Reverse Engineer / Cyber Capabilities Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Ready to take your reverse engineering skills to the next level? Our elite team of reverse engineers is growing, and we're looking for engineers who are excited to dive deep into complex embedded systems, discover vulnerabilities, and build offensive cyber capabilities that solve real-world national security challenges. Our team specializes in software and hardware reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and offensive cyber capability development. We believe the best solutions start with curious minds, multi-disciplinary expertise, and technical ingenuity. If you're eager to grow alongside world-class experts while tackling problems that others consider impossible, we'd love to have you join our team at APL! As a member of our group, you will reverse engineer mission-relevant systems, discover vulnerabilities, and develop innovative exploits. You will collaborate with teammates in custom laboratories purpose-built for foreign materiel, telecommunications infrastructure, and other embedded systems. You will work alongside APL experts in domains such as missile defense, space, and maritime systems to understand the operational significance of your reverse engineering discoveries. You will partner directly with government sponsors across multiple agencies to build mission-aligned offensive cyber capabilities. You will explore novel techniques for automating reverse engineering and exploit development. You will shape the future of our work by proposing new technical approaches and pioneering new research directions. You will contribute to a culture of continuous learning by sharing your perspective, learning from others, and helping teammates grow.

Requirements

Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or another field relevant to the duties as described above
At least 1 year of relevant professional experience
Skilled with software debuggers and static analysis tools such as Ghidra, IDA, and Binary Ninja
Proficient with one or more programming languages
Experience reading and writing assembly
Understand Unix/Linux operating systems and embedded systems development toolchains
Love solving puzzles and have experience persevering through technical challenges
Possess an active Secret level security clearance, are able to obtain a Top Secret clearance by your start date, and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI + polygraph clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information; eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Previously held dynamic technical leadership roles and have demonstrated mentoring experience
Experience applying AI systems to reverse engineering, vulnerability research, or exploit development
Knowledge of advanced vulnerability discovery tools
Experience with hardware debugging interfaces, code security mechanisms and their weaknesses, hardware diagnostic tools, and signal/protocol analysis
Possess an active TS/SCI clearance with full scope polygraph

Responsibilities

Reverse engineer mission-relevant systems, discover vulnerabilities, and develop innovative exploits
Collaborate with teammates in custom laboratories purpose-built for foreign materiel, telecommunications infrastructure, and other embedded systems
Work alongside APL experts in domains such as missile defense, space, and maritime systems to understand the operational significance of your reverse engineering discoveries
Partner directly with government sponsors across multiple agencies to build mission-aligned offensive cyber capabilities
Explore novel techniques for automating reverse engineering and exploit development
Shape the future of our work by proposing new technical approaches and pioneering new research directions
Contribute to a culture of continuous learning by sharing your perspective, learning from others, and helping teammates grow