Hardware Security Engineer - Consultant

Awerian Ltd

Cambridge

On-site

GBP 70,000 - 100,000

Full time

6 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Profit-related bonus

Private medical insurance

25 days holiday

Pension contribution 10%

Relocation support

Free onsite lunch

Job summary

Awerian seeks a Hardware Security Engineer Consultant to assess critical systems for vulnerabilities and develop cyber-physical defence solutions. You will build proof-of-concept demonstrators and prototypes, often with third-party components, in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Ideal candidates have strong hardware/software integration skills, enjoy tackling diverse challenges, and can communicate complex results clearly.

Qualifications

Degree in Engineering, Computer Science or Physics.
Knowledge of electronics hardware and sensors.
Experience debugging hardware via JTAG/UART.
Ability to design/build hardware prototypes.
Creative problem-solving and independent mindset.
Strong written and spoken communication.

Responsibilities

Assess critical systems for potential vulnerabilities and security implications.
Develop proof-of-concept demonstrators and novel hardware/cyber defence solutions.
Prototype, test, and iterate with third-party components.
Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to translate requirements into secure designs.
Communicate findings and recommendations clearly to clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Hardware security

Prototype development

Creative problem solving

Communication skills

Autonomous work

Team collaboration

Education

Undergraduate degree in Engineering/CS/Physics

Tools

JTAG

UART

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Company Description

Breakthrough technology is vital for strengthening UK defence and homeland security. As a Hardware Security Engineer Consultant at Awerian, you will be at the forefront of this innovation race and support interesting and challenging projects which contribute to the defence and protection of the UK from the latest technological and cyber threats.

Awerian is continuing its rapid growth plan, making this a great time to join our multi‑disciplinary team. You will build on our successful track record, developing your career at the cutting edge of research and development and supported by our team of experts. We’re a business of individuals – however, our curiosity brings us together and it drives what we do. Whether you’re leading a project or part of a project team, the ethos and structure of Awerian is designed to help you connect and thrive.

Job Description

Awerian works with leading industry and national defence partners to assess critical systems for potential vulnerabilities, contributing novel software and hardware cyber defence techniques which use Awerian’s physics‑first approach to go far beyond the typical “IT approach” to cyber security. As a consultant at Awerian you will use your curiosity, creativity, and rigour to tackle diverse, real‑world challenges which are typically at the forefront of emerging technologies.

Hardware Security at Awerian demands technical expertise coupled with creative thinking to understand the connections between the software, hardware, underpinning infrastructure, and user interaction of systems to identify, understand, and design solutions to protect against potential cyber‑physical vulnerabilities.

You will use your experience to understand systems, identify potential hardware or cyber‑physical security implications and develop proof‑of‑concept demonstrators, often in novel settings, pulling together third‑party components and building elements yourself. And you will see ideas become reality as you create impactful solutions through Awerian’s rapid approach to design and implementation. It’s a fantastically challenging, varied, and agile role.

Requirements

Awerian’s wide variety of projects often bring together aspects of science, engineering, machine learning and cyber, and span initial proofs‑of‑concept through to development of working prototypes, providing both intellectual and practical challenges. Projects are rapidly evolving, in line with both the nature of the technology landscape and our clients’ requirements and can span from a few months to multi‑year programmes. Typical elements include:

Understanding systems on a deep technical level through intense research and testing.
Considering potential cyber‑physical vulnerabilities, often for niche applications.
Generating novel concepts and approaches to address challenges.
Rapid prototyping and troubleshooting.
Designing and building proof‑of‑concept demonstrators, or special products.
Analysing results and drawing and presenting conclusions.
Making recommendations for further research.

Projects will also stretch and develop your commercial awareness, through partnership with clients to understand their needs and deliver high‑quality outcomes at pace.

Qualifications

Successful applicants will demonstrate some of the following key attributes:

Hold a strong undergraduate degree in a relevant subject including (but not limited to) Engineering, Computer Science or Physics.
Possess understanding of electronics hardware, sensors, and/or systems and their functionality in real world applications.
Demonstrate experience interfacing with and debugging a range of hardware, for example, via standard protocols (e.g. JTAG, UART) or test and measurement equipment (e.g. oscilloscopes).
Be able to design and build hardware prototypes and demonstrators.
Bring an outside‑the‑box approach, creative problem‑solving ability, independent mindset, and broad interest in developments across cyber security.
Be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Possess the ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively within an expert team in a high‑performing environment.

Desirable but Not Essential

Experience in the UK Defence and Security sector.
Experience of, or the skills required for, client‑facing roles.
Technical expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Vulnerability research and reverse engineering.
- Cyber‑physical systems.
- Low‑level programming on embedded systems or similar.
- Tamper‑proof electronics.
- Communications, networking, and protocol analysis.
- RF technologies and Software Defined Radio.

Owing to the fast‑paced, collaborative nature of our work, successful applicant(s) would be expected to work on‑site full time, in our state‑of‑the‑art office and labs at the TTP Campus (Cambridge Road, Melbourn, SG8 6HQ).

Benefits