Capabilities Development Engineer (CDS)

CNSS • National Security Systems; Perry Hall (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

The National Security Agency (NSA) seeks professionals in computer science or electrical engineering to join as Capabilities Development Specialists. You will work on cutting‑edge hardware and software tools to defend the nation, applying deep expertise in development, testing, and reverse engineering across high‑priority capabilities.

Based at Fort Meade, MD, this full‑time role requires strong skills in C, C++, assembly, and system design, with opportunities to contribute across the lifecycle

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS, Mathematics, Engineering, or related field.
• Experience in software/hardware lifecycle: requirements through maintenance.
• Military training (JCAC) counted as experience.

Responsibilities

• Developing exploitation capabilities and analytics for target networks.
• Designing hardware components for signals intelligence missions.
• Analyzing sophisticated malware.

Skills

C

C++

Assembly

ARM

Kernel development

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering or related field

Tools

Ghidra

OllyDbg

gdb

JTAG

Job description

The National Security Agency (NSA) seeks professionals in computer science or electrical engineering to join as Capabilities Development Specialists. You will work on cutting‑edge hardware and software tools to defend the nation, applying deep expertise in development, testing, and reverse engineering across high‑priority capabilities.

Based at Fort Meade, MD, this full‑time role requires strong skills in C, C++, assembly, and system design, with opportunities to contribute across the lifecycle