AI-Powered Reverse Engineer & Workflow Architect

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks experienced reverse engineers and AI-enabled developers to investigate complex systems and design agentic AI workflows for engineers and analysts. You will build AI infrastructure, evaluate models, and help shape how AI integrates into challenging national security efforts with cross-disciplinary collaboration.

As a member of our team, you will implement AI-enabled analyses, test and document capabilities, and contribute to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in reverse engineering, software development, cyber analysis, AI-enabled software development, or related field.
• Experience reverse engineering software/firmware using tools such as Ghidra, IDA Pro, Binary Ninja, debuggers, disassemblers, or similar.
• Understand OS fundamentals, computer architecture, software internals, and low-level system behavior.
• Software development experience in Python, C/C++, Rust, or similar languages.
• Hands-on experience using LLMs or generative AI technologies to solve software engineering, analysis, automation, or research problems.
• Understand fundamentals of modern LLM-based systems, including prompting, context management, tool use, structured outputs, retrieval, and agentic workflows.
• Outstanding communicator in both written and verbal forms.
• Citizenship and ability to acquire Secret level security clearance, with potential TS/SCI in future.

Responsibilities

• Reverse engineer software, firmware, and hardware to understand architecture, interfaces, and behavior.
• Develop AI-enabled workflows that augment reverse-engineering and cyber analysis tasks.
• Design AI agents to interface with tools, environments, documentation, and data sources.
• Build and maintain AI development infrastructure, including MCP services, tool integrations, and retrieval systems.
• Evaluate AI models, agent architectures, prompts, and workflows for reliability and applicability to mission problems.
• Operationalize proof-of-concept capabilities in sponsor and laboratory environments.

Skills

Reverse engineering

Python

C/C++

Rust

LLMs / Generative AI

Communication

Security clearance readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE/Data Science/AI

Master’s degree (preferred)

PhD (preferred)

Tools

Ghidra

IDA Pro

Binary Ninja

Debuggers

Disassemblers

Job description

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks experienced reverse engineers and AI-enabled developers to investigate complex systems and design agentic AI workflows for engineers and analysts. You will build AI infrastructure, evaluate models, and help shape how AI integrates into challenging national security efforts with cross-disciplinary collaboration.

As a member of our team, you will implement AI-enabled analyses, test and document capabilities, and contribute to