Firmware Security Researcher, SEAR

Apple Inc.; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical and dental

Retirement benefits

Stock program eligibility

Discretionary bonuses or commissions

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Cupertino, California is seeking a Firmware Security Researcher to secure the lowest levels of our firmware and hardware interfaces across iPhone, Vision Pro, Mac, and Apple TV.

You will lead vulnerability analysis, develop defensive technologies, and collaborate with partner teams to deliver mitigations. The role involves evaluating security across architecture and code, creating automated analysis tools, and driving security initiatives with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Familiar with firmware and embedded systems technologies.
• Experience with secure programming and code auditing.
• Knowledge of modern anti-exploitation mitigations and their effectiveness.
• Background in firmware or systems programming in C/C++ or similar.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate security aspects from architecture to code review across products
• Provide security-focused consultations to partner teams on new features and technologies
• Develop automated tools for security analysis, verification, and regression defence
• Identify threats and drive development of mitigations
• Reverse engineer exploits when necessary

Skills

Firmware

Embedded systems

Secure coding

Code auditing

Job description

Cupertino, California, United States Software and Services

Embedded within Apple’s Security Engineering & Architecture organization, our team’s mission is to ensures secure runtime environments for our firmware, constrained, and isolated compute environments, so that we can protect sensitive user assets and prevent advanced attacks against our customers. We're looking for an outstanding Firmware Security Researcher to join our exceptional team whose focus is on securing the lowest level of our system to create secure and privacy preserving products that billions of users trust.As a Firmware Security Researcher, you will work with cutting edge technology alongside some of the most creative, passionate, hardworking engineers in the industry; collaborating with teams from software, hardware, user privacy, design, and more. Your influence will be felt throughout Apple's extraordinary products, including: the iPhone, Apple Vision Pro, Mac and Apple TV. Our team challenge and learn from each other to go beyond the norm to find new, innovative ways of solving problems and making our software, hardware, and customers safer. Not many jobs can offer all of these things. Security engineering jobs at Apple do, and much more.

Description

The role of a Firmware Security Researcher is as diverse as it is essential, you will lead research and analysis in identifying vulnerabilities and trends across our platforms, invent new defensive technologies to eliminate entire classes of issues, and drive the delivery of security mitigations in collaboration with our partner engineering teams.

A typical day in the role may include:

• Evaluating security-critical aspects of our products, from system architecture to code review, from product features definition to circuit layout


• Providing security focused consultations to partner teams on new features and technologies


• Developing intelligent automated tools for security analysis, verification, and regression defence


• Identifying threats and driving the development of mitigations to prevent them


• Challenging existing mitigation techniques through evaluation and proof of concept exploitation


• reverse engineering exploits, if necessary

This position may require some travel to other Apple sites and vendors.

Minimum Qualifications

• Familiarity with firmware and embedded system technologies


• Experience with secure programming and code auditing


• Knowledge of modern anti-exploitation mitigations and their effectiveness


• Background in firmware or systems programming, ideally in C, C++, or another systems programming language

Preferred Qualifications

• Ideas and enthusiasm for using AI to fundamentally change the field of security engineering


• Proficiency with threat modelling complex systems


• Background in software exploitation


• Familiarity with operating system internals, especially macOS, iOS, or other flavours of UNIX


• Experience with memory safe programming languages and/or techniques

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $129,300 and $225,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage


• Retirement benefits


• A range of discounted products and free services


• Reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition


• Discretionary bonuses or commission payments


• Relocation

Learn more about Apple Benefits

Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant

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