
4. [verisign.com - Jobs](https://www.verisign.com/careers/jobs/)
5. [verisign.com - Employee Benefits](https://www.verisign.com/careers/benefits/)
6. [job-boards.greenhouse.io - Verisign Careers](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/verisign)

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