Mid Level Embedded Software Engineer

Our Client is expanding its encryption business and seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to help architect, implement, and certify high-assurance cryptographic systems used by the U.S. Department of Defense, NATO, and allied partners.

This role goes beyond traditional embedded development. You will work on security-critical software and firmware that must meet NSA High Assurance (HA) certification requirements, contributing directly to cryptographic information assurance architectures, certification artifacts, and fielded systems protecting real-world tactical and strategic networks.

If you are motivated by deep technical challenges-secure embedded design, Rust adoption in constrained environments, and building systems that withstand formal certification scrutiny-this role offers rare and meaningful work.

What You’ll Work On

• High-assurance cryptographic and key management systems supporting secure communications, remote rekey, and lifecycle management
• Embedded software and firmware operating within defined crypto, INFOSEC, and High Assurance boundaries
• Architecture and implementation of cryptographic information assurance (IA) software and systems
• Modernization of legacy C baselines and architecting Rust-based embedded solutions for security- and safety-critical environments
• Systems that undergo formal NSA High Assurance certification, from requirements through fielding and sustainment

Role Responsibilities * Design, develop, and maintain embedded software primarily in C and Rust for cryptographic and security-critical platforms * Architect cryptographic information assurance software and systems, including definition of security boundaries, trusted services, and separation of crypto and non-crypto functions * Perform trade studies and embedded architecture design, with emphasis on memory-safe designs and C-to-Rust transitions * Actively support the NSA High Assurance certification process, including:

* Requirements decomposition and traceability * Security architecture definition and documentation * Development of certification artifacts and evidence * Participation in technical reviews and certification milestones

Develop and maintain formal engineering documentation: * Software & Hardware Requirements (SHRS, IRS) * Interface Control Documents (ICDs) * Software/Hardware Design Descriptions (SHDD)

Develop and execute unit testing, integration, and acceptance testing, including hardware-in-the-loop and security-relevant test cases

Manage configuration control for software development items in certified baselines

Collaborate closely with systems, hardware, security, and test engineers in a high-performance, mission-driven team

Identify and implement process, tooling, and automation improvements to support secure development and certification efficiency

Periodic travel (~5%) for customer interaction, test events, or off-site integration activities

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, or equivalent experience * 5+ years of embedded software development experience in C and/or Rust * Experience with:

* Low-level embedded development and debugging * ARM-based processors and SoC platforms * Firmware and hardware/software integration

Strong understanding of memory management, concurrency, and deterministic embedded behavior Preferred / Differentiating Experience * 8+ years of embedded or firmware development experience * Experience with Rust in constrained embedded environments (no-std, heapless, hardware abstraction layer (HAL)) * Direct experience with NSA High Assurance certification, RMF, or similar DoD security frameworks * Familiarity with cryptographic system design, key management, and secure boot/trust architectures * Experience with:

* openOCD, gdb, JTAG/SWD debugging * AMD Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC (e.g., Xilinx ZCU102/104 Evaluation Kit or similar)

Experience working in waterfall or agile development methodology-based projects

Strong systems-thinking mindset with the ability to assess technical risk and security impact

Clear communicator who thrives in collaborative, technically rigorous teams