Senior Embedded Software Security Engineer

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MITRE’s Electronic Systems Security department is seeking highly motivated engineers to develop and secure next-generation embedded systems supporting missions of national importance. Our teams work at the intersection of embedded software, computer architecture, hardware security, and applied research to design, prototype, evaluate, and transition resilient systems capable of operating in sophisticated threat environments.

Qualified candidates will join a technically deep, mission-focused environment where they will contribute directly to government sponsor efforts, prototype advanced capabilities, improve embedded system security requirements for national security programs, and help advance the state of the art in secure embedded computing.

Roles & Responsibilities:

This role focuses on hardware-aware software security for embedded systems. Engineers in this area develop secure embedded software architectures, implement trusted computing technologies such as secure boot using cryptographic roots of trust, and build tooling that improves the security and assurance of embedded platforms. Our work spans secure embedded software development, compiler- and analysis-assisted vulnerability mitigation, implementation security, trusted execution technologies, firmware authentication, and evaluation of systems against hardware-enabled attacks such as side-channel analysis and fault injection. Engineers collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams conducting embedded system prototyping, implementation security research, software assurance, and vulnerability assessment.

Engineers in this role will develop and apply their technical expertise to:

• Design and develop secure embedded software and firmware for mission-critical systems.
• Architect and implement trusted computing technologies including secure boot, firmware signing, cryptographic roots of trust, trusted execution, and secure key management.
• Develop tooling and infrastructure for secure-by-construction embedded systems, including static analysis, symbolic analysis, compiler-assisted protections, and automated hardening techniques.
• Prototype and evaluate security capabilities across bare-metal, RTOS, embedded Linux, FPGA SoC, and heterogeneous computing platforms.
• Assess embedded systems for hardware-enabled attacks such as side-channel analysis and fault injection and develop software mitigations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams conducting embedded security research, vulnerability assessment, and hardware/software co-design.
• Deliver prototypes, technical recommendations, and engineering support directly to sponsors.
• Support development of embedded security requirements, acquisition guidance, and implementation security best practices.
• Communicate and document technical approaches, risks, and results to sponsors and stakeholders.
• Provide technical mentorship to junior engineers.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree; or 3 years and a master’s degree; or a PhD with relevant experience who can immediately contribute at this job step; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience. Applicants selected for this position will be subject to a US government security investigation and must be able to obtain a Department of Defense SECRET clearance, which requires US citizenship.
• Experience developing embedded software in C/C++ and tooling in Python.
• Experience with low-level embedded software development (e.g., bare-metal firmware, RTOS, embedded Linux, device drivers, or systems programming).
• Familiarity with embedded system debugging workflows and development tools.
• Understanding of embedded security concepts including secure boot, cryptographic integration, key management, trusted computing, and secure software architecture.
• Understanding of how hardware and computer architecture influence embedded system security.
• Ability to independently execute complex technical work in collaborative environments.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance within one year of hire
• Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 3 days on site each week.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Active security clearance, especially Top Secret or TS/SCI.
• Experience developing or evaluating software protections against common hardware-enabled attacks including side-channel analysis, fault injection, memory corruption, or related implementation security threats.
• Experience implementing secure boot, firmware signing, trusted execution, or root-of-trust technologies.
• Experience with LLVM/Clang, symbolic execution, static analysis, compiler-assisted verification, or automated software hardening.
• Experience with embedded emulation or analysis frameworks such as QEMU or angr.
• Familiarity with memory-safe systems programming in languages such as Rust.
• Experience integrating security technologies into ARM or RISC-V systems, including TrustZone or FPGA SoC platforms.
• Familiarity with embedded security standards and guidance such as DoDI 5000.83, NSA/NIST/CNSA guidance, FIPS 140-3, and Common Criteria.
• Experience performing embedded security assessments, reverse engineering, or vulnerability analysis.
• Experience supporting defense acquisition programs through requirements development or technical evaluations.
• Experience with anti-tamper design, implementation, evaluation, and/or research.
• Experience applying AI/ML techniques to software assurance, vulnerability detection, or automated hardening.
• Demonstrated technical leadership and mentoring experience.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$126,800 - $158,500 - $190,200 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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