CACI International

Embedded Software Engineer

CACI International$79K — $162K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • US Citizenship and ability to obtain a security clearance required.
  • 5+ years of experience in embedded software development with reverse engineering skills.
  • Proficient in C, C++, and assembly programming for ARM, MIPS, x86, or RISC-V architectures.
  • Experience with RTOS environments like VxWorks and embedded Linux device driver development.
  • Knowledge of embedded software IPC mechanisms such as message queues and shared memory.
  • Familiarity with embedded hardware interfaces like SPI, I2C, and UART.
  • Proficient in Python3 for scripting and automation.

Responsibilities

  • Reverse engineer firmware and telecom systems to identify security issues.
  • Perform firmware extraction, binary diffing, static and dynamic analysis.
  • Collaborate with engineers to debug and access hardware interfaces.
  • Develop custom tools in Python3 for analysis workflows.
  • Investigate edge-case behaviors and reveal attack surfaces.
  • Document findings and translate complexity into actionable reports.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive healthcare coverage.
  • Wellness and financial benefits support.
  • Retirement plan options available.
  • Continuing education support for professional growth.
  • Flexible work-life balance options.
  • Time off benefits to support personal needs.
Full Job Description
Job Title: Embedded Software Engineer

Job Category: Engineering

Time Type: Full time

Minimum Clearance Required to Start: None

Employee Type: Regular

Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%

Type of Travel: Continental US

* * *

The Opportunity:
We are seeking an Embedded Software Engineer with expertise in embedded systems, reverse engineering, and cybersecurity. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on technical ambiguity, enjoys uncovering how complex systems really work, and excels in low-level software and hardware analysis. You’ll play a key role in evaluating security and robustness of proprietary embedded systems—developing custom tools, uncovering vulnerabilities, and contributing directly to national cybersecurity efforts.


  • Challenging, impactful work at the intersection of embedded systems, telecom, and cybersecurity.
  • A technically driven environment that encourages innovation and deep technical exploration.
  • Opportunities to publish research, present findings, or contribute to classified mission success.
  • A team culture that values technical mastery, curiosity, and mentorship.
  • Support for continued learning, certifications, and reverse engineering challenges.


Responsibilities:

  • Reverse engineer embedded firmware, device drivers, and proprietary telecom systems to identify undocumented functionality and potential security issues.
  • Perform firmware extraction, binary diffing, static and dynamic analysis, and hardware-assisted debugging.
  • Collaborate with hardware engineers to access debug interfaces (e.g., JTAG, SWD), extract flash images, and inspect hardware state.
  • Develop custom tools and scripts (e.g., in Python3) to automate analysis workflows such as firmware unpacking, protocol decoding, and memory analysis.
  • Investigate edge-case behaviors, error-handling routines, and low-level system initialization logic to reveal attack surfaces.
  • Document findings clearly and translate technical complexity into actionable reports for security and engineering teams.


Qualifications:
Required: 

  • Must be a US Citizen and the ability to obtain a security clearance.
  • 5+ years of professional experience in embedded software development with reverse engineering skills.
  • Proficiency in C, C++, and assembly programming for embedded architectures such as ARM, MIPS, x86, or RISC-V.
  • Experience with RTOS environments, including VxWorks and embedded Linux device driver development.
  • Understanding of embedded software IPC mechanisms, such as message queues, shared memory, and semaphores.
  • Familiarity with embedded hardware interfaces, including SPI, I2C, PCIe, UART, and memory-mapped I/O.
  • Proficient in Python3 for scripting and automation.
  • Hands-on experience with disassembly and decompilation tools (e.g., IDA Pro, Ghidra, Binary Ninja) and debugging tools (GDB, JTAG).
  • Knowledge of embedded security concepts, including secure boot, firmware encryption, and hardware authentication.


Desired:

  • An active security clearance is highly desired.
  • Experience in cybersecurity research, vulnerability discovery, or exploit development in embedded or telecom environments.
  • Familiarity with PowerPC assembly, including QUICC-based systems.
  • Experience with ARM assembly and debugging of SoC-based embedded platforms.
  • Understanding of Linux kernel internals and/or VxWorks internals.
  • Hands-on experience with FPGA-based systems, including those with embedded ARM or PowerPC cores.
  • Background in embedded hardware design and debug, including the use of oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and firmware extraction techniques.
  • Ability to build tools and infrastructure to support analysis workflows in a team setting.

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What You Can Expect:

 A culture of integrity.

Pay Range:

There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.

The proposed salary range for this position is:

$79,400 - $162,700

About CACI International

CACI International Inc is a multinational professional services and information technology company. It provides services to many branches of the federal government including defense, homeland security, intelligence, and healthcare. CACI has approximately 23,000 employees worldwide. The company's mission is to provide enterprise and mission technology services and solutions that best fit the needs of its customers. CACI has been named a Fortune World's Most Admired Company, a Washington Post Top Workplace, and a Forbes Best Employer for Diversity.
Learn more about CACI International
Size
22,000 employees
Market Cap
$7.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$374.4 million
Founded
1962
5 Year Trend
+7.3%
Revenue
$5.8 billion
NASDAQ

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