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Contract Software Reverse Engineer Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

LLNL

Senior Cybersecurity Reverse Engineer

Livermore, CA · On-site

You will also lead software analysis projects to better understand supply chain threats to critical ... Experience mitigating anti-reverse engineering techniques. * Advanced knowledge of state-of-the-art ...

LLNL

Senior Cybersecurity Reverse Engineer

Livermore, CA · On-site

$9.8K/wk

You will also lead software analysis projects to better understand supply chain threats to critical ... Experience mitigating anti-reverse engineering techniques. * Advanced knowledge of state-of-the-art ...

LLNL

Senior Cybersecurity Reverse Engineer

Livermore, CA · On-site

You will also lead software analysis projects to better understand supply chain threats to critical ... Experience mitigating anti-reverse engineering techniques. * Advanced knowledge of state-of-the-art ...

Protingent

Software Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$83 - $96/hr

Software Engineer Protingent Staffing has an exciting contract Software Engineer with our client located in San Jose, CA. We're looking for a junior software engineer who can help build production ...

Cylake Inc.

Windows System Software Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$150 - $250/hr

Reverse Engineering & Debugging * Analyze Windows internals and system behavior. * Debug kernel ... Extensive experience building low-level Windows systems software. * Deep expertise in Windows ...

New

Cylake, Inc

Windows System Software Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$150 - $250/hr

Reverse Engineering & Debugging * Analyze Windows internals and system behavior. * Debug kernel ... Extensive experience building low-level Windows systems software. * Deep expertise in Windows ...

New

Protingent

Software Development Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$110.21 - $118.47/hr

Job Title: Software Development EngineerPosition Description Protingent Staffing has an exciting contract Software Development Engineer with our client located in Santa Clara, CA. Job ...

Protingent

Software Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$60 - $70/hr

Protingent Staffing has an exciting contract Software Engineerwith our client located in San Jose, CA. * We're looking for a junior software engineer who can help build production applications ...

Protingent

Software Development Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$90 - $100/hr

Protingent Staffing has an exciting contract Software Development Engineerwith our client located ... Partner with engineering stakeholders to identify high-value opportunities to reduce manual effort ...

Archer

VMS Software Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$142K - $220K/yr

You aren't afraid to reverse-engineer a protocol or write a custom driver if the standard one fails ... Design software with a safety-first mindset. You anticipate edge cases and write defensive code ...

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All JobsContract Software Reverse Engineer JobsContract Software Reverse Engineer Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

Contract Software Reverse Engineer information

See Santa Clara, CA salary details

$91

$107

$121

How much do contract software reverse engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for contract software reverse engineer in Santa Clara, CA is $107.28, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99.09 and $115.48 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a contract software reverse engineer do?

A Contract Software Reverse Engineer is a professional who is hired on a temporary or project basis to analyze software applications and systems to understand their structure, functionality, and behavior. This process often involves decompiling or disassembling software to recover source code or design elements, identify vulnerabilities, or ensure software compliance. Contract Software Reverse Engineers commonly work with legacy systems, malware analysis, or software interoperability tasks. Their expertise is valuable for clients who need insight into proprietary or undocumented software components.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract software reverse engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Software Reverse Engineer, you need expertise in programming languages (such as C/C++ and Assembly), a strong understanding of operating systems, and experience with software debugging, typically supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Proficiency with technical tools like IDA Pro, Ghidra, OllyDbg, and decompilers, as well as knowledge of malware analysis or cybersecurity certifications, is often required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication help you dissect complex systems and present findings clearly to clients. These skills are crucial for accurately analyzing software, identifying vulnerabilities, and delivering actionable insights in diverse and time-sensitive projects.

What are some of the most common challenges faced by contract software reverse engineers, and how can they be addressed?

Contract software reverse engineers often encounter challenges such as analyzing undocumented code, working with obfuscated binaries, and ensuring compliance with legal and ethical guidelines. To address these, it’s important to stay current with reverse engineering tools, maintain clear communication with clients about project scope, and document findings thoroughly. Additionally, collaborating with other security professionals and leveraging community resources can help solve complex technical problems and ensure the integrity of the work.

