Embedded Security Engineer

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MITRE’s Electronic Systems Security department is seeking to hire an Embedded Security Engineer and researcher to tackle the kinds of embedded security problems most engineers only read about, in support of missions of national importance. We find and exploit hidden flaws to unlock access, reveal deeper system insight, enable customer missions, and slam doors shut to protect critical systems. We think like attackers, operate like researchers, and deliver the insight our customers need. This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives at the intersection of offensive and defensive security research. You will operate at every layer of the stack, tracing vulnerabilities and attack paths from low-level firmware and hardware interfaces up through operating systems, middleware, and application code. In this role, you will reverse engineer complex systems, research vulnerabilities, develop proof-of-concept exploits, build mission-ready capabilities, and create new tools and techniques to accelerate our work.

If you are driven by low-level technical challenges, creative problem-solving, and the opportunity to make a real impact, this is your chance. You will join a talented, multidisciplinary team with deep expertise in software and hardware reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and embedded security. Together, you will take on hard problems, build novel capabilities, and deliver results that make a difference for our customers and their missions. If you want to do exceptional, technically demanding, and rewarding work with exceptional teammates, we want to hear from you.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Engineers in this role will develop and apply their technical expertise to:

• Reverse engineer and perform vulnerability research against complex embedded system software.
• Prototype technical capabilities in hardware and software e.g., proof-of-concept software exploit.
• Research emerging threats to embedded systems and countermeasures.
• Provide technical leadership within project teams and help define research approaches that deliver impactful solutions for our customers.
• Design, develop, and lead key efforts to build software infrastructure and tools that enable, accelerate, and scale reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and security capability development for embedded systems.
• Communicate technical approach, risks, and results to MITRE program leaders and customers.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering, Computer Science or similar field with 2+ years of related experience;
• Expertise in reverse engineering software binaries/embedded firmware and having practical experience with disassemblers, decompilers, firmware unpacking, common executable file formats, and debuggers.
• Experience developing software with C/C++ and Python.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Must be capable of obtaining and maintaining a DoW Secret security clearance
• Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering, Computer Science or similar field with 4+ years of related experience; Master’s degree in the same with 2+ years of related experience; or PhD in the same.
• Possess an active Top Secret security clearance.
• Experience leading teams developing or evaluating secure embedded systems.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$103,600 - $129,500 - $155,400 Annual

Work Location Type:

Hybrid

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Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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