Embedded Systems Emulation Engineer

About the role

STR is hiring an Embedded Systems Emulation Engineer to join our multidisciplinary team of researchers and engineers developing cutting-edge technologies with significant and immediate impact on our national security. In this role, you will work at the intersection of computer systems and real-world physical systems, building the tools and models that emulate complex cyber-physical platforms to enable analysis, reverse engineering, and experimentation.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of a small, focused team to architect, develop, implement, and test modular software applications and tools for emulating cyber-physical systems.
• Extend and customize existing emulation frameworks (e.g., QEMU) in C/C++ and Python to support new targets, peripherals, and capabilities.
• Rehost unknown or sparsely documented firmware by analyzing binaries, identifying hardware dependencies, and adapting these to run correctly in emulated environments.
• Develop emulator tooling and virtual device models to support reverse engineering and analysis of embedded systems across diverse architectures (e.g., ARM, PPC).
• Develop digital models using virtualization tools (e.g., QEMU) and network them together to create integrated, end-to-end system simulations that closely approximate real hardware behavior.
• Ensure model quality and correctness through unit-level and system-level testing, and by validating behavior against first principles, measured data, documentation, and hardware/software artifacts.
• Communicate technical foundations of models and algorithms through reports and briefings

Requirements

• This position requires an Active Secret security clearance with eligibility for Top Secret (TS) clearance, for which U.S. citizenship is needed by U.S. Government.
• Proficiency in C/C++ for systems-level or embedded software development
• Proficiency in Python for tool development, automation, and integration
• Familiarity with emulation and virtualization tools (e.g., QEMU or similar frameworks)
• Strong understanding of computer architecture, emulation principles, and software engineering best practices (e.g., modular design, testing, code review)
• Experience using collaborative source code management (e.g., Git)

Qualifications

• BS in Computer Engineering, Computers Science, Electrical Engineering or related field

Skills

• Active Top Secret (TS) Security Clearance
• Familiarity with network architecture and protocols, and experience integrating networked simulations
• Experience with low-level software modifications (e.g., implants, firmware changes, binary patch development)
• Experience at the software/hardware interface, including device drivers or real-time/embedded operating systems
• Experience with reverse engineering and firmware rehosting for embedded systems, including analysis of instruction set architectures (e.g., ARM, PPC)
• Experience implementing component models (e.g., sensors, actuators, dynamics, environmental factors) in Python and/or C/C++, and integrate them into system-level simulations and software processing chains
• Experience working with hardware components and interfaces
• Masters or PhD in related field

Benefits

Nice to have:

• Active Top Secret (TS) Security Clearance
• Familiarity with network architecture and protocols, and experience integrating networked simulations
• Experience with low-level software modifications (e.g., implants, firmware changes, binary patch development)
• Experience at the software/hardware interface, including device drivers or real-time/embedded operating systems
• Experience with reverse engineering and firmware rehosting for embedded systems, including analysis of instruction set architectures (e.g., ARM, PPC)
• Experience implementing component models (e.g., sensors, actuators, dynamics, environmental factors) in Python and/or C/C++, and integrate them into system-level simulations and software processing chains
• Experience working with hardware components and interfaces
• Masters or PhD in related field

Pay

Full-Time Salary Range: $110,000 - $151,000