Senior Computer and Information Research Scientist

Job Description

Job Description

Position: Software Reverse Engineer
Client II LCAT: Senior Computer and Information Research Scientist, 113
Location: NDOC, Bethesda, MD (full-time on-site)

Clearance Requirement: Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph

Education Requirement: Bachelor's degree with 8 years of relevant experience, or Master's degree with 6 years of relevant experience, or PhD with 3 years of relevant experience. A degree within one of the following fields is highly desired: Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or Software Engineering. However, in lieu of a Bachelor's degree an additional 4 years of relevant experience or specialized training may be considered.

Summary:
Seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Software Reverse Engineer to join our team in Bethesda, MD. In this role, you will perform in-depth analysis of software, firmware, and hardware systems to uncover its true functionality, identify vulnerabilities, and understand their operational context. This position requires a holistic approach, combining dynamic system analysis, static binary reverse engineering, and document exploitation to reveal not just what a system does, but why and how it supports its mission objectives.

Key Responsibilities:
-System Analysis: Conduct comprehensive analysis of compiled software and binaries. Employ forensic techniques to extract critical artifacts, understand system architecture, and identify key software components.
-Dynamic System & Environment Analysis: Utilize virtualization and sandboxing environments (VMware, KVM/QEMU) to run and observe software in its native operating environment. Perform system call tracing, network monitoring, and file system analysis to reveal real-time behaviors and interactions.
-Live Debugging and Analysis: Perform live, on-system debugging to step through code execution in real-time. Correlate dynamic findings with static analysis from Ghidra/IDA Pro to validate assumptions, understand complex logic, and uncover obfuscated functionality.
-Static Reverse Engineering: Use advanced reverse engineering tools, with a focus on Ghidra and IDA Pro, to decompile and disassemble software. Analyze code paths, extract indicators, and uncover hidden or malicious logic not apparent through dynamic analysis alone.
-Vulnerability and Capability Research: Investigate and identify vulnerabilities, undocumented features, and Client capabilities within target systems. Develop proof-of-concept exploits and assess their potential operational impact. Model and simulate specific features and functions to understand how software was developed, compiled, and deployed.
-Tool Chain Mastery: Employ a specialized toolchain for analysis, including disk imagers, virtual machine managers, network scanners, and debuggers to perform end-to-end exploitation.
-Mentorship: Mentor junior engineers in SWRE methodologies, tools, and techniques.

Required Qualifications:
-3 years of demonstrated experience in software reverse engineering, with a preference for backgrounds in material exploitation, malware analysis, or vulnerability research.
-Understanding of Windows and Linux operating system internals, x86/x64 and ARM assembly, and CPU architecture.
-Experience with static analysis tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra, and Binary Ninja.
-Experience with debugging tools such as WinDbg, GDB, and similar platforms.
-Experience with virtualization, sandboxing, and emulation tools such as VMware, KVM, QEMU, and others.
-Experience with the SWRE toolchain, including network analysis tools (Wireshark, nmap) and Linux command-line proficiency.
-Experience with forensic disk image analysis to mount, modify, and extract artifacts from raw disk images.
-Ability to unpack, de-obfuscate, and analyze highly complex malicious applications.
-Experience in Linux/Unix environments, including advanced command-line operations and system-level administration.
-Knowledge of low-level programming languages (C, C , Assembly) and scripting languages such as Python, Java, or .NET.
-A solid understanding of common security practices and the ability to identify security flaws in software architecture.

Desired Qualifications:
-Active DoD 8570, IAT Level II Certification.
-Knowledge of advanced firmware analysis techniques and methodologies.
-Knowledge of secure boot processes.
-Familiarity with hardware-level attack techniques such as side-channel analysis or fault injection.
-Experience with Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) development.
-Experience monitoring hardware-level buses and interfaces such as i2C, USB, or JTAG.
-Familiarity with risk assessment and mitigation strategies for firmware vulnerabilities.
-Strong documentation skills to maintain detailed records of analysis processes and findings.