Senior Research Analyst
SACR (Software Analyst Cyber Research) is hiring a Senior Research Analyst to produce rigorous cybersecurity research, develop original market perspectives, and advise senior decision-makers across the cybersecurity ecosystem.
We are looking for an exceptional analyst and market thinker with strong research, writing, presentation, and executive communication skills. The ideal candidate can turn complex and fragmented information into clear insights that help cybersecurity leaders make better decisions.
The role reports directly to Francis Odum, Founder and CEO of SACR.
About SACR
SACR is an independent cybersecurity research and advisory firm operating across Canada and the United States. We provide analyst-driven research, strategic advisory services and market intelligence to enterprise security leaders and cybersecurity companies, and other market participants.
Our research covers security operations, cloud and application security, identity security, and data and AI security. We are a lean, mission-driven firm building the research capabilities, systems, and AI-enabled infrastructure required to expand the reach, speed, and quality of our work.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a senior research analyst who can develop an independent point of view on a cybersecurity market and turn fragmented information into sound judgment.
The successful candidate will identify meaningful market changes before they become obvious, separate signal from vendor noise, build original frameworks, and explain what those developments mean for senior decision-makers.
This is not a content-writing or reporting role. It requires intellectual curiosity, cybersecurity fluency, strong analytical judgment, exceptional writing and presentation skills, and the confidence to challenge assumptions and defend evidence-based conclusions.
Key Responsibilities:
Cybersecurity Research and Market Analysis
- Conduct rigorous research across cybersecurity markets, technologies, and emerging categories.
- Develop independent, evidence-based points of view on cybersecurity markets.
- Identify meaningful market changes before they become obvious.
- Separate important signals from vendor messaging, market hype, and incomplete information.
- Synthesize insights from practitioners, vendors, technical sources, market data, surveys, and primary research.
- Build original frameworks, market models, category definitions, and analytical approaches.
- Turn fragmented or ambiguous information into clear conclusions and sound judgment.
- Produce research that materially reduces uncertainty for CISOs, technology leaders, and other decision-makers.
- Contribute to market maps, comparative assessments, independent research reports, and commissioned studies.
Primary Research and Industry Engagement
- Interview CISOs, senior security practitioners, vendors, founders, and subject-matter experts.
- Lead vendor briefings and ask incisive questions that test claims, assumptions, and market positioning.
- Build trusted relationships across the cybersecurity community while maintaining analytical independence.
- Monitor emerging companies, technologies, buyer priorities, and competitive dynamics.
Writing and Thought Leadership
- Produce clear, rigorous analyst reports, research notes, briefs, and strategic memos.
- Translate complex technical and market developments into practical implications for senior executives.
- Develop and defend original market theses, frameworks, and points of view.
- Contribute thought leadership for LinkedIn, newsletters, webinars, and other SACR channels.
- Maintain a high standard for accuracy, evidence, clarity, and editorial quality.
- Review and strengthen research produced by analysts and contributors when required.
Executive Advisory and Presentation
- Present conclusions and recommendations to CISOs, senior security practitioners, and other executives.
- Independently lead sophisticated conversations with startup founders and CEOs, product and strategy executives, large cybersecurity vendors, investors, and other market participants.
- Challenge assumptions, ask excellent questions, and defend conclusions with confidence and intellectual honesty.
- Present research through executive briefings, advisory calls, webinars, conferences, and industry events.
- Advise senior technology and security leaders on market direction, strategic choices, and their implications.
Research Leadership and Execution
- Own research initiatives from the initial question and methodology through analysis, writing, publication, and presentation.
- Help guide junior analysts through research development and report production.
- Work effectively with research, operations, design, and engineering colleagues to improve how SACR research is created and delivered.
- Contribute to the continued development of SACR’s AI-enabled research capabilities and workflows.
Responsibilities may evolve as SACR’s research coverage, client base, and technology platform continue to grow.
What Success Looks Like
The successful candidate will:
- Produce credible and differentiated cybersecurity research with a clear, independent point of view.
- Identify important market changes early and explain why they matter.
- Create original frameworks and market models that improve how clients understand complex categories.
- Consistently deliver strong written work with limited editorial intervention.
- Earn credibility with CISOs, practitioners, founders, executives, vendors, and other market participants.
- Lead executive conversations independently and communicate complex conclusions with clarity and confidence.
- Use sound judgment to reduce uncertainty for decision-makers.
- Operate effectively in a lean organization where initiative, ownership, and follow-through are essential.
Target Candidate Profile
We welcome candidates who can demonstrate senior analyst-level research judgment, cybersecurity expertise, and executive communication skills.
Relevant backgrounds may include:
- Cybersecurity practitioners with strong research, advisory, or thought-leadership capabilities.
- Cybersecurity strategy consultants with deep market expertise and executive advisory experience.
- Senior product strategy or technical leaders with an exceptional published body of analytical work.
- Other candidates who can demonstrate equivalent analyst-level research judgment, cybersecurity expertise, and market credibility.
Qualifications
- Five or more years of relevant experience in cybersecurity research, advisory, technology strategy, consulting, security practice, or a related field.
- Strong knowledge of cybersecurity markets, technologies, and buyer priorities.
- Expertise in one or more of the following areas is preferred: security operations, cloud and application security, identity security, or data and AI security.
- Demonstrated experience developing original market theses, frameworks, models, or category perspectives.
- A strong body of written analytical work, such as research reports, market analysis, strategic memos, technical articles, or comparable publications.
- Experience presenting conclusions and advising senior technology or security leaders.
- Exceptional writing, speaking, and presentation skills, with the ability to make complex ideas clear without oversimplifying them.
- Strong research, synthesis, critical-thinking, and interviewing capabilities.
- Ability to form, challenge, and respectfully defend an independent, evidence-based point of view.
- Demonstrated ability to build credibility within a technology or cybersecurity community.
- Comfort working in a fast-moving, remote-first environment with evolving processes.
Candidates with fewer than 5 years of experience may be considered if their body of work demonstrates equivalent senior-level research judgment, cybersecurity expertise, and executive communication capability.
Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive base salary, paid in accordance with SACR’s regular payroll practices.
- Performance-linked bonus eligibility.
- Equity eligibility following successful completion of the six-month probationary period.
- Three weeks of annual vacation, accrued in accordance with applicable employment standards.
- Public holiday entitlement in accordance with Ontario legislation.
- Comprehensive health benefits.
- RRSP matching.
- Flexible, hybrid work environment.
How to Apply
Please send the following to [email protected]:
- Your resume
- A brief cover letter explaining your technical product and cybersecurity research experience
- Two or three writing samples demonstrating your analytical and communication abilities
- Links to relevant products, webinars, presentations, conference sessions or published work
Please use the subject line:
Senior Research Analyst & Technical Product Manager – Application
Writing samples are required for consideration. Confidential or paywalled work may be submitted with an explanation of any review restrictions.
SACR is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome qualified applicants from all backgrounds.
Employment Type: Full-time
