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Principal Hardware Security Engineer (TS/SCI Clearance #25-097)

Strategic Analysis, Inc.
Full-time
On-site
As a Hardware Security Engineer, you will leverage your deep understanding of hardware security, cryptography, and reverse
engineering to contribute to the research, development, and deployment of secure hardware platforms. You will play a crucial
role in the analysis and mitigation of vulnerabilities in hardware designs, development of innovative security solutions for
hardware platforms and defining security architectures for critical hardware systems.

Responsibilities:
• Provide expert technical guidance in the research, design, and implementation of secure hardware platforms, with a focus on

mitigating vulnerabilities and ensuring the development of robust, resilient, and trustworthy hardware solutions
• Guide comprehensive security assessments of hardware designs, including SoC designs, reviewing schematics, informing

penetration testing on prototypes, and identifying potential backdoors or vulnerabilities using reverse engineering
techniques
• Inform the design and implementation of cutting-edge solutions to enhance hardware platform security, including secure boot

processes for FPGA-based systems, hardware-based encryption and authentication mechanisms, and countermeasures
against side-channel attacks and fault injection techniques
• Contribute to the development of technical requirements and specifications for secure hardware design, ensuring alignment

with industry best practices, government regulations, and certification standards
• Collaborate with researchers, engineers, and stakeholders to transition research prototypes into practical, deployable solutions
• Proactively identify and mitigate emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors targeting hardware platforms

Requirements:
• Demonstrated expertise in a combination of hardware design, cybersecurity, and reverse engineering
• Demonstrated experience in applying hardware security principles, such as attack methodologies, network encryption

protocols (e.g., AES, RSA, IPsec, SSL/TLS), and hardware description languages (HDLs) such as VHDL or Verilog
• Experience with hardware security analysis techniques, such as side-channel analysis (SCA) and bitstream manipulation
• Experience with computer-based systems development, such as JTAG debugging, fault injection frameworks, and reverse

engineering software like IDA Pro or Ghidra
• Proven ability to think critically, operate independently, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical

stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications:
• 7 - 10 years of experience supporting DoD research and development programs
• Knowledge of embedded security architectures and trusted execution environments
• Experience developing high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) hardware platforms
• Familiarity with secure hardware design principles including anti-tamper techniques
• Industry-recognized cybersecurity certification (e.g., Security+, CISSP, CEH, CASP+) is desired

Education:
• Bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer engineering, electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or mathematics with

a concentration in computer science; or equivalent experience

Clearance:
• Active TS/SCI clearance