Hardware Exploitation Engineer

Peraton is seeking a Hardware Exploitation Engineer with a strong commitment to teamwork to join our team at the National Digital Exploitation & OSINT Center (NDOC) in Bethesda, MD. In this role, you will be responsible for performing thorough examinations of digital media, including hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, and other electronic devices that may hold critical data.

 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Perform technical hardware exploitation and thorough examination of a variety of digital storage devices.
• Conduct reverse engineering, failure analysis, vulnerability analysis, and other research techniques to understand complex hardware systems, assess the functionality of components, and identify exploitation opportunities.
• Alter hardware components to facilitate forensic analysis of the media or to adjust the functionality of the hardware to meet specific objectives.
• Perform inspection, imaging, decapsulation, deprocessing, and other activities related to hardware reverse engineering and exploitation in a state-of-the-art microelectronics exploitation laboratory.
• Develop and maintain frameworks, processes, design patterns, techniques, tools, and standards for conducting hardware exploitation of digital media.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for IC/DoW customers.
• Prepare clear and concise technical reports to a wide range of audiences.

Required:

• Solid understanding of programming languages such as C/C++, Python, VHDL/Verilog, MATLAB, Assembly language, etc.
• Experience with Operating Systems: Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Embedded Linux, RTOS, etc.
• Knowledge of communication protocols (e.g., I2C, SPI, JTAG, UART, Wi-Fi, BT/BLE, TCP/IP, CAN) to interface with and extract data from electronic components.
• Advanced troubleshooting skills to effectively diagnose, isolate, and resolve complex failures in circuit boards: power integrity, thermal imaging, component-level analysis, etc.
• Proficiency in debugging techniques using tools like oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and other hardware debuggers.
• Working experience in Microprocessors/Architectures: ARM, MIPS, x86, PIC, RISC, PowerPC.
• Proficiency in soldering and desoldering components to access memory chips and other critical hardware for data extraction.
• Experience writing Technical Reports to create detailed documentation of findings.
• Requires active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Poly.
• Minimum of 8 years with BS/BA; Minimum of 6 years with MS/MA; Minimum of 3 years with PhD. Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) discipline preferred.

 

Preferred:

• Familiarity with Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) for circuit design and simulation, such as MATLAB/Simulink, Altium Designer, KiCad, Proteus, and similar tools.
• Experience requiring skills in reverse engineering of embedded systems with proprietary operating systems for the purpose of introducing functionally to a fielded system.
• Experience with static analysis tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra and Binary Ninja.
• DoD 8570 Compliance (IAT Level II cert)

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

$135,000 - $216,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.