Senior Embedded Vulnerability Researcher

Draper Labs; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 82,300 - 205,750; Full time

Job summary

Draper Labs is seeking Cybersecurity professionals to develop tailored solutions focusing on U.S. national interests. The role entails assessing vulnerabilities and developing secure software. Candidates should have 5-10 years of relevant experience and proficiency in languages like C, C++, and Python.

The position emphasizes teamwork in a fast-paced environment and offers a salary range of $82,300 - $205,750 for full-time roles.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years experience in Cybersecurity or related field is required.
• Proficient in programming languages such as C, C++, Python, Java.

Responsibilities

• Assess hardware and software for security vulnerabilities.
• Develop software that meets behavior and security requirements.
• Create new tools and systems to detect vulnerabilities.

Skills

Curiosity-driven problem solving

Effective collaboration

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Tools

Ghidra

IDA

GDB

RR

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.

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.

Security Clearance

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

Job Location

City: Cambridge, State: Massachusetts, Postal Code: 02139-3563

Salary

US base salary range for this full-time position is $82,300.00 - $205,750.00.

EEO Statement

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].