Embedded Systems Developer, Cyber Research

6AM City, LLC; Kentucky; On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Battelle seeks an Embedded Systems Developer to support cyber research teams, building tooling, firmware modifications, and development infrastructure for deeper system analysis. You will work with vulnerability researchers and reverse engineers across architectures and OSes.

The role focuses on instrumentation, firmware modification for experiments, and debugging utilities to enable researchers to interact with hardware at a low level. This is for Columbus, OH or Chantilly, VA locations.

Qualifications

• Experience with embedded development in C/C++.
• Ability to analyze firmware and modify embedded software for testing.
• US citizenship and ability to obtain DoD clearance.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

Firmware debugging

Python scripting

Hardware interfacing

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Master's degree in related field

PhD in related field

Tools

Ghidra

IDA Pro

BinaryNinja

GDB

JTAG/SWD debuggers

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.

Job Summary

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.

Battelle has been trusted by elite government clients to solve some of the world's hardest security problems. We work in small agile teams to push the bounds of computing technology. Our high-powered labs include specialized software and hardware so our engineers have everything they need to invent new Cyber solutions.

We encourage new ideas with our large Internal Research and Development (IRAD) program where engineers work on projects they are passionate about. Inventors and innovators are rewarded by our industry-leading IP compensation program. Our group works collaboratively with many parts of Battelle's larger organization on projects ranging from genomics to robotics.

Responsibilities

• 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

Key Qualifications

• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with firmware extraction or firmware analysis workflows
• Familiarity with reverse engineering tools such as Ghidra, IDA Pro, or BinaryNinja
• Experience working wi