Embedded Systems Developer, Cyber Research
Battelle
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Battelle is seeking an Embedded Systems Developer to support cyber research in Columbus, OH or Chantilly, VA. You will build tooling, modify firmware, and develop infrastructure to enable deep analysis of embedded devices.
You will work with vulnerability researchers and reverse engineers on cross‑architecture platforms, contributing instrumentation, debugging utilities, and automation pipelines to accelerate security research.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 5 years of experience; or Master’s with 2 years; or PhD; or equivalent
- Strong experience developing software for embedded systems in C or C++
- Experience with microcontrollers, SoCs, or embedded Linux systems
- Experience debugging low‑level code using gdb, JTAG/SWD debuggers, or hardware debugging tools
- Familiarity with assembly language for common embedded architectures (ARM, MIPS, PowerPC)
- Experience building scripts/tools in Python or similar languages
- Ability to analyze firmware behavior and modify embedded software for testing/instrumentation
- Ability to work individually and in small fast‑paced research teams
- Passion for understanding how complex systems work at a low level
- Must be a US Citizen with ability to obtain DoD Secret or higher clearance
Responsibilities
- Develop low‑level firmware, instrumentation, and tooling to support reverse engineering and vulnerability research
- Modify existing firmware and embedded software to enable analysis, debugging, and experimentation
- Build internal tools and automation pipelines for researchers with embedded devices
- Interface with hardware platforms including microcontrollers, SoCs, and custom embedded systems
- Develop scripts and utilities to support firmware extraction, analysis workflows, and device interaction
- Assist researchers with debugging complex behaviors across embedded platforms
- Collaborate with reverse engineers to understand system behavior and design tools to improve analysis
- Prototype and test techniques for interacting with embedded systems including debugging interfaces and emulation environments
- Contribute to collaborative research across multidisciplinary teams
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Battelle delivers when others can’t. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients—whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start‑up or a government agency.
We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.
Do you enjoy working close to the hardware and understanding how embedded systems actually operate? Are you comfortable digging through firmware, debugging low‑level code, and building tools to help others understand complex systems? Do you like working with researchers and reverse engineers to develop custom tooling and firmware modifications that unlock deeper insight into embedded devices? Battelle is currently seeking an Embedded Systems Developer to support our Cyber research teams in our Columbus, OH or Chantilly, VA locations.
As an Embedded Systems Developer, you will work closely with vulnerability researchers and reverse engineers who analyze embedded platforms across a wide range of architectures and operating systems. Your role will focus on building the tooling, firmware modifications, and development infrastructure that enables deeper system analysis. This includes creating instrumentation, modifying firmware for experimentation, developing debugging utilities, and helping researchers interact with hardware platforms at a low level.
You will leverage your embedded development expertise to support and accelerate research efforts. You will help bridge the gap between development and reverse engineering by designing systems and tools that make complex embedded devices easier to analyze. “From Silicon to Systems” – We are an elite, multi‑disciplinary team bringing together the brightest minds from physics, computer science, electrical engineering, and mathematics to develop unique embedded security solutions for government and industrial customers.
- Develop low‑level firmware, instrumentation, and tooling to support reverse engineering and vulnerability research efforts
- Modify existing firmware and embedded software to enable analysis, debugging, and experimentation
- Build internal tools and automation pipelines that assist researchers working with embedded devices
- Interface directly with hardware platforms including microcontrollers, SoCs, and custom embedded systems
- Develop scripts and utilities to support firmware extraction, analysis workflows, and device interaction
- Assist vulnerability researchers with debugging complex behaviors across embedded platforms
- Work closely with reverse engineers to understand system behavior and design tools that improve analysis capabilities
- Prototype and test techniques for interacting with embedded systems including debugging interfaces and emulation environments
- Contribute to collaborative research efforts across multidisciplinary teams
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 5 years of experience; or Master’s degree with 2 years of experience; or PhD in related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Strong experience developing software for embedded systems in C or C++
- Experience working with microcontrollers, SoCs, or embedded Linux systems
- Experience debugging low‑level code using tools such as gdb, JTAG/SWD debuggers, or hardware debugging tools
- Familiarity with assembly language for common embedded architectures (ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, etc.)
- Experience building scripts or tooling in Python or similar languages
- Ability to analyze firmware behavior and modify embedded software for testing or instrumentation
- Ability to work individually and within small fast‑paced research teams
- Passion for understanding how complex systems work at a low level
- Must be a US Citizen with the ability and willingness to obtain a DoD Secret or higher clearance
- Experience working with firmware extraction or firmware analysis workflows
- Familiarity with reverse engineering tools such as Ghidra, IDA Pro, or BinaryNinja
- Experience working with embedded operating systems such as Linux, VxWorks, QNX, or RTOS environments
- Experience with hardware interfaces such as UART, SPI, I2C, JTAG, or SWD
- Experience emulating embedded systems or developing simulation environments
- Experience building internal developer tools or research tooling
- Experience supporting security research, vulnerability research, or hardware security analysis
- Active DoD Secret security clearance
- Learn (tuition assistance, paid training) and teach (get published, speak at a conference)
- Software and Intellectual Property development royalty sharing
- Mentorship and learning culture
- Internally funded and guided research projects with large amounts of individual autonomy
- Balance life through a compressed work schedule: Most of our team follows a flexible, compressed work schedule that allows for every other Friday off—giving you a dedicated day to accomplish things in your personal life without using vacation time.
- Enjoy enhanced work flexibility, including a hybrid arrangement: You have options for where and when you work. Our Together with Flexibility model allows you to work 60% in‑office and 40% remote, with Monday and Tuesday as common in‑office days, dependent on team and position needs.
- Take time to recharge: You get paid time off to support work‑life balance and keep motivated.
- Prioritize wellness: Stay healthy with medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness incentives and benefits plus a variety of optional supplemental benefits.
- Better together: Coverage for partners, gender‑affirming care and health support, and family formation support.
- Build your financial future: Build financial stability with an industry‑leading 401(k) retirement savings plan. For most employees, we put in 5 percent whether you contribute or not, and match your contributions on top of that.
- Advance your education: Tuition assistance is available to pursue higher education.
- Apply your talent to challenging and meaningful projects
- Receive select funding to pursue ideas in scientific and technological discovery
- Partner with world‑class experts in a collaborative environment
- Nurture and develop the next generation of scientific leaders
- Give back to and improve our communities
Battelle may require employees, based on job duties, work location, and/or its clients’ requirements to follow certain safety protocols and to be vaccinated against a variety of viruses, bacteria, and diseases as a condition of employment and continued employment and to provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated. If applicable, Battelle will provide reasonable accommodations based on a qualified disability or medical condition through the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act or for a sincerely held religious belief under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (and related state laws).
For more information about our other openings, please visit www.battelle.org/careers
Batelle is an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran- status veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Our goal is for each staff member to have the opportunity to grow to the limits of their abilities and to achieve personal and organizational objectives. We will support positive programs for equal treatment of all staff and full utilization of all qualified employees at all levels within Battelle.
No statement herein is intended to imply any authorities to commit Battelle unless special written permission is granted by Battelle's Legal Department.
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