CNO Developer

Accenture; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 206,000; Full time

Job summary

Accenture Federal Services seeks a mid-level Computer Network Operations (CNO) Developer to design, develop, and test sophisticated software for national security missions. You will work with a team of developers, reverse engineers, and vulnerability researchers to build tools that run across Windows, Linux, and embedded targets.

The role requires strong low-level programming skills, deep Windows internals knowledge, and adherence to strict legal and operational constraints.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant software development experience.
• Strong C/C++ skills with memory management, concurrency, and performance tuning in production code.
• Deep Windows internals knowledge — Win32/NT API, processes and threads, virtual memory, synchronization, and the I/O subsystem.
• Hands-on low-level Windows development, such as kernel-mode or user-mode driver work.
• Comfortable with Windows debugging tools — WinDbg, the Visual Studio debugger, Sysinternals, and similar.
• Experience writing secure code and tracing memory corruption, race conditions, crashes from dumps.
• Working knowledge of Python for tooling and automation.
• Familiarity with reverse engineering tools (IDA Pro, Ghidra, GDB) and Windows-native debugging tools.
• Understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/S) and common network protocols.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain custom software capabilities used in computer network operations.
• Perform low-level software development in C/C++, Python, and/or Assembly for Windows, Linux, and/or embedded targets.
• Analyze target systems and network architectures to identify technical requirements and constraints for capability development; collaborate with vulnerability researchers to integrate exploits.
• Develop and maintain command‑and‑control (C2) communication protocols.
• Produce clear technical documentation, including design specs, test plans, and operations guides.
• Support integration, test, and evaluation events and provide technical support during operations.
• Stay current on OS security features, offensive cyber technologies, and tradecraft to inform capability design.
• Adhere to all legal, policy, and oversight requirements governing CNO development and employment.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Assembly

Windows internals

Kernel‑mode driver

WinDbg

Ghidra

IDA Pro

memory management

networking basics

Tools

IDA Pro

Ghidra

GDB

WinDbg

Sysinternals

Visual Studio

Job description

At Accenture Federal Services, nothing matters more than helping the US federal government make the nation stronger and safer and life better for people.Our 13,000+ people are united in a shared purpose to pursue the limitless potential of technology and ingenuity for clients across defense, national security, public safety, civilian, and military health organizations.

Join Accenture Federal Services, a technology company within global Accenture. Recognized as a Glassdoor Top 100 Best Place to Work, we offer a collaborative and caring community where you feel like you belong and are empowered to grow, learn and thrive through hands‑on experience, certifications, industry training and more.

Join us to drive positive, lasting change that moves missions and the government forward!

Job Description

Our team is seeking a mid-level Computer Network Operations (CNO) Developer to design, develop, and test sophisticated software capabilities in support of national security missions. The successful candidate will work within a close-knit team of developers, reverse engineers, and vulnerability researchers to build custom tools that operate reliably across diverse network environments. This role requires strong low-level programming skills, a deep understanding of operating system internals, and the judgment to operate within strict legal, ethical, and operational constraints.

This position requires working full-time on site at the Accenture Federal Services facility in Herndon, VA.

The work you'll do

• Design, develop, test, and maintain custom software capabilities used in computer network operations.

• Perform low-level software development in C/C++, Python, and/or Assembly for Windows, Linux, and/or embedded targets.

• Analyze target systems and network architectures to identify technical requirements and constraints for capability development. Collaborate with vulnerability researchers and reverse engineers to integrate exploits and achieve reliable code execution.

• Develop and maintain command‑and‑control (C2) communication protocols.

• Produce clear technical documentation, including design specifications, test plans, and operational employment guides.

• Support integration, test, and evaluation events and provide technical support during operational missions.

• Stay current on emerging operating system security features, offensive cyber technologies, and tradecraft to inform capability design.

• Adhere strictly to all legal, policy, and oversight requirements governing CNO development and employment.

