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Are you a computer science or computer/electrical engineering professional? Do you have strong software or hardware design, development, testing or reverse engineering skills? Do you want to be part of a team that develops ground breaking solutions? If so, click here to learn more and apply.
02/05/2025 to 02/15/2025
$104,219 - $151,570 per year
GG 11 - 12
Many vacancies in the following location:
No
No
Not required
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Permanent
Full-time
Competitive
None
No
Yes
1243949
830562400
Are you driven by a passion to work at the cutting edge of technology? Do you dream to make the impossible possible? The National Security Agency is seeking highly motivated Computer Science and Computer/Electrical Engineering professionals to drive its mission to develop new capabilities, design new approaches, help solve complex problems, and research new solutions to propel our mission.
As a Capabilities Development Specialist (CDS), your job will be to develop custom high-priority offensive and defensive capabilities targeting the hardest-to-reach adversarial networks in the world. In defense of our Nation, we conduct innovative research and produce hardware and software tools unlike anything in the world. By joining our team, you will apply and grow your expertise to create new ways to get critical information to our national decision makers. Whether it is in software, hardware, or cutting-edge research, if you are up for a challenge, have unbridled curiosity, and a drive to develop tomorrow's technologies and tools today, apply to join our team. Use your unique experiences and expertise to protect national security interests as part of the world's most advanced team of computer science and engineering professionals!
If you have interests, skills, or experience in one or more of the following areas, we'd like to hear from you:
- Software Specialties: Strong software development skills (C, C++, Assembly, ARM); Software RE/interactive debugging tools (e.g., Ghidra, OllyDbg, gdb); Software application vulnerability analysis and exploitation; Operating system internals; Mobile platform development and analysis; algorithmic analysis; prototyping.
- Malware Reverse Engineer: Perform advanced malware analysis/reverse engineering of specialized malware/complex files. CISSP, CEH, GREM, GPEN certifications are a plus.
- Hardware Specialties: - Hardware RE, design, development, or testing (Verilog, VHDL, FPGA, PCB); Testing and debugging tools (JTAG, Oscilloscopes, etc.);
Job roles may include:
- Developing exploitation capabilities and analytics to enable foreign target network collection
- Designing hardware components and systems to further signals intelligence missions
- Analyzing sophisticated malware
When submitting your application, please ensure that you fully populate all sections of the resume tool with all relevant skills, experience, and education, as the resume entered into the tool will be the primary resume used to evaluate your application. Please do NOT populate the resume tool with 'see resume.'
Please attach an unofficial copy of your transcripts from all schools attended when applying for this position. Providing a copy of your transcripts is especially critical since the minimum qualifications for this position require a degree that demonstrates a concentration of Computer Science (CS) courses in foundational CS areas.
The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.
Degree must be in Computer Science (CS), Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field. Degrees in Information Technology, Information Systems, Information Security, Networking (Systems Administration), Information Assurance, or Cybersecurity may be considered relevant if the programs contain, at minimum, a concentration of courses in the following foundational CS areas: algorithms; computer architecture (not network architecture); programming methodologies and languages; data structures; logic and computation; and upper-level mathematics (for example, calculus, discrete mathematics).
Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.
Salary Range: $104,219 - $151,570 (Full Performance) Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position.
On the job training, internal NSA courses, and external training will be made available based on the need and experience of the selectee.
Benefits: NSA offers excellent benefits to include relocation assistance, flexible work schedules, generous leave programs, paid personal fitness time, training and continuing education classes, health and life insurance, Federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and a Federal retirement plan.
Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We're looking for someone with knowledge, skills, and experience in one or more of the following:
- Programming in languages such as C, C++, and Java, especially in kernel development and device driver development, network/socket programming, and embedded systems development
- Advanced malware analysis/reverse engineering skills for specialized malware/complex files. CISSP, CEH, GREM, GPEN certifications are a plus
- Assembly language(s)
- Hardware design (e.g., FPGA, VHDL, Verilog, PCB)
- Hardware Reverse Engineering
- RF system design (e.g., DSP, SDR)
- Embedded systems development
- Software reverse engineering/interactive debugging tools (e.g., Ghidra, OllyDbg, gdb)
- Hardware analysis tools (e.g., JTAG, Oscilloscopes)
- Software vulnerability analysis and exploitation
The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the DoD Intelligence Community Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions in the NSA are in the Excepted Services under 10 United States Codes (USC) 1601 appointment authority. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you may be asked to submit documents verifying your eligibility.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply, please visit https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1243949
To apply, please visit https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1243949
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/830562400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.