Hardware/Software Analysis and Design Engineer - Entry to Expert Level (Maryland)

With the ever-accelerating technological advances and growing system complexity, NSA needs Hardware/Software Engineers to design, develop, construct and evaluate electronic hardware and software processing components. These components are typically subsystems of communication, collection, processing or analysis systems. 

Hardware Software Engineers utilize electrical, computer, mechanical, and materials engineering knowledge and skills to design, assemble, test, analyze and reverse engineer electronics hardware in support of the NSA mission. 

The National Security Agency (NSA) currently has opportunities for two types of Hardware/Software Engineers positions: Hardware/Software Design Engineers and Hardware/Software Analysis Engineers. Applicants may also be considered for an NSA Development Program.

 1. HARDWARE/SOFTWARE DESIGN ENGINEERS are hired into positions supporting a broad range of specialized skills including Computer Engineering, Computer Programming, Computer Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Communications Engineering. Positions will be in an office directly supporting a technical mission. The responsibilities of a Hardware/Software Design Engineer may include: 

- Designing, developing, testing, and/or evaluating computer or computer-related equipment. 

- Designing, developing, testing and evaluation of programmable hardware devices or digital circuits. 

- Programming, modifying and/or configuring system software that manages the computer hardware and provides services to the applications.

 - Applying software engineering principles to design, develop, test, and evaluate/modify software applications.

 2. HARDWARE/SOFTWARE ANALYSIS ENGINEERS are hired into positions supporting a broad range of specialized skills including Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering and Applied Mathematics. Positions will be in an office directly supporting a technical mission. The responsibilities of a Hardware/Software Analysis Engineer may include:

 - Design, develop, construct, test, or analyze firmware, hardware or software components. - Develop new or utilize existing methods and tools to analyze or protect specific hardware, software or firmware. 

- Develop/recommend mitigation strategies and techniques.

 - Develop and implement hardware forensic methodologies and applications. 

- Test, evaluate and/or reverse engineer microelectronic components (FPGA, ASICs, PCB, Microcontrollers, etc.), technology and equipment. 

- Program, modify and analyze system software/tools that control microelectronics hardware. 

- Apply hardware and software engineering principles to design, develop, test, and evaluate/modify applications and systems.