Android Malware Reverse Engineer

NSS; Bothell (WA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

NSS is seeking an Android Malware Reverse Engineer to support a major client. The role involves onsite three days a week with two days remote, at Bothell, WA or Austin, TX or San Jose, CA.

You will reverse engineer, assess security, and review code to identify malware families and scale detections across platforms. You will develop static and dynamic signatures, write complex reports for non-technical audiences, and help improve detection automation.

Qualifications

• Experience analyzing, unpacking, and reverse engineering malicious apps or SDKs.
• Proficient in static and dynamic analysis techniques.
• Experience with reverse engineering tools (Jadx, Ghidra, Frida, IDA Pro, Burp) for APK and binary analysis.
• Proficient in Java, Kotlin, JavaScript, Flutter, or other mobile languages.
• Experience with ELF reverse engineering.
• Familiarity with SQL and query languages.
• Knowledge of Android fundamentals and app development process.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and analyze source code.
• Development of signatures and security detections as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct reverse engineering, security assessments, and code reviews.
• Develop static and dynamic signatures for mobile malware detections.
• Identify malware families and assess apps at scale.
• Write reports for non-technical audiences and review peer analyses.
• Assist investigations and contribute to investigations and detection improvements.

Skills

Reverse engineering

Static analysis

Dynamic analysis

Java

Kotlin

JavaScript

Flutter

ELF reverse engineering

SQL

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS / related field

Tools

Jadx

Ghidra

Frida

IDA Pro

Burp

Job description

NSS is currently hiring for an Android Malware Reverse Engineer to support a well known client. This individual is required to be onsite 3 days a week with 2 days remote, in their respective locations including Austin, Texas, Bothell, WA, or San Jose, CA.

The Android Malware Reverse Engineers will conduct reverse engineering, security assessments, and code reviews. You will conduct and assist with complex decompilation, unpacking, code review and malicious mobile software reviews. The goal of the work is to identify families of malware and act on apps at scale. You will be responsible for developing static and dynamic signatures for mobile code, binaries, and executable code leading to the detection of a variety of threat types including malware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) and advanced persistent threats. Additionally, you will identify weaknesses in detections and automations and make recommendations for improvements in the detection process and automation pipeline. You are required to write complex reports for consumption of non-technical audiences, review peer reports and assist with investigations.

Requirements:

• Hands on Experience with the following:
  • Analyzing, unpacking, and reverse engineering code of malicious applications or SDKs.
  • Static and Dynamic Analysis Techniques
  • Reverse Engineering tools such as Jadx, Ghidra, Frida, IDA Pro, Burp, to perform binary and APK analysis
  • Java, Kotlin, JavaScript, Flutter, and other mobile software languages
  • ELF (Native Binaries) reverse engineering
  • Query languages such as SQL
• Understanding of the following topics
  • Android Fundamentals such as Android activity lifecycles, common Android API usage, AOSP, and how an android application is created.
  • Java and/or Kotlin Programing Language
  • Techniques utilized by malicious software to harm the user’s device or their data
  • Mobile App store policies (Ads, PHAs, Developer, etc.)
  • Ability to read, comprehend and analyze source code
• Additional
  • Development of signatures (Yara, etc.)
  • Research on threats such as APT using Open-Source Intelligence (Virus Total, Web, ExploitDB, MITRE, etc.)
  • In depth knowledge of security engineering and analysis topics, computer and network security, cryptography, authentication security, rooting, packing, network protocols and interception

Nice to Have:

• Experience with Vulnerability Analysis or security code review
• Android Software Development Experience
• Background / Familiarity with Google Ads or Content moderation
• Participation in a Capture the Flag (CTF) for Mobile software
• Pentesting, Blue Team, and/or Red Team experience
• Professional Experience and Education

Required:

• None

Preferred:

• Associates/Bachelor’s Degree/master’s in computer science, computer engineering, CS, or information systems, or related discipline.
• 3-5 years of hands on Android and reverse engineering