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Fpga Reverse Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Slope

Senior RF Systems Engineer, Cyber

Washington, DC · On-site

$166 - $220/hr

Experience with reverse engineering legacy systems or reconstructing architecture where documentation is incomplete. * Background with FPGA/SoC-based platforms, high‑speed digital systems, or multi ...

New

i3

Power Distribution Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$103K - $181K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... TVS/ESD, reverse polarity, inrush control). * Select and integrate power components (DC/DC ... embedded C/C++, FPGA/PLC, or scripting). * Experience with high-current / higher-voltage ...

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All JobsFpga Reverse Engineer JobsFpga Reverse Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA

Fpga Reverse Engineer information

See Reston, VA salary details

$85.3K

$141.8K

$202.9K

How much do fpga reverse engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for fpga reverse engineer in Reston, VA is $141,785.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $92,600.00 and $185,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an FPGA reverse engineer do?

An FPGA Reverse Engineer specializes in analyzing, understanding, and reconstructing the functionality of FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) designs, often without access to original documentation or source code. Their work involves extracting bitstreams, interpreting logic functions, and sometimes recovering or modifying firmware for security analysis, legacy system support, or hardware research. This role requires a strong background in digital design, hardware description languages (HDLs), and embedded systems.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an FPGA reverse engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an FPGA Reverse Engineer, you need a solid background in digital logic design, hardware description languages (such as VHDL or Verilog), and a degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with FPGA development tools (like Xilinx Vivado or Intel Quartus), logic analyzers, and decompilation or reverse engineering software is essential. Exceptional analytical thinking, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills help you unravel complex designs and communicate findings clearly. These competencies are crucial for accurately understanding, replicating, or securing FPGA-based systems in critical hardware environments.

What are the common challenges faced by FPGA reverse engineers when analyzing proprietary bitstreams or undocumented hardware designs?

FPGA Reverse Engineers often encounter challenges such as limited documentation, proprietary or obfuscated bitstream formats, and complex hardware abstraction layers. Disassembling and interpreting bitstreams without clear reference material requires a strong understanding of digital logic, FPGA architecture, and embedded systems. Collaboration with other hardware engineers and leveraging specialized reverse engineering tools are essential for overcoming these obstacles and ensuring accurate analysis.

What is the difference between Fpga Reverse Engineer vs FPGA Design Engineer?

AspectFpga Reverse EngineerFPGA Design Engineer
Required SkillsHardware analysis, reverse engineering, FPGA protocolsFPGA development, HDL coding, digital design
Work EnvironmentSecurity, defense, embedded systemsConsumer electronics, telecommunications, aerospace
CertificationsOften none specific, but security clearances may be neededFPGA/ASIC design certifications, e.g., Xilinx or Intel certifications

While both roles involve working with FPGA technology, Fpga Reverse Engineers focus on analyzing and understanding existing FPGA designs, often for security or troubleshooting purposes. FPGA Design Engineers create new FPGA hardware solutions from scratch, emphasizing development and implementation. Both roles require strong FPGA knowledge but differ in their primary objectives and work environments.

What are popular job titles related to Fpga Reverse Engineer jobs in Reston, VA?

For Fpga Reverse Engineer jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Fpga Reverse Engineer jobs in Reston, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Fpga Reverse Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:

What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Fpga Reverse Engineer jobs?

Cities near Reston, VA with the most Fpga Reverse Engineer job openings:

Fpga Reverse Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Fpga Reverse Engineer job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $141,785 per year, or $68.2 per hour.

Principal Vulnerability Researcher

Zetier

Arlington, VA • On-site

Full-time

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Principal Vulnerability Researcher Zetier is seeking Principal Vulnerability Researchers to analyze and counter malicious software and develop operationally critical cyber capabilities. Candidates will demonstrate practical experience designing, developing, and deploying tools intersecting command and control, persistence, and networking. Required:
  • Highly experienced with reverse engineering compiled programs (C/C++)
  • Highly experienced in reading common assembly languages (x86, x86-64, ARM)
  • Experience developing in scripting languages (Python)
  • Experience with debuggers and decompilers (gdb, Binja, IDA Pro)
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance
Desired:
  • Experience developing/defeating mitigations (ASLR, DEP, N^X)
  • Developed defeats of common anti-RE techniques (obfuscation)
  • Detailed understanding of embedded platforms (FPGA, physical memory)
  • Securely implemented cryptographic primitives (AES-GCM, SHA256, ECDSA)
  • Experience with program analysis tools and techniques (control flow, program slicing, taint tracing)
  • Effective use of automated analysis (fuzzers, emulation, sandbox)
  • Deep knowledge of file systems and formats (ELF, PE, Mach-O)
  • Effective communication with customers and teammates
  • Experience developing proof-of-concept exploits
  • Active U.S. security clearance
Zetier is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis protected by law. All employment is decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business need.

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