Senior Embedded Security Engineer - Digital Systems Security

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.MITRE’s Electronic Systems Security department is seeking to hire talented and creative engineers with a focus on hardware security for embedded systems to support advanced research and development projects of national significance.Qualified candidates will join a team of technical experts in embedded system security. This multi-disciplinary team performs hands-on research and analysis and develops proof-of-concept prototypes to demonstrate and advance the state-of-the-art in embedded security. Our diverse set of sponsors and research objectives provide a wide variety of interesting work opportunities. Roles & Responsibilities:Engineers in this role will develop and apply their technical expertise to:Research and develop new secure design approaches and countermeasures for emerging threats to embedded systemsDesign and build prototypes (hardware and software) to demonstrate advanced capabilitiesAnalyze secure implementations, designs, and architectures to identify weak points for further analysis or hardeningPerform hands-on and whitepaper-level security assessments of embedded systemsDevelop software for interfacing with and controlling lab equipment for data collection, measurement, and analysisShape creative and innovative ideas through internal research programs to advance the state-of-the art in embedded securityTrack, adapt, and apply academic and industry advances in embedded security analysis and protection techniques to secure our sponsors’ systemsWork as part of a multi-disciplinary team, while leading tasks and/or teams of engineersCollaborate with academic partners to improve embedded security education at our nation’s universities and high schoolsBasic Qualifications:Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree; or 3 years and a master’s degree; or a PhD with relevant experience who can immediately contribute at this job step; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience. Experience with secure system modelling, design, implementation, and testExperience with hardware description languages such as Verilog, System Verilog, or VHDLExperience with FPGA prototype developmentExperience with programming in languages such as Python, C/C++, or Rust for PCs and embedded systemsExperience analyzing microelectronics and hardware systems for susceptibility to implementation attacks, such as side-channel analysis, fault injection, laser voltage probing, photon emission microscopy, laser stimulation techniques, and/or microprobing and circuit editsFamiliarity with cryptographic protocols and algorithmsFamiliarity with secure boot and root of trust architecturesEffective oral and written communication skillsMust be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S Government issued 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 3 days per week on-sitePreferred Qualifications:MS, or PhD degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or similar field and/or 8+ years of related experienceExperience leading teams developing or evaluating secure embedded systemsStrong problem-framing skills in ambiguous research environmentsExperience in one or more of the following embedded system security topics:Development and analysis of implementation attack countermeasuresAnalysis of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, and systems for implementation attack threatsExecution of invasive and semi-invasive attacks and associated protection techniques on integrated circuits such as side-channel analysis, fault injection, laser voltage probing, photon emission microscopy, etc.Experience with one or more of the following technical areas:ASIC design, implementation, and testExperience with board- and component-level instrumentation and measurement (e.g., capturing digital and analog signals via mixed-domain oscilloscopes)This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):NoneThis requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):SecretSalary compensation range and midpoint:$126,800 - $158,500 - $190,200 AnnualWork Location Type:OnsiteIt is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.Commitment to Non-DiscriminationAll 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.MITRE intends to maintain a website that is fully accessible to all individuals. If you are unable to search or apply for jobs and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of MITRE’s employment process, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for general support and View email address on click.appcast.io for intern positions. This service is for individuals requiring reasonable accommodation requests. Please note that vendor solicitations will not receive a reply.Benefits information may be found here.Copyright 1997-2026, The MITRE Corporation. All rights reserved. MITRE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. Material on this site may be copied and distributed with permission only.Job SummaryJob number: R117756Profession: Engineering