Senior Principal Reverse Engineer

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers’ most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets. Nightwing is supporting a U.S. Government customer to provide support for onsite incident response to civilian Government agencies and critical asset owners who experience cyber-attacks, providing immediate investigation and resolution. Contract personnel perform investigations to characterize the severity of breaches, develop mitigation plans, and assist with the restoration of services. Nightwing is seeking a Subject Matter Expert with hardware reverse engineering to support this critical customer mission.

The Subject Matter Expert Hardware Reverse Engineers will provide specialized expertise in hardware reverse engineering focused on operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems. This position requires deep technical knowledge of proprietary hardware systems, exploitation methodologies, and defensive strategies to support forensic investigations of compromised edge devices and systems where threat actors have embedded malware deeply within hardware components. This position focuses on the analytical and investigative aspects of hardware forensics, with particular emphasis on operational technology and industrial control systems. The ideal candidates will have strong reverse engineering skills and deep understanding of threat actor methodologies targeting critical infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• - Conduct comprehensive hardware reverse engineering of OT and IC devices
• - Analyze network-edge devices and embedded systems compromised by advanced threats
• - Perform deep-dive analysis of proprietary hardware targeted by adversaries
• - Conduct reverse engineering, failure analysis, vulnerability analysis, and other research techniques to understand complex hardware systems, assess the functionality of components, and identify exploitation risks
• - Identify and extract deeply embedded malware from hardware components
• - Reverse engineer firmware and low-level software on embedded devices
• - Collaborate with Nightwing research teams to leverage cutting‑edge analytical capabilities
• - Utilize and enhance KI2 system emulation capabilities for hardware analysis
• - Document exploitation methodologies and defensive countermeasures
• - Develop standard operating procedures for hardware forensics workflows
• - Train CSD analysts on hardware reverse engineering techniques
• - Provide expert consultation on edge device security and vulnerabilities
• - Support forensic investigations in environments lacking EDR visibility
• - Analyze proprietary communication protocols and embedded systems functions
• - Identify hardware backdoors, implants, and malicious modifications
• - Collaborate with electrical engineers on chip‑off forensics procedures
• - Provide reach‑back support to operational analysts during active investigations
• - Contribute to research initiatives on emerging hardware threats
• - Document technical findings and intelligence for stakeholder dissemination

Required Skills

• - U.S. Citizenship
• - Must have an active TS/SCI clearance
• - Must be able to obtain DHS Suitability
• - 10+ years of experience in hardware reverse engineering or embedded systems analysis
• - Deep expertise in OT/ICS hardware platforms and vulnerabilities
• - Ability to analyze novel or proprietary systems with limited documentation
• - Strong communication skills for explaining complex technical findings
• - Experience working collaboratively in research‑oriented environments
• - Strong experience with firmware reverse engineering and analysis
• - Proficiency with reverse engineering tools (IDA Pro, Ghidra, Binary Ninja)
• - Deep understanding of ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, and other embedded processor architectures
• - Experience analyzing network‑edge devices (routers, switches, firewalls, IoT devices)
• - Knowledge of hardware debugging interfaces (JTAG, SWD, UART)
• - Strong programming and scripting skills (Python, C, Assembly)
• - Understanding of exploitation techniques targeting embedded systems
• - Experience with malware analysis in hardware/firmware contexts
• - Excellent analytical and problem‑solving abilities

Desired Skills

• - Experience supporting federal cybersecurity or critical infrastructure protection programs
• - Experience performing inspection, imaging, decapsulation, deprocessing, and other activities related to hardware reverse engineering and exploitation in a state‑of‑the‑art microelectronics exploitation laboratory
• - Background in offensive security or penetration testing of OT environments
• - Advanced certifications in reverse engineering (GREM, GXPN, or similar)
• - Experience with SCADA, PLC, RTU, and other industrial control components
• - Knowledge of critical infrastructure sector technologies (energy, utilities, manufacturing)
• - Familiarity with supply chain security and hardware implant detection
• - Experience with system emulation platforms and virtual hardware analysis
• - Understanding of threat actor TTPs targeting OT and edge devices
• - Background in electronics manufacturing or hardware security research
• - Experience with chip decapsulation and invasive hardware analysis techniques

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related discipline; Master’s degree or PhD preferred

Desired Certifications

• - DoD 8140.01 IAT Level III
• - PMP Syndeo: ESS-3417, ESS-3418

Salary & Benefits

The salary associated with this position ($122,000-$253,000) is commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications, years of relevant experience, and demonstrated level of expertise. Compensation will be determined based on these factors to ensure alignment with skills, responsibilities, and market standards.

Nightwing offers medical, vision and dental insurance coverage in addition to a 401k plan, PTO, Holidays, and additional insurances.

Nightwing is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

Previously part of a leading Fortune 100 company and headquartered in Dulles, VA; Nightwing became independent in 2024 but continues to support the nation’s most mission impactful initiatives. When we formed Nightwing, we brought a deep set of credentials and an unfaltering commitment to the mission. For over four decades, our team has been providing some of the world’s most technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence support services to the U.S. government on its most important missions. At Nightwing, we value collaboration and teamwork. You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside talented individuals who are passionate about what they do. Together, we’ll leverage our collective expertise to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and deliver exceptional results for our clients.