Hardware Analysis & Design Engineer - Entry to Mid Level (Maryland)

National Security Agency; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

NSA is seeking Hardware Analysis & Design Engineers to design, develop, construct, evaluate electronic hardware and software processing components for national security missions. You will apply electrical, computer, mechanical, and materials engineering to create and test subsystems used in communications, processing, or analysis systems.

The role covers designing circuitry and embedded systems, testing, reverse engineering, and developing hardware forensic methodologies.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or Mathematics (ABET‑EAC accreditation preferred).
• If program is not ABET-EAC accredited, it must include calculus coursework.

Responsibilities

• Designing, developing, constructing, testing, and evaluating electronic circuitry, computer-related equipment, and microelectronic components.
• Designing, developing, testing, and evaluating programmable hardware devices, digital circuits, and embedded systems.
• Programming, modifying, configuring, and analyzing firmware and software that manages reprogrammable hardware.
• Applying hardware and software engineering principles to design, develop, test, and evaluate applications and systems.
• Developing methods, tools, and hardware forensic methodologies to analyze, protect, or exploit hardware/software/firmware.
• Testing, evaluating, and reverse-engineering microelectronic components, technology, and equipment.
• Developing and recommending mitigation strategies to enhance security and resilience.
• Develop and implement hardware forensic methodologies and applications.

Skills

Hardware design

Embedded systems

Education

Engineering, Computer Science, or Mathematics

Job description

Responsibilities

With the ever-accelerating technological advances and growing system complexity, NSA needs Hardware Analysis & Design Engineers to design, develop, construct, analyze and evaluate electronic hardware and software processing components. These components are typically subsystems of communication, collection, processing or analysis systems. Hardware Analysis & Design Engineers utilize electrical, computer, mechanical, and materials engineering knowledge and skills to design, assemble, test, analyze and reverse engineer electronics hardware in support of the NSA mission. Hardware Analysis & Design Engineers are hired into positions supporting a broad range of specialized skills including Computer Engineering, Computer Programming, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Communications/Telecommunications Engineering, and Applied Mathematics.

The responsibilities of a Hardware Analysis & Design Engineer may include:

• Designing, developing, constructing, testing, and evaluating electronic circuitry, computer-related equipment, and microelectronic components (including FPGAs, ASICs, PCBs, and Microcontrollers).
• Designing, developing, testing, and evaluating programmable hardware devices, digital circuits, and embedded systems.
• Programming, modifying, configuring, and analyzing system firmware and software that manages reprogrammable hardware and associated interfaces to provide services to applications.
• Applying hardware and software engineering principles to design, develop, test, and evaluate/modify applications and systems.
• Developing new or utilizing existing methods, tools, and hardware forensic methodologies to analyze, protect, or exploit specific hardware, software, or firmware.
• Testing, evaluating, and reverse-engineering microelectronic components, technology, and equipment.
• Developing and recommending mitigation strategies and techniques to enhance the security and resilience of hardware and software components.
• Develop and implement hardware forensic methodologies and applications.

Job Summary

NSA is seeking professionals to design, develop, construct, evaluate, and analyze electronic hardware and software processing components to solve emerging challenges. By applying your science and engineering skills, you will make a significant contribution to protecting the nation.

Qualifications

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position. Degree must be in Engineering, Computer Science, or Mathematics or a related field (for example, Chemistry, Physics, Architecture, Hydrology, Geology, Astronomy). For engineering degrees, if program is not ABET-EAC accredited, it must include specified coursework.* *Specified coursework includes courses in differential and integral calculus and 5 of the