Principal Hardware Security Engineer, Advanced Microelectronics

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The Signals and Electronics Innovation Center is a leader in applying cutting edge technologies to solve the Nation's toughest problems. The Electronic Systems Security department specializes in analyzing the next-generation electronic systems for our sponsors to reduce risk in Programs of Record, bring innovative new solutions to solve challenges of national importance while protecting critical program information, and provide subject matter expertise with hands-on experience. The department is seeking a Principal Hardware Security Engineer, Advanced Microelectronics Analysis to provide technical leadership in the analysis, assessment, and security evaluation of advanced microelectronics and embedded systems. This position encompasses expertise in hardware security, semiconductor failure analysis, reverse engineering, microelectronic diagnostics, and embedded system assessment. The successful candidate will apply these skills to develop and advance specialized methodologies, tools, and techniques that enable the characterization, assurance, and security evaluation of complex integrated circuits and embedded technologies, addressing challenging problems of national importance.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Fostering an environment and culture of innovation, technical leadership, collaboration, camaraderie, and technical quality
• Proactively recruiting and developing staff to grow our diverse team that has the technical expertise and skills needed for our embedded security work program
• Ensuring staff are aligned to high-priority work that leverages their strengths
• Recognizing staff for their accomplishments
• Helping staff develop their technical and professional skills
• Encouraging staff to innovate by leveraging funding sources like direct projects, the MITRE Innovation Program, Early Career Research Projects, and Capstone initiatives
• Collaborating across the department's other embedded security groups, and other departments across MTE
• Helping to shape technical capabilities and lead projects within the focus areas of the group to support our embedded security work program

Basic Qualifications:

• BS (or higher) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, and 10+ years of related experience
• Technical task leadership experience
• Demonstrated leadership in managing teams and technical projects/tasks
• Excellent oral and written communication skills for communicating complex subjects to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical efforts, mentor junior staff, and contribute to the strategic direction of hardware security and microelectronics analysis programs
• Expertise in hardware security assessment, vulnerability analysis, and trust evaluation of microelectronics
• Experience performing reverse engineering and analysis of electronic systems at the semiconductor device level
• Experience with integrated circuit (IC) reverse engineering, deprocessing, delayering, and microscopy-based analysis methods
• Experience using laboratory equipment and analysis tools, such as focused ion beam (FIB), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and protocol analyzers
• Familiarity with advanced packaging technologies, system-on-chip (SoC) architectures, and how these technologies impact techniques for reverse engineering and/or failure analysis
• Understanding of hardware assurance, supply chain risk management, and trusted microelectronics principles
• Experience conceiving, proposing, and leading research and development efforts in hardware security, reverse engineering, or microelectronics analysis
• Ability to communicate complex technical findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders through written reports, briefings, and presentations
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance
• Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. or PhD in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field, and 15+ years of experience
• Experience identifying and applying emerging technologies to our applications in embedded security
• Experience developing and recruiting talent
• Experience with identifying and managing research lab investments
• Ability to work with customers to understand their mission, capabilities, and needs and then formulate plans to address those needs
• Ability to build consensus and partnerships across industry, academia, and customers to advance state of the art in embedded systems security
• Experience developing and applying advanced failure analysis and fault localization techniques for leading-edge semiconductor technologies (e.g., FinFET, 3D ICs, chiplets, heterogeneous integration, advanced packaging)
• Recognized expertise in advanced microelectronics analysis, semiconductor reverse engineering, or hardware security, demonstrated through publications, patents, conference presentations, or development of novel techniques and methodologies
• Experience leading technical strategy, shaping research roadmaps, and influencing organizational investments in hardware security, trusted microelectronics, or advanced analysis capabilities
• Experience serving as a technical advisor to government sponsors, senior leadership, or industry partners on matters related to hardware assurance, microelectronics security, and semiconductor technologies

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):
Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):
Top Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:
$173,200 - $216,500 - $259,800 Annual

Work Location Type:
Onsite

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Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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