Scientist Crypto | The Hague or Groningen

How do we create cryptographic protocols that can withstand the enormous power of quantum computers? How can you use cryptography to exchange information without sharing sensitive data? What are all the uses blockchain will offer us in the future? At TNO you come up with solutions to these kinds of interesting issues. But that is not all. With the software you develop, we demonstrate the solutions to our clients.

In the cryptography team of the Cyber Security & Robustness department, you work on innovative projects, often together with partners from the business community, governments or knowledge institutes in and outside the Netherlands. For example, we are currently working intensively on secure multi-party computation. Think of banks that seek to detect fraudulent transactions together, without revealing their customers’ payment data to competitors. Or hospitals and insurance companies that want to safely combine their patient databases in order to gain insight into healthcare costs.

Together with your colleagues, you devise cryptographic protocols that enable the secure exchange of information, today and in the future. Have you found a cryptographic solution? Then you develop the software needed to show the customer how the protocols work. In addition to the research, you also undertake very practical work. Furthermore, you can to a large extent organise your own work. Do you like working abroad on a project for the EU? Or would you like to see your name shine under a scientific publication? TNO offers you all the possibilities.
Read more about cyber security at TNO

 

As a medior cryptography researcher you have recognisable input in determining vision and policy in the team and the department. You develop a vision of the specialism in relation to technological and market developments. You write the content of quotations and defend this content to the customer. In other words, you convince our clients on the basis of your expertise. You steer medium-sized or critical projects and collaborate with other disciplines in solving complex issues. You provide specialist supervision to juniors, monitor colleagues’ compliance with quality standards and provide feedback on this. Collaboration, customer focus and result focus are competencies that fit in well with your way of working.

• A university degree or PhD, preferably in Information Technology or another technical study with sufficient affinity with ICT.
• At least 3 years’ relevant work experience. 
• Demonstrable expertise and interest in cryptography
• Experience with popular IT platforms and tooling.

The work is challenging and varied. And with lots of opportunities, because at TNO, you are to a large extent in charge of your career. Besides a gross monthly salary in scale 10(depending on your knowledge and experience), holiday allowance and a thirteenth month, you will have ample possibilities to develop yourself. Perhaps you would want to grow into becoming a senior consultant, focus more on project management, or have a career as a business developer. At TNO, you can also put together your own ‘menu’ of terms of employment that suits your individual situation. Whatever you expect.

• A very innovative and inspiring work environment, with high-calibre experts as colleagues.
• Flexible working hours and freedom to work wherever you want.
• Travel allowance or a bicycle.
• A good pension scheme.
• The option to do courses, training programmes and workshops, and attend conferences.

Read here which terms of employment you can choose from.

The Cyber Security and Robustness (CSR) department consists of approximately 55 enthusiastic professionals, with locations in The Hague and Groningen. Our professionals are very knowledgeable about (technical) cyber security, and quantitative models and algorithms, and very experienced in developing and applying innovative technology and methods. In the field of cryptography in particular, we have top-level expertise available to us and are looking for motivated researchers to help us meet the growing demand for high-quality cryptographic innovations. To do this, we work closely with partners such as universities, other knowledge institutes, service providers and product suppliers, in the Netherlands and abroad. Our contribution ranges from providing independent advice to conducting exploratory research into promising technology. We also make technology usable for a specific client or context, e.g. by developing proof-of-concepts. Clients for our research include the defence sector, financial institutes, telecom service providers and parties operating in the mobility and logistics sector. For many of our clients, a secure and robust ICT system is a crucial to their business’ success. In our Cryptography department, we are working on a number of innovative technologies, including:

• Technology to analyse blockchain transactions.
• Technology to find vulnerabilities in software
• Technology to detect as yet unknown attacks.
• Secure multi-party computation: carrying out calculations on sensitive data of several parties using cryptographic techniques without sharing this data.
• Post-quantum cryptography: research into cryptographic protocols that can withstand quantum computers.
• Quantum cryptography: research into new cryptographic techniques made possible by quantum computing

You may want to start working in Groningen. You will then join an office with about fifteen colleagues from your department. Advantage: here you know everyone by name. If you choose The Hague, you will be working in a larger office with flexible workplaces and colleagues who go for a walk in the city on their lunch break. Both locations have an open atmosphere radiating team spirit. Your team consists of a mix of junior and medior employees and a number of experienced specialists.
Meet your colleagues