Senior Embedded Security Engineer – Digital Systems Security

MITRE; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 127,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE in the United States is seeking talented engineers focused on hardware security for embedded systems to support national security research. You will join a multi-disciplinary team to design, prototype, and analyze secure implementations, with hands-on work and collaboration with sponsors and academic partners.

This role requires experienced engineers with HDL, FPGA, and programming skills, the ability to obtain a Secret clearance, and a minimum on-site presence of three days per week.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 3 years with a master’s, or PhD with relevant experience.
• Experience with secure system modelling, design, implementation, and test.
• Experience with HDL such as Verilog/SystemVerilog/VHDL.
• Experience with FPGA prototype development.
• Proficiency in Python, C/C++, or Rust for PCs and embedded systems.
• Experience analyzing microelectronics for implementation attack susceptibility (side-channel, fault injection, laser probing, etc.).
• Familiarity with cryptographic protocols and secure boot/root of trust.
• Effective oral and written communication; U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Research and develop secure design approaches and countermeasures for embedded systems.
• Design and build hardware/software prototypes to demonstrate capabilities.
• Analyze secure implementations and architectures to identify weaknesses.
• Perform hands-on security assessments of embedded systems.
• Develop software to interface with lab equipment for data collection and analysis.

Skills

Embedded security

Hardware security

Verilog SystemVerilog VHDL

FPGA prototype development

Python

C/C++

Rust

Cryptographic protocols

Secure boot root of trust

Security analysis

Communication skills

Education

Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering / Computer Science / related field

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

MITRE’s Electronic Systems Security department is seeking to hire talented and creative engineers with a focus on hardware security for embedded systems to support advanced research and development projects of national significance.

Qualified candidates will join a team of technical experts in embedded system security. This multi-disciplinary team performs hands‑on research and analysis and develops proof‑of‑concept prototypes to demonstrate and advance the state‑of‑the‑art in embedded security. Our diverse set of sponsors and research objectives provide a wide variety of interesting work opportunities.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Research and develop new secure design approaches and countermeasures for emerging threats to embedded systems
• Design and build prototypes (hardware and software) to demonstrate advanced capabilities
• Analyze secure implementations, designs, and architectures to identify weak points for further analysis or hardening
• Perform hands‑on and whitepaper-level security assessments of embedded systems
• Develop software for interfacing with and controlling lab equipment for data collection, measurement, and analysis
• Shape creative and innovative ideas through internal research programs to advance the state-of-the art in embedded security
• Track, adapt, and apply academic and industry advances in embedded security analysis and protection techniques to secure our sponsors’ systems
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, while leading tasks and/or teams of engineers
• Collaborate with academic partners to improve embedded security education at our nation’s universities and high schools

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree; or 3 years and a master’s degree; or a PhD with relevant experience who can immediately contribute at this job step; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Experience with secure system modelling, design, implementation, and test
• Experience with hardware description languages such as Verilog, System Verilog, or VHDL
• Experience with FPGA prototype development
• Experience with programming in languages such as Python, C/C++, or Rust for PCs and embedded systems
• Experience analyzing microelectronics and hardware systems for susceptibility to implementation attacks, such as side‑channel analysis, fault injection, laser voltage probing, photon emission microscopy, laser stimulation techniques, and/or microprobing and circuit edits
• Familiarity with cryptographic protocols and algorithms
• Familiarity with secure boot and root of trust architectures
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 3 days per week on‑site

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS, or PhD degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or similar field and/or 8+ years of related experience
• Experience leading teams developing or evaluating secure embedded systems
• Strong problem‑framing skills in ambiguous research environments
• Experience in one or more of the following embedded system security topics:
• Development and analysis of implementation attack countermeasures
• Analysis of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, and systems for implementation attack threats
• Execution of invasive and semi‑invasive attacks and associated protection techniques on integrated circuits such as side‑channel analysis, fault injection, laser voltage probing, photon emission microscopy, etc.
• Experience with one or more of the following technical areas:
• ASIC design, implementation, and test
• Experience with board‑and‑component‑level instrumentation and measurement (e.g., capturing digital and analog signals via mixed‑domain oscilloscopes)

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$126,800 - $158,500 - $190,200 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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