Lead Reverse Engineer & Vulnerability Researcher

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks experienced reverse engineers to explore embedded systems, discover vulnerabilities, and develop innovative exploits. You will join a collaborative team focused on national security cyber challenges with real-world impact.

As part of the group, you’ll work on missile defense, space, and maritime systems, partnering with government sponsors, and mentoring junior engineers. A TS/SCI clearance with polygraph is required or obtainable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or another field relevant to the duties as described above.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Skilled with software debuggers and static analysis tools such as Ghidra, IDA, and Binary Ninja.
• Proficient with one or more programming languages.
• Experience reading and writing assembly.
• Understand Unix/Linux operating systems and embedded systems development toolchains.
• Love solving puzzles and have experience persevering through technical challenges.
• Hold an active TS/SCI clearance and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI + polygraph clearance.

Responsibilities

• Reverse engineer mission-relevant systems, discover vulnerabilities, and develop innovative exploits.
• Collaborate with teammates in custom laboratories purpose-built for foreign materiel, telecommunications infrastructure, and other embedded systems.
• Work alongside APL experts in domains such as missile defense, space, and maritime systems to understand the operational significance of your reverse engineering discoveries.
• Partner directly with government sponsors across multiple agencies to build mission-aligned offensive cyber capabilities.
• Explore novel techniques for automating reverse engineering and exploit development.
• Shape the future of our work by proposing new technical approaches and pioneering new research directions.
• Mentor early-career teammates in the art and science of reverse engineering.

Skills

Reverse engineering

Debugging

C/C++ programming

Unix/Linux

Mentorship

TS/SCI clearance

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Engineering/Computer Science/Electrical Engineering

Tools

Ghidra

IDA

Binary Ninja

Assembly reading

Job description

The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks experienced reverse engineers to explore embedded systems, discover vulnerabilities, and develop innovative exploits. You will join a collaborative team focused on national security cyber challenges with real-world impact.

As part of the group, you’ll work on missile defense, space, and maritime systems, partnering with government sponsors, and mentoring junior engineers. A TS/SCI clearance with polygraph is required or obtainable.