Responsibilities are centered on supporting forensic investigations and documenting malware behaviors under supervision. Typical tasks include collecting suspicious files, running them in sandbox environments (e.g., Cuckoo Sandbox, Any.Run), and generating basic reports. Juniors also learn to use disassemblers (IDA Free, Ghidra) for simple static analysis, verify antivirus signatures, and maintain malware sample libraries. Accuracy, discipline in following protocols, and familiarity with scripting languages (Python, Bash) are essential at this stage.

Semi-senior analysts independently conduct both static and dynamic analysis of malicious code. They reverse-engineer malware with advanced tools (IDA Pro, Ghidra, Radare2), monitor runtime behavior in controlled environments, and extract indicators of compromise (IoCs) for detection systems. Responsibilities include writing YARA or Snort rules, collaborating with incident response teams, and drafting intelligence briefs for SOC operations. Proficiency with debuggers (x64dbg, OllyDbg) and memory forensics tools (Volatility) becomes standard, alongside scripting automation for repetitive analysis tasks.

Senior analysts lead complex investigations into advanced persistent threats (APTs) and sophisticated malware families. They dissect obfuscated code, analyze rootkits or polymorphic malware, and develop custom tools to accelerate analysis. Senior malware analysts validate threat intelligence feeds, design detection signatures for enterprise SIEMs, and advise on mitigation strategies for large-scale incidents. They mentor junior staff, coordinate cross-team investigations, and contribute to security research publications. Deep expertise in assembly, network forensics, and exploit techniques is expected at this level.

Malware Analysis Managers define the organization’s strategy for malware defense and threat research. They oversee analyst teams, prioritize investigations, and manage partnerships with external intelligence providers. Responsibilities include evaluating and procuring advanced malware analysis platforms, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and presenting threat assessments to executives and stakeholders. Managers also drive innovation in automation and AI-assisted malware detection, balancing strategic defense initiatives with operational readiness. By aligning technical expertise with organizational priorities, they strengthen resilience against evolving cyber threats.