Engineer/Developer - Software, Hardware, Research (Capabilities Development Specialist) - Mid t[...]

CNSS • National Security Systems; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

NSA is seeking Capabilities Development Specialists (CDS) with strong CS or engineering backgrounds to develop high-priority offensive and defensive capabilities for national security missions. You will work across software and hardware domains, tackling complex research challenges and contributing to cutting-edge solutions used to defend the nation.

Entry paths include degrees with relevant experience or extensive coursework in foundational CS areas, with opportunities to advance based on

Qualifications

• Degree concentration in CS areas: algorithms; computer architecture; programming languages; data structures; logic and computation; upper-level math.
• Experience in lifecycle engineering: requirements, design, development, testing, deployment, maintenance.
• Military training like JCAC counts towards experience.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

C/C++

Assembly

Software development

Kernel development

Device drivers

Malware analysis

Vulnerability analysis

Penetration testing

Systems engineering

Hardware design

Reverse engineering

Embedded systems

Education

Bachelor's in CS/Math/Engineering

Master's degree

Doctoral degree

Tools

Ghidra

OllyDbg

gdb

JTAG

Oscilloscopes

FPGA

Verilog

VHDL

PCB design

Job description

If you are passionate about using cutting-edge technology and developing groundbreaking solutions for seemingly unsolvable problems, NSA needs your expertise. We're looking for computer science or computer/electrical engineering professionals with strong software or hardware design, development, testing or reverse engineering skills to join our team as a Capabilities Development Specialist (CDS). We conduct innovative research and produce hardware and software tools unlike anything in the world to defend the nation.

The minimum qualifications for this position may require a degree that demonstrates a concentration of Computer Science (CS) courses in foundational CS areas.** The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.

Degree must be in Computer Science (CS), Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field. Degrees in Information Technology, Information Systems, Information Security, Networking (Systems Administration), Information Assurance, or Cybersecurity may be considered relevant if the programs contain, at minimum, a concentration of courses in the following foundational CS areas: algorithms; computer architecture (not network architecture); programming methodologies and languages; data structures; logic and computation; and upper-level mathematics (for example, calculus, discrete mathematics).

Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: engineering hardware or software over their lifecycle (i.e., requirements analysis, design, development, implementation, testing, integration, deployment/installation, and maintenance), programming, vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, computer forensics, or systems engineering. Completion of military training in a relevant area such as JCAC (Joint Cyber Analysis course) will be considered towards the relevant experience requirement (i.e., 24-week JCAC course will count as 6 months of experience).

FULL PERFORMANCE

Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree and no experience. An Associate's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

SENIOR

Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 6 years of relevant experience or a Master's degree plus 4 years of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree plus 2 years of relevant experience. An Associate's degree plus 8 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

EXPERT

Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 9 years of relevant experience or a Master's degree plus 7 years of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree plus 5 years of relevant experience. An Associate's degree plus 11 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

As a CDS, you will develop custom high-priority offensive and defensive capabilities targeting the hardest-to-reach adversarial networks in the world. You will apply and grow your expertise to create new ways to get critical information to national decision makers as part of the world's most advanced team of computer science and engineering professionals.

Responsibilities May Include

• Developing exploitation capabilities and analytics to enable foreign target network collection
• Designing hardware components and systems to further signals intelligence missions
• Analyzing sophisticated malware

Competencies

Skills

• Software Specialties: Strong software development skills (C, C++, Assembly, ARM); software RE/interactive debugging tools); software application vulnerability analysis and exploitation; operating system internals; mobile platform development and analysis; algorithmic analysis; prototyping.
• Malware Reverse Engineering: Advanced malware analysis/reverse engineering of specialized malware/complex files.
• Hardware Specialties: Hardware RE, design, development, or testing and debugging.
• The minimum qualifications for this position may require a degree that demonstrates a concentration of Computer Science (CS) courses in foundational CS areas.** The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position. We're looking for candidates with knowledge, skills, and experience in one or more of the following:
• Programming in languages such as C, C++ and Java, especially in kernel development and device driver development; network/socket programming and embedded systems development
• CISSP, CEH, GREM or GPEN certification.
• Assembly language(s)
• Hardware design (e.g., FPGA, VHDL, Verilog, PCB)
• Hardware Reverse Engineering
• RF system design (e.g., DSP, SDR)
• Embedded systems development
• Software reverse engineering/interactive debugging tools (e.g., Ghidra, OllyDbg, gdb)
• Hardware analysis tools (e.g., JTAG, Oscilloscopes)
• Software vulnerability analysis and exploitation