Reverse Engineer

Synergy ECP; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Synergy ECP, headquartered in Columbia, MD, seeks a malware reverse engineering expert to analyze malicious binaries, perform run-time and static analysis, and develop high-confidence detection rules using tools like YARA and SNORT.

The contractor will document findings and contribute to attribution and mitigation efforts for defense and intelligence communities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 8 years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree plus 6 years of relevant experience or Doctoral degree with 4 years of relevant experience.
• Degree must be in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or related discipline from an accredited college or university.

Responsibilities

• Perform binary reverse engineering on Windows, Linux and Mobile platforms, using knowledge of Windows internals and APIs.
• Develop, test and modify high-confidence rules/signatures to counter malware (e.g., YARA, SNORT).
• Perform run-time analysis of malware and use industry standard malware analysis tools.
• Document knowledge of malware characteristics for dissemination and information sharing.

Skills

Malware analysis

Reverse engineering

C/C++

Assembly

Threat intelligence

Windows OS internals

Linux OS

Run-time analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Computer Engineering/Information Systems

Master’s degree

Doctoral degree

Tools

YARA

SNORT

Virtual machines

Job description

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Synergy ECP is a leading provider of cybersecurity, software and systems engineering and IT services to the U.S. intelligence and defense communities. The company leverages its expertise in data transport solutions, software and systems engineering, and other solutions to deliver critical and innovative capabilities to high-level decision makers that enhance our nation’s security. In an ultra-competitive environment, Synergy ECP has thrived by adhering to our name, making sure excellence is displayed by our Employees, to our Customers and by Improving Performance (ECP). It’s what sets us apart, enabling us to be an autonomous yet agile business that delivers huge results - showing we’re ready to meet our customers’ evolving demands. Synergy ECP has earned a client list that includes numerous Fortune 100 companies, in addition to multiple branches of the US government and military services. Synergy ECP is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class.

• The Contractor shall perform technical analysis of malicious binaries through controlled execution and/or static analysis of assembly code, overcoming techniques designed to defeat analysis, in order to ascertain functionality, capability, call-backs, assist with attribution to adversary infrastructure, and identification of indicators of compromise.
• The Contractor shall provide information and documentation that enables malware detection, signature creation, and mitigation.
• The Contractor shall provide deep technical expertise in malware reverse engineering and documentation of analytic findings:
• Operationalize in-depth technical understanding of malware properties, tactics, and techniques and knowledge of current malware trends and threat landscape.
• Execute cutting-edge and advanced understanding of tools and trends in computer and network vulnerabilities, data hiding, and encryption.
• Perform binary reverse engineering on various platforms to include Windows, Linux and Mobile platforms, using in-depth knowledge of Windows Operating System internals and API, strong knowledge of C/C++ and assembly code, and proficiency with virtual machines.
• Develop, test and modify basic and complex high-confidence rules/signatures to counter malware (for example, YARA, SNORT).
• Perform run-time analysis of malware.
• Use industry standard and custom malware analysis tools.
• Analyze and mitigate various malware techniques involving unpacking, de-obfuscation and anti-debugging.
• Identify and reconstruct unknown file formats.
• Document knowledge of malware characteristics and properties for the purpose of dissemination and information sharing.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree plus 8 years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree plus 6 years of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree and 4 years of relevant experience. An Associate’s degree plus 10 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the positions.
• Degree must be in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or related discipline from an accredited college or university.