Here’s what you need

• 3+ years of relevant software development experience.

• Strong C/C++ skills, with solid grounding in memory management, concurrency, and performance tuning in production code.

• Deep Windows internals knowledge — Win32/NT API, processes and threads, virtual memory, synchronization, and the I/O subsystem.

• Hands‑on low-level Windows development, such as kernel‑mode or user‑mode driver work.

• Comfortable with Windows debugging tools — WinDbg, the Visual Studio debugger, Sysinternals, and similar.

• Experience writing secure code and tracking down memory corruption, race conditions, and crashes from dump files.

• Working knowledge of a scripting language such as Python for tool development and automation.

• Familiarity with reverse engineering tools (e.g., IDA Pro, Ghidra, GDB) in addition to Windows‑native debugging tools.

• Understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/S) and common network protocols.

Bonus points if you have

• Prior experience supporting the Intelligence Community, or other federal CNO/cyber mission programs.

• Experience with exploit development, binary analysis, or vulnerability research.

• Familiarity with anti‑virus/EDR evasion techniques, obfuscation, and anti‑forensics methods.

• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum development methodologies and modern CI/CD tooling in classified environments.

• Experience with embedded systems, firmware, or mobile platform development (iOS/Android).

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small, mission‑focused team under tight timelines.

Security clearance

• Active TS/SCI security clearance is required.

As required by local law, Accenture Federal Services provides reasonable ranges of compensation for hired roles based on labor costs in the states of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia . The base pay range for this position in these locations is shown below. Compensation for roles at Accenture Federal Services varies depending on a wide array of factors, including but not limited to office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. Accenture Federal Services offers a wide variety of benefits. You can find more information on benefits here. (https://www.accenture.com/us-en/careers/your-future-rewards-benefits) We accept applications on an on‑going basis and there is no fixed deadline to apply.

The pay range for the states of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia is:

$106,300—$206,200 USD

What We Believe

As a company wholly dedicated to serving the US federal government, we bring together the best talent to help reinvent how federal agencies operate and deliver greater value for their mission and the American people. We have an unwavering commitment to creating a culture in which all our people are respected, feel a sense of belonging, and have equal opportunity. As a business imperative, every person at Accenture Federal Services has the responsibility to create and sustain a culture where everyone feels welcomed and included. This is grounded in our core values and our experience that hiring and developing great people who reflect different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds is key to driving innovation and delivering the results that our clients and the country count on.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We believe that no one should be discriminated against because of their differences. All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law. Our rich diversity makes us more innovative, more competitive, and more creative, which helps us better serve our clients and our communities. For details, view a copy of theAccenture Federal Services Equal Opportunity Policy Statement. (https://afscommunities.force.com/careers/s/equal-opportunity-annual-policy)

Accenture Federal Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Additionally, as an affirmative Action Employer for Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, Accenture Federal Services is committed to providing veteran employment opportunities to our service men and women.

Requesting An Accommodation

Accenture Federal Services is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities or religious observances, including reasonable accommodation when needed. If you are hired by Accenture Federal Services and require accommodation to perform the essential functions of your role, you will be asked to participate in our reasonable accommodation process. Accommodations made to facilitate the recruiting process are not a guarantee of future or continued accommodations once hired.

If you __ are being considered for employment opportunities with Accenture Federal Services andneed anaccommodation for a disability or religious observanceduring the interview process or for the job you are interviewing for, please speak with your recruiter.

Other Employment Statements

Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.

Candidates who are currently employed by a client of Accenture Federal Services or an affiliated Accenture business may not be eligible for consideration.

Job candidates will not be obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest as part of the hiring process.

The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Additionally, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the Company's legal duty to furnish information.

California requires additional notifications for applicants and employees. If you are a California resident, live in or plan to work from Los Angeles County upon being hired for this position, please click here (https://www.accenture.com/us-en/careers/life-at-accenture/e-verify-legal-notices) for additional important information.