{"id":278849,"url":"https://alion.io/job/draper-principal-cyber-effects-engineer","title":"Principal Cyber Effects Engineer","company":{"id":58532,"name":"Draper","domain":"draper.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/draper-com","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":78,"open_postings":67,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.866,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":30,"computed_at":"2026-10-27T05:46:45Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Cambridge, United States","Reston, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":95000,"max":245000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":245000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Binary Ninja","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Ghidra","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"LLVM","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"QEMU","optional":false},{"name":"RTOS","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false},{"name":"WinDbg","optional":false},{"name":"Windows","optional":false},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-28T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-28","last_verified_at":"2026-10-27T05:51:55Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":91,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":91},"description":"Overview:\nDraper 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.\nJob Description Summary:\nDraper is actively seeking a Principal Cyber Effects Engineer that will support current and future reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and cyber tool development projects across a variety of domains supporting the United States of America's national interest. 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. We are looking for enthusiastic and ambitious individuals to join and lead our growing set of programs and innovate for the greater good of our Nation's security. As a part of the Draper Cyber Effects team, you will drive the design and development of software tools and capabilities, perform static and dynamic analysis on diverse firmware and software, and share your expertise with others via mentoring and technical leadership opportunities. You will be a part of a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in a wide array of technologies and skills such as embedded systems, compiler theory, threat intelligence, fuzzing, binary analysis, and vulnerability research.Job Description:\nDuties/Responsibilities\nDefine and evolve software architecture for embedded, real-time, and kernel-mode systems to enable cyber effects.\nAssess hardware and software for security vulnerabilities using a breadth of technologies and techniques.\nDevelop software that meets behavior and security requirements for tailored applications.\nIntegrate software capabilities with other tasks or groups to improve performance or behavior requirements.\nCreate new tools and systems to detect and exploit vulnerabilities and system weaknesses.\nDocument nominal application and system functionality, in addition to implemented changes.\nIndependently drive solutions to complex problems - develop requirements, propose ways forward when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete, and adapt appropriately to changes in requirements.\nSubject Matter Expert (SME) in cybersecurity, able to plan, design, and execute large scale technical software and hardware solutions.\nAble to provide insight and suggest design modifications based on analysis outcomes, and to apply analysis techniques across a range of technical disciplines.\nIdentify program/system-level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies.\nDevelop, document, and teach best practices to less experienced engineers; Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals.\nPerforms other related duties as assigned. Skills/Abilities\nCuriosity-driven approach to solving complex, customer-driven problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.\nCollaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members, program leadership, and non-technical personnel.\nBe a team player able to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands. Education Requires a bachelor's in computer science, computer engineering, or related field. Experience 10-15 years experience in Cybersecurity or related field is required.\nAdditional Job Description:\nSoftware Development and Program/Binary Analysis:\nExpertise in architecting and developing custom low-level software tools and integrating those tools into complex (both embedded and non-embedded) systems.\nExpert at using contemporary program analysis methodologies and techniques (static and dynamic). Relevant tools include Ghidra, Ida, Binary Ninja, Radare, Angr, debuggers (GDB, WinDbg), emulation tools (Qemu), fuzzers (AFL++), etc.\nExperience with techniques that prevent reverse engineering and employ obfuscation or diversification.\nProven background in researching and exploiting software vulnerabilities. \nProficiency using secure coding practices and mitigation techniques against software attack vectors.\nExpert at using programming languages and their build systems such as: C, C++, Python, GoLang, Rust.\nExperience in compiler toolchain development such as building custom LLVM passes. Experience with leveraging the different stages of compilation i.e. intermediate representation.\nExperience in building high-quality code and helping others to meet those same coding standards.\nSystem and Architecture:\nProficiency with the core workings of operating systems (user mode, kernel mode, boot processes), especially in Windows, GNU/Linux, or RTOS contexts.\nProficiency in leveraging a variety of computing architectures and their associated assembly languages (e.g. x86, ARM, RISCV, etc.).\nLeadership and Business Development:\nProven track record of leading tasks and projects. Knowledge and expertise in creating project timelines, executing task delegation, and prioritizing project goals to meet contractual obligations.\nExperienced in communicating project progress and goals to clients/sponsors. Ability to receive feedback and adapt to changes in project schedule/goals given client/sponsor needs.\nEffective using different communication styles depending on team needs. Experience communicating during difficult situations.\nExperience with presenting technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.\nExperience participating in proposal writing and business winning.\nPreferred Qualifications:\nExperience with creating technical strategies at the organization level. Ability to leverage knowledge of the state-of-the-art, a company’s expertise and niche skills, and client/sponsor needs to generate technical goals for an organization.\nExperience with seeing a project through from inception to delivery.\nExpertise in building reverse engineering automation tools and analysis frameworks.\nExperience in leveraging machine learning (where appropriate) to automate cyber software tool development and program analysis.\nHistory of delivering high quality cyber capabilities.\nHistory of business winning; proven experience leading proposals that resulted in new business.\nBackground in proposing and executing R&D projects and exploring novel, cutting-edge concepts that are high risk, high reward. History of transitioning these projects to client/sponsor funded programs.\nThis role is onsite in Cambridge, MA or Reston, VA. Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance. Having an existing TS/SCI is preferred.\nConnect With Draper for Future Opportunities! If you don't find the right posting in our Career Opportunities, you may submit your resume for future consideration.\nJob Location - City:\nCambridgeJob Location - State:\nMassachusettsJob Location - Postal Code:\n02139-3563The US base salary range for this full-time position is\n$95,000.00 - $245,000.00Our 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.\nOur work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. 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. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.\nDraper 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 .","description_format":"text","description_chars":9190,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Military","Science & Engineering"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-05T13:22:40Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":12,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.411,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":91,"expected_fill_days":30,"reasons":["conf:4","stale_co","velocity","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-27T05:46:45Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":245000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/draper-principal-cyber-effects-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/draper-principal-cyber-effects-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-27T09:37:32Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":10791,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-28T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":58532},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=58532"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fdraper-principal-cyber-effects-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fdraper-principal-cyber-effects-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fdraper-principal-cyber-effects-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/draper-principal-cyber-effects-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fdraper-principal-cyber-effects-engineer"}]}