Commercial Drone Reverse Engineer / Vulnerability Researcher

Who We Are:Kudu Dynamics is a 100% employee-owned company, forged out of a decade of experience in computer network operations and staffed with talent who have built, overseen, and enhanced capabilities throughout the entire USG arsenal. Our team of hackers, engineers, makers, and shakers brings deep experience across research, development, deployment, and operations.Kudu Dynamics is uniquely qualified to anticipate tomorrow’s threats and build the next generation of capabilities.When you come in for your interview, you’ll see that Kudu is an amazing place to work, where you’ll be surrounded by experts who are ready to teach and learn. Our team has flexible work hours and work-from-home options. When we do work from the offices, we enjoy home-roasted coffee and award-winning workspaces.We need help on a new project researching and developing advanced capabilities through vulnerability research, reverse engineering, and exploitation of commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The Commercial Drone Reverse Engineer / Vulnerability Researcher will investigate commercial drone hardware, firmware, embedded software, communications protocols, and supporting systems to identify vulnerabilities, characterize system behavior, and develop and demonstrate proof-of-concept capabilities. The candidate will contribute to the design and construction of lab-based experimental test harnesses, perform static and dynamic analysis, and develop tools and techniques to identify, validate, and exploit security weaknesses in complex embedded systems. This role calls for the creative application of multiple skill sets in a small, agile team that is working onsite at Aberdeen Proving Ground to develop and deliver advanced capabilities directly supporting the U.S. Army. Our program is interested in making breakthroughs on a very aggressive timeline and will involve working directly with reverse engineering, hardware, and vulnerability research teammates to determine exactly what these systems do in the real world and how their security assumptions can be challenged.Responsibilities Include:Conducting vulnerability research and reverse engineering of commercial drones, embedded firmware, flight controllers, and supporting softwareIdentifying, analyzing, and validating software and hardware vulnerabilities, including developing proof-of-concept exploitsPerforming static and dynamic analysis of embedded firmware, binaries, and communications protocolsInvestigating command and control, telemetry, navigation, and other interfaces to identify security-relevant behaviors and attack surfacesDiscovering interesting edge cases, undocumented functionality, and exploitable conditions (including designing experiments specifically targeted at teasing these out)Designing and assembling hardware and software test harnesses for lab-based experimentation, debugging, and vulnerability validationDeveloping and adapting tools for firmware analysis, fuzzing, debugging, instrumentation, and automated vulnerability discoveryResearching system security mechanisms, including authentication, encryption, secure boot, firmware updates, and hardware protectionsScripting/automating reverse engineering, testing, and experimental activities where possibleDeveloping and demonstrating proof-of-concept capabilities in controlled laboratory environmentsCritically analyzing, interpreting, documenting, and communicating technical findings and experimental resultsMinimum Qualifications:Active TS/SCI security clearanceAbility to work onsite at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MarylandDegree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or equivalent hands-on experienceDemonstrated experience with software or firmware reverse engineering, particularly embedded systemsExperience identifying, analyzing, and validating software vulnerabilities, including developing proof-of-concept exploitsStrong programming and scripting experience in Python and/or C/C++Experience with reverse engineering and debugging tools such as Ghidra, IDA Pro, Binary Ninja, GDB, or equivalentFamiliarity with embedded processor architectures, assembly language, memory management, and low-level software analysisKnowledge of common software vulnerability classes, memory corruption, input validation weaknesses, and vulnerability research techniquesExperience analyzing unfamiliar software or hardware systems to understand functionality, identify attack surfaces, and develop original research approachesAbility to independently design experiments, troubleshoot complex problems, and communicate technical findingsNice-to-have Qualifications:Experience with vulnerability research or reverse engineering of commercial drones, unmanned aircraft systems, or other complex embedded platformsExperience with binary exploitation, exploit development, fuzzing, and vulnerability discovery automationFamiliarity with ARM, RISC-V, or other embedded processor architecturesExperience with embedded Linux, real-time operating systems (RTOS), bootloaders, and firmware update mechanismsExperience with firmware extraction, flash memory analysis, and hardware-assisted reverse engineeringFamiliarity with hardware debugging interfaces such as JTAG, SWD, UART, SPI, I2C, and CANExperience with hardware instrumentation, including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and software-defined radiosKnowledge of wireless communications, RF analysis, digital signal processing, and proprietary communications protocolsFamiliarity with drone communications protocols, including MAVLink, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and proprietary command and control linksFamiliarity with GNSS, inertial navigation, sensor fusion, and flight control systemsExperience reverse engineering mobile applications, ground control stations, or cloud-connected embedded systemsExperience with MATLAB, GNU Radio, or similar signal processing and modeling toolsExperience with analog and digital circuit design, physical prototyping, and lab-based experimental test harnessesExperience supporting U.S. Government or Department of Defense research and development programsSecurity Clearance: Active TS/SCI RequiredIf you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.Original Posting:October 26, 2026For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.Pay Range:Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.SummaryLocation: Columbia, MDType: Full time