Senior Software Reverse Engineer

Responsibilities

Overview:
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Software Reverse Engineer to join our SCAR Team. In this role, you will perform in
depth analysis of software, firmware, and hardware systems to uncover their true functionality, identify vulnerabilities, and understand their
operational context. This position requires a holistic approach, combining dynamic system analysis, static binary reverse engineering, and
document exploitation to reveal not just what a system does, but why and how it supports its mission objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• System Analysis: Conduct comprehensive analysis of compiled software and binaries. Employ forensic techniques to extract critical
  artifacts, understand system architecture, and identify key software components.
• Dynamic System & Environment Analysis: Utilize virtualization and sandboxing environments (VMware, KVM/QEMU) to run and
  observe software in its native operating environment. Perform system call tracing, network monitoring, and file system analysis to
  reveal real-time behaviors and interactions.
• Live Debugging and Analysis: Perform live, on-system debugging using tools like the GNU Debugger (GDB) to step through code
  execution in real-time. Correlate dynamic findings directly with static analysis from Ghidra to validate assumptions, understand
  complex logic, and uncover obfuscated functionality.
• Static Reverse Engineering: Use advanced reverse engineering tools, with a focus on Ghidra, to decompile and disassemble
  software. Analyze code paths, extract indicators, and uncover hidden or malicious logic that is not apparent through dynamic
  analysis alone.
• CONOPS and Document Exploitation (DOCEX): Collaborate with analysts to integrate findings from system and operational
  documents. Use this context to understand the system's Concept of Operations (CONOPS), providing significance and priority to
  exploitation efforts.
• Vulnerability and Capability Research: Investigate and identify vulnerabilities, undocumented features, and novel capabilities within
  the target system. Develop proof-of-concept exploits and assess their potential impact on operational dependencies. Model and
  Simulate specific features and functions to understand how the software was developed, compiled, and deployed.
• Tool Chain Mastery: Employ a specialized toolchain for analysis, including disk imagers, virtual machine managers, network
  scanners, and debuggers to perform end-to-end exploitation.
• Mentorship: Mentor junior engineers in specific SWRE methodologies, tools, and techniques.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience; OR Masters’s degree with 6+ years of relevant experience; OR PhD with 4+ years of relevant experience; an additional 4 years of relevant experience considered in lieu of a degree
• TS/SCI with ability to obtain a poly
• 3+ years of relevant experience in software reverse engineering, with a preference for experience in material exploitation, malware analysis, or vulnerability research.
• Experience with virtualization platforms (VMware Workstation, KVM/QEMU) for dynamic analysis, sandboxing, and system
  emulation.
• Experience with forensic disk image analysis using tools like Autopsy or guestfish to mount, modify, and extract artifacts
  from raw disk images.
• Experience in the SWRE toolchain, including Ghidra, GDB, Wireshark, MobaXterm, NMAP, or the Linux binutils suite (e.g., readelf,
  strace, ltrace, ldd).
• Experience with network analysis (Wireshark, nmap) to baseline system behavior and identify communication protocols.
• Experience in Linux/Unix environments, including system administration, network configuration, SSH key management (ssh
  keygen, virt-customize), or advanced command-line tools.
• Demonstrated ability to perform live debugging of complex applications using GDB, including setting breakpoints, inspecting memory, and analyzing program state to support reverse engineering efforts.
• Knowledge of low-level programming (C, C++, Assembly) and experience with scripting languages like Python.
• Understanding of operating system internals, x86/x64 assembly, and CPU architecture.
• A solid understanding of common security practices and the ability to identify security flaws in software architecture.

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range

$112,000 - $179,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.