Senior Scientist - Cybersecure Systems & Industrial Security in the AI Age

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

R&D Team Lead - Secure Connected Systems

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Key responsibilities

ABB is shaping the digital transformation of industries toward more autonomous, connected, and sustainable process plants, factories, infrastructure, and buildings. As artificial intelligence becomes embedded across the industrial lifecycle, protecting the convergence of digital and physical systems is essential to ensure innovation, operational continuity, and customer trust.

Are you passionate about applying (IT) security engineering and research expertise to foster cybersecure systems, and are you ready to advance industrial cybersecurity in the era of AI-driven systems? You want to explore how AI can strengthen cyber defense and new security offerings while addressing new attack surfaces, automation risks, and governance challenges? Then join the international ABB research family and apply your knowledge in an innovative and fascinating environment, creating real-world impact.

In this role, you research and develop cybersecurity technologies, architectures, and practices for industrial products and systems. You will address a rapidly evolving landscape in which AI accelerates both attacks and defenses, connected systems expand the attack surface, and regulations increasingly require secure-by-design development, vulnerability management, and lifecycle assurances. Your work will combine scientific ideas and solutions with hands-on prototyping to strengthen the resilience, autonomy, and trustworthiness of industrial systems.

You will be mainly accountable for:

• As part of diverse, multi-disciplinary teams, you design secure, sustainable, and scalable system architectures and innovative technology solutions for industrial systems.
• You develop application-driven and security-by-design solutions for complex cyber-physical and AI-driven systems.
• You apply your (IT) security engineering knowledge to translate industrial standards and evolving regulations into practical approaches for secure products and services.
• You team up to find innovative ways to explore AI for cybersecurity, including security automation, vulnerability management, and decision support.
• You initiate, lead, and contribute to applied research projects, shape research roadmaps, and advise product development teams on emerging security topics.
• You collaborate internationally with ABB divisions, customers, partners, startups, and leading academic institutes.
• You build prototypes and showcase your work in demonstrators inside and outside of ABB.
• You secure intellectual property by patent applications and publish scientific articles.
• You continuously develop your technical expertise and personal skills.

Qualifications for the role

You combine scientific curiosity with a pragmatic engineering mindset and enjoy turning emerging technologies into resilient solutions. We value creativity, initiative, clear communication, and result orientation, as well as the ability to collaborate across cultures, disciplines, and organizational boundaries. Proficient English skills are mandatory.

• Above-average university degree in cybersecurity, computer science, automation engineering, electrical engineering, or a related discipline, combined with either academic (PhD) or professional experience of at least two years.
• Experience in secure software and systems engineering (e.g., threat modeling, secure software development, security-by-design), cybersecurity technologies and applied solutions (e.g., identity and access management, trusted computing, zero trust).
• Experience with or strong interest in cybersecurity in AI-driven systems (agentic AI-based security architectures, vulnerability discovery and management, intrusion detection and response).
• Hands-on software or prototype development skills (e.g., C/C++, Rust, Python, cloud-native technologies) and practical use of AI.
• Applied industrial / OT security expertise or knowledge of relevant standards / regulations (e.g., IEC 62443, EU CRA, NIST) is beneficial.
• Industrial domain knowledge in process automation, motion/drives, electrification, or smart buildings, or experience leading collaborative research projects is a plus.

Benefits

• Broad network of technical experts beyond your immediate team
• Diverse, international working culture
• Flexible work practices
• Learning & training opportunities
• ABB Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)

Please note: in the case of equal suitability, people with severe disabilities and their equals are given preference.

Contact Information

Dr. Thomas Gamer (Research Team Manager): [email protected]

ABB AG

+49 (0) 621 381 3500

Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.

Ready to make an impact?

Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.