Principal Security Consultant (Hardware/Embedded Penetration Tester)

About the role

NetSPI® pioneered Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) and leads the industry in modern pentesting. Combining world-class security professionals with AI and automation, NetSPI delivers clarity, speed, and scale across 50+ pentest types, attack surface management, and vulnerability prioritization. The NetSPI platform streamlines workflows and accelerates remediation, enabling our experts to focus on deep dive testing that uncovers vulnerabilities others miss. Trusted by the top 10 U.S. banks and Fortune 500 companies worldwide, NetSPI has been driving security innovation since 2001. NetSPI is on an exciting growth journey as we disrupt and improve the proactive security market.

Responsibilities

• Perform Hardware and/or firmware penetration tests.
• Lead in threat modeling exercises related to Embedded Systems.
• Create and deliver penetration test reports to clients.
• Collaborate with clients to create remediation strategies that will help improve their security posture.
• Conduct thorough penetration testing on hardware and embedded systems, including IoT devices, automotive systems, industrial control systems (ICS), and other critical infrastructure.
• Develop and execute comprehensive testing plans, methodologies, and tools tailored to specific hardware platforms.
• Identify, analyze, and document security vulnerabilities and exploits in hardware and firmware.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to review system architectures and design security solutions.
• Provide detailed reports and presentations to stakeholders, outlining findings and remediation strategies.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to the development of best practices and testing standards.
• Stay current with the latest security trends, tools, and technologies in the hardware and embedded systems domain.
• Research and develop innovative techniques, tools, and methodologies for penetration testing services.
• Contribute to the community through the development of tools, presentations, white papers, and blogs.

Requirements

• Experience required (one of the following): 4 years of dedicated security consulting experience, with 2 of those years having a heavy concentration in embedded/hardware penetration and security designs. 5 years of dedicated hardware/embedded systems design & development, with an additional 1-2 years of hardware/embedded security consulting and penetration testing. 10+ years of dedicated hardware/embedded systems design, development & fabrications, with a strong understanding of security vulnerabilities and how they may apply to hardware/embedded systems.
• Hands-on experience with hardware penetration testing techniques, including soldering, probing chips, removing, and reworking components, and hardware debugging.
• Knowledge of Linux, Unix, QNX and/or Windows Operating Systems.
• Knowledge of Application and Network Protocols and design.
• Adept in reverse engineering, firmware analysis, and exploitation techniques.
• Strong understanding of embedded systems architectures, communication protocols (e.g., SPI, I2C, UART), and hardware debugging tools.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think creatively to bypass security mechanisms.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher, preferred with a concentration in Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, Math, or IT - or equivalent experience.
• Up to 25% travel.

Qualifications

• If you have any of the below, that would be a plus: Designed hardware CTF or debugging tool. Programming experience in one or more of the following languages: C, C++. Familiarity with common embedded architectures such as: x86, ARM, PPC. Experience in automotive security testing and knowledge of CAN bus and related protocols. Experience with industrial control systems (ICS) and SCADA security. Experience testing medical devices. Knowledge of cryptographic algorithms and their implementation in hardware. Experience as an Embedded Hardware/Software engineer. Participated, won, organized, or otherwise developed Capture-The-Flag (CTF) competitions. Experience with Operating Systems design, or Compiler design. Experience with secure software development practices and code review.

Skills

• Security consulting experience in embedded/hardware penetration and security designs.
• Hands-on experience with hardware penetration testing techniques.
• Reverse engineering, firmware analysis, and exploitation techniques.
• Understanding of embedded systems architectures, communication protocols, and hardware debugging tools.
• Problem-solving and creative thinking skills.
• Communication skills to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Knowledge of Linux, Unix, QNX, and/or Windows operating systems.
• Programming experience in C, C++, or familiarity with common embedded architectures.
• Familiarity with automotive security testing and CAN bus protocols.
• Experience with industrial control systems (ICS) and SCADA security.
• Experience testing medical devices.
• Knowledge of cryptographic algorithms and their implementation in hardware.
• Experience as an Embedded Hardware/Software engineer.
• Experience with Operating Systems design or Compiler design.
• Experience with secure software development practices and code review.

Benefits

• Trusted by the top 10 U.S. banks and Fortune 500 companies worldwide.
• Opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects and technologies.
• Competitive compensation package.
• Flexible work schedule.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Collaborative and supportive team environment.

Pay

• Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

• Full-time position.