What is the difference between Contract Software Reverse Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectContract Software Reverse EngineerSoftware Developer
CredentialsTypically requires knowledge of reverse engineering, programming, and security certificationsRequires programming skills, often with a degree in computer science or related field
Work EnvironmentOften project-based, working independently or in teams to analyze existing softwareUsually employed in development teams to create new software applications
Industry UsageUsed in cybersecurity, software analysis, and security testingUsed across various industries for software creation and maintenance
Search & Comparison IntentCommonly compared for skills overlap in security and reverse engineeringCompared for software creation and coding expertise

The main difference is that Contract Software Reverse Engineers focus on analyzing and understanding existing software, often for security or compatibility purposes, while Software Developers create new software applications. Both roles require strong programming skills, but their focus and work environments differ significantly.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA?

The most popular types of Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA are:

What are popular job titles related to Contract Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA?

For Contract Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Software Reverse Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA are:

What cities near Santa Clara, CA are hiring for Contract Software Reverse Engineer jobs?

Cities near Santa Clara, CA with the most Contract Software Reverse Engineer job openings:

Contract Software Reverse Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Software Reverse Engineer job openings in Santa Clara, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $223,142 per year, or $107.3 per hour.

Android Malware Reverse Engineer

NSS

San Jose, CA • On-site

$140 - $200/hr

Other

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

NSS is currently hiring for an Android Malware Reverse Engineer to support a well known client. This individual is required to be onsite 3 days a week with 2 days remote, in their respective locations including Austin, Texas, Bothell, WA, or San Jose, CA.

The Android Malware Reverse Engineers will conduct reverse engineering, security assessments, and code reviews. You will conduct and assist with complex decompilation, unpacking, code review and malicious mobile software reviews. The goal of the work is to identify families of malware and act on apps at scale. You will be responsible for developing static and dynamic signatures for mobile code, binaries, and executable code leading to the detection of a variety of threat types including malware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) and advanced persistent threats. Additionally, you will identify weaknesses in detections and automations and make recommendations for improvements in the detection process and automation pipeline. You are required to write complex reports for consumption of non-technical audiences, review peer reports and assist with investigations.

Requirements:
  • Hands on Experience with the following:
    • Analyzing, unpacking, and reverse engineering code of malicious applications or SDKs.
    • Static and Dynamic Analysis Techniques
    • Reverse Engineering tools such as Jadx, Ghidra, Frida, IDA Pro, Burp, to perform binary and APK analysis
    • Java, Kotlin, JavaScript, Flutter, and other mobile software languages
    • ELF (Native Binaries) reverse engineering
    • Query languages such as SQL
  • Understanding of the following topics
    • Android Fundamentals such as Android activity lifecycles, common Android API usage, AOSP, and how an android application is created.
    • Java and/or Kotlin Programing Language
    • Techniques utilized by malicious software to harm the user’s device or their data
    • Mobile App store policies (Ads, PHAs, Developer, etc.)
    • Ability to read, comprehend and analyze source code
  • Additional
    • Development of signatures (Yara, etc.)
    • Research on threats such as APT using Open-Source Intelligence (Virus Total, Web, ExploitDB, MITRE, etc.)
    • In depth knowledge of security engineering and analysis topics, computer and network security, cryptography, authentication security, rooting, packing, network protocols and interception
Nice to Have:
  • Experience with Vulnerability Analysis or security code review
  • Android Software Development Experience
  • Background / Familiarity with Google Ads or Content moderation
  • Participation in a Capture the Flag (CTF) for Mobile software
  • Pentesting, Blue Team, and/or Red Team experience
  • Professional Experience and Education
Required:
  • None
Preferred:
  • Associates/Bachelor’s Degree/master’s in computer science, computer engineering, CS, or information systems, or related discipline.
  • 3-5 years of hands on Android and reverse engineering
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About NSS

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NSS RPO was founded by Jessica Nicholson and Conor Nicholson in 2009. They saw the need for a nice services company that valued their employees by putting them first. With Jessica’s organizational skills and strategy along with Conor’s network, the company employed 25 contract recruiters in less than a year and proceeded to make the Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in America, three years in a row. Since its inception, NSS RPO has hired hundreds of recruiters in over 30 states. NSS RPO is proud to include among its clients eight of the ten largest government contractors, the world's largest job board, entertainment company and one of the nation’s largest banks. NSS RPO is your trusted provider of Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) solutions. Founded by an experienced recruiter and solely focused on RPO, NSS RPO offers a strong network of exceptional recruiters and customizable staffing solutions. Named to Washington Business Journal’s prestigious list of Top 25 Staffing Agencies seven years in a row, NSS RPO is known for its quality, agility, and expertise. If you have a recruitment staffing need at your organization, NSS RPO can customize a solution for you, no matter how big or small.

Industry

Recruiting and staffing services

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

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