Senior Embedded Vulnerability Researcher

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 238,000; Full time

Job summary

Draper’s Offensive Cyber Security Group in Cambridge, MA seeks professionals to develop tailored security solutions for DoD and IC directives. Role covers vulnerability research, embedded system exploits, and tool development across GNU/Linux, RTOS, and various architectures.

Applicants should have 5–10 years in cybersecurity, strong reverse engineering skills with Ghidra/IDA/GDB, and hands-on hardware experience (JTAG/SWD/BDM, soldering). Security clearance eligibility required.

Qualifications

• Proficiency with program analysis methodologies and techniques.
• Reverse-engineering assessment techniques for firmware or embedded systems.
• Familiarity with binary file and filesystem structures.
• Hands-on proficiency with reverse engineering tooling (Ghidra, IDA, GDB, RR).
• Experience with JTAG/SWD/BDM and data extraction from eMMC/NAND/SPI flash.
• Exploitation techniques for embedded devices across platforms.
• Understanding of GNU/Linux, RTOS, user/kernel modes, and boot processes.

Responsibilities

• Assess hardware and software for security vulnerabilities using diverse technologies.
• Develop software meeting security requirements for tailored applications.
• Integrate capabilities with other tasks or groups to improve performance.
• Create new tools to detect and exploit vulnerabilities and system weaknesses.
• Document nominal functionality and changes; contribute to technical reports.

Skills

Ghidra

IDA

GDB

RR

C

C++

Python

Java

Bash

Powershell

x86

ARM

RTOS

GNU/Linux

Tools

JTAG/SWD/BDM

eMMC/NAND/SPI

Soldering

Job description

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

Draper’s Offensive Cyber Security Group is looking for dedicated individuals to develop tailored solutions to meet our DoD and IC Sponsor directives. Our organization's not-for-profit status ensures a capability-driven focus on the United States of America's national interests that allows us to address some of our Nation's most pressing challenges. Due to the variety of USG organizational needs, our technical efforts and opportunities vary from conventional cyber operations enablement tooling to embedded vulnerability research and exploit development on a wide range of devices and systems.

Job Description

Duties/Responsibilities

• Assess hardware and software for security vulnerabilities using a breadth of technologies and techniques.
• Develop software that meets behavior and security requirements for tailored applications.
• Integrate software capabilities with other tasks or groups to improve performance or behavior requirements.
• Create new tools and systems to detect and exploit vulnerabilities and system weaknesses.
• Document nominal application and system functionality, in addition to implemented changes.
• Help define the analysis approach for a particular problem and independently execute assignments.
• Contribute high quality content for technical reports and presentations with minimal guidance.
• Proactively identify needs and concerns associated with design decisions and communicate them to project leadership.

Skills/Abilities

• Curiosity-driven approach to solving complex, customer-driven problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members, program leadership, and non-technical personnel.
• Be a team player able to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Experience 5-10 years experience in Cybersecurity or related field is required.

Program Analysis, Reverse Engineering, and Vulnerability Research

• Proficiency with modern program analysis methodologies and techniques
• Reverse-engineering assessment techniques for firmware or embedded systems
• Familiarity with binary file and filesystem structures and formats
• Hands-on proficiency with reverse engineering tooling such as: Ghidra, IDA, GDB, RR
• Hands-on proficiency with physical instrumentation or hardware modification, soldering
• Experience with JTAG/SWD/BDM, and eMMC/NAND/SPI flash data extraction
• Exploitation techniques for embedded devices across platforms and architectures
• Familiarity of network stack and internals
• Familiarity of operating system internals throughout user mode, kernel mode, and during boot processes for at least one of the following: GNU/Linux, RTOS
• Familiarity with architectures and assembly: x86, ARM, Hexagon, PowerPC
• Languages and Development: Proficiency with programming languages such as: C, C++, Python, Java
• Familiarity with scripting languages such as: Bash, Powershell
• Familiarity in development environments for GNU/Linux or Windows

Leadership and Business Development

• Successful history in authoring of technical proposals and documents
• Leadership in advanced R&D initiatives, including government-funded projects
• Leadership of critical programs with more than two full time staff members
• Proficient in teamwork and communication with diverse audiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with side channel attacks (glitching) to place components and/or devices into altered states to bypass protections.
• Familiarity with custom filesystem extraction and modification, removal and/or regeneration of OOB/CRC data.
• Familiarity with bus and protocol analysis.

Applicants selected for this position must be required to obtain and maintain a government TS/SCI security clearance.

Location & Salary

Job Location - City: Cambridge

Job Location - State: Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code: 02139-3563

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $62,500.00 - $237,500.00

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Benefits

• Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.

Inclusion & Diversity

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].

Career Information

We are in the business of redefining what is possible. Join our inclusive, multidisciplinary team to engineer the groundbreaking solutions of tomorrow. Explore life at Draper with our unique culture and benefits at draper.com.