Senior Software Reverse Engineer - Security & Firmware

Peraton; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton is seeking a highly skilled Senior Software Reverse Engineer to join our Bethesda, MD team. You will perform in-depth analysis of software, firmware, and hardware to uncover functionality, identify vulnerabilities, and understand operational context.

This role combines dynamic system analysis, static binary reverse engineering, and documented exploitation to explain why and how systems support missions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of relevant experience; OR Master's with 6+ years; OR PhD with 3+ years. Highly desired fields include IT, Cybersecurity, CS, IS, Data Science, or SWE.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph is required.
• 3+ years of demonstrated experience in software reverse engineering, with preference for material exploitation, malware analysis, or vulnerability research.
• Understanding of Windows and Linux OS internals, x86/x64 and ARM assembly, and CPU architecture.
• Experience with static analysis tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra, and Binary Ninja.
• Experience with debugging tools such as WinDbg, GDB, and similar platforms.
• Experience with virtualization, sandboxing, and emulation tools such as VMware, KVM, QEMU, and others.
• Experience with the SWRE toolchain, including network analysis tools (Wireshark, nmap) and Linux CLI proficiency.
• Experience with forensic disk image analysis to mount, modify, and extract artifacts from raw disk images.
• Ability to unpack, de-obfuscate, and analyze highly complex malicious applications.
• Experience in Linux/Unix environments, including advanced CLI operations and system-level administration.
• Knowledge of low-level programming languages (C, C++, Assembly) and scripting like Python, Java, or .NET.
• Solid understanding of common security practices and ability to identify security flaws in software architecture.

Responsibilities

• System Analysis: Conduct comprehensive analysis of compiled software and binaries; extract artifacts and identify components.
• Dynamic System & Environment Analysis: Use virtualization/sandboxing (VMware, KVM/QEMU) to observe software in native environment; trace syscalls, monitor network, analyze files.
• Live Debugging and Analysis: Perform live debugging on-system; correlate with static analysis to validate assumptions and uncover obfuscated logic.
• Static Reverse Engineering: Use Ghidra/IDA Pro to decompile/disassemble; analyze code paths and uncover hidden logic.
• Vulnerability and Capability Research: Identify vulnerabilities and undocumented features; develop PoCs and assess impact.
• Tool Chain Mastery: Utilize disk imagers, VM managers, network scanners, debuggers for end-to-end analysis.
• Mentorship: Mentor junior engineers in SWRE methodologies, tools, and techniques.

Skills

Reverse engineering

Windows internals

Linux internals

C/C++

Assembly

Python/Java/.NET

system-level administration

Security best practices

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in IT/Cybersecurity/CS/Info Systems/Data Science/Software Eng

Tools

IDA Pro

Ghidra

Binary Ninja

WinDbg

GDB

VMware

KVM

QEMU

Wireshark

nmap

Job description

Peraton is seeking a highly skilled Senior Software Reverse Engineer to join our Bethesda, MD team. You will perform in-depth analysis of software, firmware, and hardware to uncover functionality, identify vulnerabilities, and understand operational context.

This role combines dynamic system analysis, static binary reverse engineering, and documented exploitation to explain why and how systems support missions.