Senior Firmware Security Architect (Hybrid)

Nightwing Intelligence Solutions, LLC; Greenville (SC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Nightwing Intelligence Solutions, LLC seeks a Senior Firmware Security Architect to lead secure firmware for advanced microelectronics at the hardware-software boundary. You will mentor engineers and drive the security roadmap, shaping critical infrastructure protection across platforms.

You’ll design secure boot chains, cryptographic systems, and hardware roots-of-trust, while collaborating with hardware teams to ensure security is built in from architecture through production.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of embedded systems development experience.
• Proven UEFI development experience.
• Deep familiarity with Intel architecture and UEFI Secure Boot.
• Extensive firmware development, testing, and validation experience.
• Windows and Linux driver development background.
• Experience managing hardware design, development, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of cryptographic system design principles.
• Hands-on experience with TPM, Secure Boot, Measured Boot, hardware root-of-trust, SED.
• Track record of implementing secure development practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead firmware development for advanced security microelectronics from architecture through production and support.
• Design and implement secure boot chains, cryptographic systems, and hardware root-of-trust solutions.
• Oversee hardware design partnerships and guide manufacturing to meet security requirements.
• Develop and maintain UEFI firmware, Windows/Linux drivers, and embedded software for security-critical applications.
• Architect cryptographic systems with signature verification, encryption, attestation, and authentication.
• Apply threat modeling and secure coding standards across the lifecycle.
• Debug complex issues using JTAG, emulation, and custom test infrastructure.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers, security researchers, and product teams.

Skills

C/C++

Python

JTAG

Remote debugging

Security concepts

Cryptography

Tools

JTAG

Emulation

Test rigs

Driver debugging

Job description

Senior Firmware Security Architect

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers’ most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets. We are seeking an exceptional Senior Firmware Security Architect to lead the development and support of advanced microelectronics devices at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation. This pivotal role combines deep technical expertise in embedded systems with security-first engineering principles to protect critical infrastructure at the hardware-firmware boundary. As a technical leader on our team, you'll architect, develop, and oversee secure firmware solutions while mentoring engineers and driving our hardware security roadmap forward.

What You’ll Do

• Lead firmware development for advanced security microelectronics, from architecture through production and support
• Design and implement secure boot chains, cryptographic systems, and hardware root-of-trust solutions
• Oversee hardware design partnerships and guide manufacturing processes to ensure security requirements are met
• Develop and maintain UEFI firmware, Windows/Linux drivers, and embedded software for security-critical applications
• Architect cryptographic systems incorporating signature verification, encryption, attestation, and authentication mechanisms
• Implement security best practices throughout the development lifecycle, including threat modeling and secure coding standards
• Debug complex issues using JTAG, emulation, and custom test infrastructure
• Collaborate cross-functionally with hardware engineers, security researchers, and product teams

Security Clearance

Security Clearance: Requires at least a Secret. Qualified applicants may be subject to a security investigation and must meet minimum qualifications for access to classified information. U.S. Citizenship is required. Qualified applicants must meet the requirements to obtain and maintain a Secret government security clearance.

Required Qualifications

• Experience & Expertise: 10+ years of embedded systems development experience
• Proven UEFI development experience
• Deep familiarity with Intel architecture and UEFI Secure Boot
• Extensive firmware development, testing, and validation experience
• Windows and Linux driver development background
• Experience managing hardware design, development, and manufacturing processes
• Security Knowledge: Strong understanding of cryptographic system design principles (signature verification, data encryption, message authentication, remote attestation)
• Hands-on experience with modern commodity security technologies: TPM, Secure Boot, Measured Boot, hardware root-of-trust, Self-Encrypting Drives (SED)
• Track record of implementing secure development practices

Technical Skills

• Expert-level proficiency in C/C++ and Python
• Advanced hardware debugging techniques: JTAG, remote debugging, emulation, custom hardware test rigs
• Strong systems-level understanding of hardware-software interactions

Ideal Candidate

You are a security-minded engineer who thinks like an attacker but builds like a defender. You're passionate about the intersection of hardware and software security, stay current with emerging threats and mitigations, and excel at translating complex security requirements into elegant technical solutions.

Our Interviews

Our interviews are technical. Be prepared to tell us about your technical background and testing experience, as well as to work through some of our questions on a computer or whiteboard. We hope candidates find our questions to be thought provoking, but we don't ask brain teasers or tricks. This is a chance to have a dialog with our team, and we hope you will enjoy it!

Join Us

At Nightwing, we value collaboration and teamwork. You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside talented individuals who are passionate about what they do. Together, we’ll leverage our collective expertise to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Thank you for considering joining us as we embark on this new journey and shape the future of cybersecurity and intelligence together as part of the Nightwing team.

Equal Opportunity

Nightwing is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

About Nightwing

Previously part of a leading Fortune 100 company and headquartered in Dulles, VA; Nightwing became independent in 2024 but continues to support the nation’s most mission impactful initiatives. When we formed Nightwing, we brought a deep set of credentials and an unfaltering commitment to the mission. For over four decades, our team has been providing some of the world’s most technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence support services to the U.S. government on its most important missions.

At Nightwing, we value collaboration and teamwork. You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside talented individuals who are passionate about what they do. Together, we’ll leverage our collective expertise to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Thank you for considering joining us as we embark on this new journey and shape the future of cybersecurity and intelligence together as part of the Nightwing team.