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Contract Software Reverse Engineer Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

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 ...

Flex

Sr Manager, Software Engineering

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$195K - $268K/yr

Use AI tools to Reverse-engineer legacy applications, generate technical documentation, accelerate ... Bachelor's degree in computer science, Software Engineering, or related field. * 8+ years of ...

Youlify

Senior Software Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$144K - $189K/yr

Reverse engineer what happened, find the pattern, and fix it at the root. Feedback here isn't ... About the role We're looking for a highly skilled software engineer to help build and scale Youlify ...

Robert Half

Software Engineer III - ATI

San Ramon, CA

$64.25 - $86.25/hr

Who We Are Robert Half is seeking a Senior Software Engineer III - ATI to join our team supporting ... Demonstrates strong skills in reverse engineering and refactoring existing platform code or ...

Robert Half

Software Engineer III - ATI

San Ramon, CA · On-site

$64.25 - $86.25/hr

Who We Are Robert Half is seeking a Senior Software Engineer III - ATI to join our team supporting ... Demonstrates strong skills in reverse engineering and refactoring existing platform code or ...

EndoSec LLC

FPGA Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$152K - $195K/yr

Hardware/Software Design: Work closely with other engineers to integrate FPGA designs with ... reverse engineering techniques - Experience with hardware acceleration techniques for ...

Winsnow, Inc

Mechanical Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

... modeling software packages (ProE/Creo, etc.) • Proficient in 3D solid modeling using CAD, ... Experience in reverse engineering can be an added advantage. • SEMI (S2, S8) standards ...

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

Contract Software Reverse Engineer information

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$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.

Security Software Engineer

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc

San Jose, CA • On-site

$150K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago

Advanced Micro Devices rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

27th of 159 rated electronics manufacturers

Job description

WHAT YOU DO AT AMD CHANGES EVERYTHING
At AMD, our mission is to build great products that accelerate next-generation computing experiences-from AI and data centers, to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we believe real progress comes from bold ideas, human ingenuity and a shared passion to create something extraordinary. When you join AMD, you'll discover the real differentiator is our culture. We push the limits of innovation to solve the world's most important challenges-striving for execution excellence, while being direct, humble, collaborative, and inclusive of diverse perspectives. Join us as we shape the future of AI and beyond. Together, we advance your career.
THE ROLE:
We are seeking a skilled Software Engineer focused on application security to support and enhance the security infrastructure within AMD's Vivado FPGA toolchain.
This role is responsible for protecting sensitive software and customer IP at the application layer, ensuring that AMD tools are resilient against reverse engineering, tampering, and data exposure. The engineer will work within an existing security framework to maintain, improve, and evolve security features across the platform.
The ideal candidate brings strong C++ experience and a practical understanding of security principles, with the ability to apply them effectively in complex, real-world systems.
THE PERSON:
The ideal candidate is a hands-on software engineer with strong security instincts and the ability to operate in complex, mature codebases.
They are comfortable working with existing systems, identifying gaps, and incrementally improving security over time. They think critically about how systems can be attacked and proactively design protections against those threats.
Strong collaboration skills, ownership, and professionalism are essential, as this role works closely with cross-functional teams in a high-impact, security-sensitive environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Application Security & Hardening
  • Implement protections against reverse engineering, debugging, and tampering
  • Identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities within the application
  • Improve robustness of the tool against misuse or exploitation

Data Protection
  • Ensure secure handling of sensitive customer design data within the tool
  • Implement and maintain encryption and data integrity workflows during read/write operations
  • Preserve security guarantees across different data formats and processing stages

Security Framework Development
  • Work within an existing in-house security framework to maintain and extend capabilities
  • Refactor and enhance existing security components for performance and reliability
  • Collaborate with internal security experts to validate and strengthen protections

Software Development (C++)
  • Develop and optimize security features in C++
  • Apply best practices for multithreading, performance, and memory management
  • Work across Linux and/or Windows environments

Preferred Qualifications
  • Strong understanding of application security concepts (e.g., vulnerability mitigation, attack surfaces, secure design)
  • Experience applying cryptography in software systems (e.g., using libraries such as OpenSSL)
  • Familiarity with reverse engineering techniques and common attack methods
  • Solid C++ development experience (modern C++ preferred)
  • Experience working in large, complex codebases or mature products
  • Knowledge of multithreading, concurrency, and performance optimization
  • Exposure to software protection, DRM, or licensing systems is a plus (nice to have, not required)
  • Familiarity with Linux (preferred) or Windows environments

Academic Credentials:
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent

LOCATION: San Jose, CA
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
#LI-DR2
#LI-HYBRID
Benefits offered are described: AMD benefits at a glance.
AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee-based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third-party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants' needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.
AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD's "Responsible AI Policy" is available here.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

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