Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer (clearance required)

Job Description

Ultra ProLogic is expanding its encryption business and seeking an Embedded Firmware 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.

Role Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded firmware primarily in VHDL for cryptographic and security-critical platforms
• Develop embedded algorithms and functions in firmware
• Develop device drivers for hardware components
• Architect cryptographic information assurance Firmware 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 red-black separation, Security Monitor, bus interfaces and channel development
• 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 simulations, integration, and acceptance testing, including hardware-in-the-loop and security-relevant test cases
• Manage configuration control for firmware development items in certified baselines
• Collaborate closely with systems, hardware, software, 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

Required Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance (U.S. citizenship required)
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of embedded firmware development experience in VHDL
• Experience with: Low-level embedded development and debugging, ARM/MicroBlaze-based processors and SoC platforms, Firmware and hardware/software integration
• Strong understanding of memory management, concurrency, and deterministic embedded behavior

Preferred / Differentiating Experience

• 10+ years of embedded or firmware development experience
• 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: 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