Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Description

The company is hiring an engineer to evaluate the security and robustness of proprietary embedded systems. The work involves reverse engineering, building custom analysis tools, finding vulnerabilities and supporting national cybersecurity work.

The role sits where embedded systems, telecom and cybersecurity meet. The team is technically focused, encourages new ideas and deep technical investigation, and values technical depth, curiosity and mentoring.

You may publish research, present findings or contribute to classified mission work.

The company supports ongoing learning, certifications and reverse engineering challenges.

Responsibilities

• Reverse engineer embedded firmware, device drivers and proprietary telecom systems to uncover undocumented behavior and security weaknesses.
• Carry out firmware extraction, binary diffing, static and dynamic analysis and hardware-assisted debugging.
• Work with hardware engineers to reach debug interfaces such as JTAG and SWD, pull flash images and check hardware state.
• Write custom tools and scripts, for example in Python3, to automate firmware unpacking, protocol decoding and memory analysis.
• Examine edge cases, error-handling routines and low-level initialization logic to identify attack surfaces.
• Write clear reports that turn complex technical findings into steps security and engineering teams can act on.

Requirements

• You must be a US citizen and able to obtain a security clearance.
• You need a TS/SCI clearance to start.
• At least 5 years of professional embedded software development experience, including reverse engineering.
• Skill in C, C++ and assembly for embedded architectures such as ARM, MIPS, x86 or RISC-V.
• Experience with RTOS environments, including VxWorks, and with embedded Linux device driver development.
• Understanding of embedded IPC mechanisms such as message queues, shared memory and semaphores.
• Working knowledge of embedded hardware interfaces, including SPI, I2C, PCIe, UART and memory-mapped I/O.
• Proficiency in Python3 for scripting and automation.
• Hands-on use of disassembly and decompilation tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra or Binary Ninja, and debugging tools such as GDB and JTAG.
• Knowledge of embedded security concepts, including secure boot, firmware encryption and hardware authentication.
• Desired: an active security clearance.
• Desired: experience in cybersecurity research, vulnerability discovery or exploit development in embedded or telecom settings.
• Desired: familiarity with PowerPC assembly, including QUICC-based systems.
• Desired: experience with ARM assembly and debugging SoC-based embedded platforms.
• Desired: understanding of Linux kernel internals and or VxWorks internals.
• Desired: hands-on work with FPGA-based systems that include embedded ARM or PowerPC cores.
• Desired: background in embedded hardware design and debugging, using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers and firmware extraction techniques.
• Desired: ability to build tools and infrastructure that support analysis workflows across a team.

Conditions

Full-time, regular position in the Engineering category.

Travel of up to 10% within the continental US may be required.

Salary depends on factors such as location, Federal Government contract labor categories and wage rates, relevant experience, skills, education and certifications.

The proposed salary range is between $113,200 and $237,800.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and learning and development opportunities.
• Flexible time off that lets you take the time you need.
• Access to robust learning resources.
• Comprehensive benefits covering healthcare, wellness, financial support, retirement, family support, continuing education and time off.