Senior Reverse Engineer / Vulnerability Researcher

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Our elite team of reverse engineers is growing! We’re looking for experienced reverse engineers who love discovering how complex embedded systems work and how to break them. We foster an innovative, highly collaborative environment where engineers tackle the hardest national security cyber challenges and deliver real-world impact. 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 want to collaborate with world-class experts to solve 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. 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. Mentor early-career teammates in the art and science of reverse engineering.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or another field relevant to the duties as described above
At least 5 years 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
Hold an active TS/SCI clearance 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
Mentor early-career teammates in the art and science of reverse engineering