Senior Instrumentation Engineer Jobs in McLean, VA

Do you have deep experience reverse engineering complex wireless systems, software, or firmware?

Are you passionate about understanding how undocumented systems work and using that knowledge to solve technical challenges involving the defense of the US?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

We are seeking a Senior Wireless Reverse Engineer to help us give our nation a significant advantage in the electromagnetic spectrum. You will join a multidisciplinary team that reverse engineers wireless communications protocols, devices, and systems to enable signals intelligence, wireless cyber access, and defensive capabilities. You will combine wireless, software, firmware, embedded-system, and protocol reverse engineering to understand complex systems from their over-the-air behavior through their underlying implementations.

As a Senior Wireless Reverse Engineer, you will...

• Lead reverse engineering efforts against unknown, undocumented, or partially documented wireless systems to understand their operation, capabilities, and vulnerabilities.
• Reverse engineer software, firmware, embedded implementations, and communications protocols to understand how wireless devices and systems operate.
• Use static and dynamic analysis, debugging, instrumentation, binary analysis, and other reverse-engineering techniques to uncover system functionality and implementation details.
• Analyze and correlate software, firmware, protocol, and over-the-air behavior to develop a comprehensive understanding of complex wireless systems.
• Use software-defined radios, laboratory instrumentation, target devices, and experimental techniques to test hypotheses, reproduce behavior, and validate reverse-engineering results.
• Develop software tools and automated analysis workflows to accelerate wireless, software, firmware, and protocol reverse engineering.
• Provide technical leadership to multidisciplinary teams, mentor less-experienced staff, identify new technical approaches and opportunities, and communicate findings and results to sponsors and the technical community.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Have at least a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or another related technical field.
• Have at least ten years of relevant experience in reverse engineering, embedded systems, cyber operations, wireless systems, SIGINT, or a related field.
• Have demonstrated expertise reverse engineering software, firmware, embedded systems, communications protocols, or some combination thereof, including experience analyzing complex or undocumented systems.
• Have hands-on experience with reverse-engineering techniques such as disassembly/decompilation, debugging, static and dynamic analysis, binary analysis, instrumentation, or protocol analysis.
• Have experience developing technical software using Python, C/C++, or similar languages and have familiarity with wireless communications, RF systems, or software-defined radios.
• Have demonstrated technical leadership, strong oral and written communication skills, and the ability to independently solve complex and open-ended technical problems.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Top Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have at least a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or another related technical field.
• Have at least fifteen years of relevant experience in wireless reverse engineering, software or firmware reverse engineering, cyber operations, SIGINT, or related research and development.
• Have extensive experience with reverse-engineering platforms such as Ghidra, IDA Pro, Binary Ninja, or similar tools and with reverse engineering embedded devices, communications firmware, or wireless protocols.
• Have experience with wireless waveform reverse engineering, modulation recognition, channel-code identification or reverse engineering, or SIGINT analysis.
• Have deep knowledge of digital communications, signal processing, software-defined radio receiver design, modulation/demodulation, synchronization, channel coding, statistical signal processing, or detection theory.
• Have experience applying AI/ML, LLM-assisted analysis, or agentic workflows to software, firmware, protocol, or wireless reverse engineering.
• Have a working history supporting Department of Defense and/or Intelligence Community organizations, sponsors, missions, or programs.
• Hold an active TS/SCI clearance or higher.

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Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accessibility@jhuapl.edu.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.