Security and Hardware SETA, Top Secret Clearance

Location: Arlington, VA

Department: Research & Development Sector

Description: 

DARPA is seeking experienced Technical SETA candidates to provide on-site support in the area of next-generation classified systems development.  

Successful candidates will provide expert technical advice and guidance to the government on all aspects of secure, multi-domain computing systems.  

Candidates will support and supervise performers conducting software and hardware platform research and assessment, integration, test, prototype deployment, and transition of systems for secure multi-node processing.

The candidate will be responsible for coordinating meetings, assessing performer technical progress, projecting performer outcomes, and ensuring that project management best practices are followed by performers. The candidate will prepare and deliver technical reports, briefings, and presentations to government officials and technical stakeholders. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in embedded hardware development, embedded systems programming, cybersecurity, and/or computer engineering
• Substantial experience in cybersecurity as applied to embedded hardware systems, including mobile and non-telecom devices
• Substantial experience in secure Execution Environments (e.g. TEEs, TPMs) on embedded devices
• Substantial experience with a wide variety of reverse engineering (RE), vulnerability research (VR), offensive cyber, and defense cyber methods and state of the art for embedded systems
• Experience in cybersecurity red-teaming (to include Counter-Intel style qualitative assessment), and demonstrated ability to break systems thus exposing design, architecture, and security flaws and identification of technical debt.
• Ability to work with little oversight to achieve team goals 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• A high degree of initiative, excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and reliability
• Familiarity with general systems engineering principles for complex systems development.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience in experience in testbed development and usage for mixed real/virtual (i.e. Live Virtual Constructive) sets of software and/or hardware nodes
• Experience in T&E operations planning and execution, i.e. Test Planning, Test Infrastructure, Test Execution and Documentation, Travel to CONUS and OCONUS locations, etc.
• Experience operating in complex, contested, non-benign environments.
• Experience with Clandestine or Covert Operations (Desired)
• Experience with Cyber Operations (Desired)
• Experience with Telecommunications (Telco) Operators, and a wide variety of systems
• Experience working with Special Access Programs (SAPs)/CAPs.
• • Work performed onsite at DARPA in Arlington, VA in a SCIF environment (no regular telework or remote work)

Desired capabilities and characteristics:

• Experience in Mixed signal ASICs, BioMEMs, Micro/Nanofabrication, Signal processing, Material Science or DNA/RNA sequencing
• Skills in first-principles analysis and/or biophysics
• Outstanding attention to detail
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to quickly learn unfamiliar areas needed to broadly support the PM’s portfolio spanning multiple domains of optics and electronics
• Self-starter who is willing to both take the lead and provide support in a team role in a complex, fast-paced, cross-disciplinary work environment
• Strong organization skills with the ability to multi-task and respond to quick turn-around requests
• Flexible and readily adaptable to change
• Demonstrated collaboration skills in a team atmosphere
• Passion for science and technology

Responsibilities:

• Analysis of emerging science and technology R&D opportunities through literature review; outreach to the research community; summarizing, analyzing, and visualizing data in spreadsheet and graphical forms
• Generating briefing materials and agency documents required for new program approval
• Program management at all stages over the program lifecycle including BAA drafting; feedback on proposals; interactions with proposers and performers; meeting organization and participation; transition partner and industry partner engagement
• Lead periodic performer assessments to analyze findings, assess technical and schedule risks; develop management strategies; communicate findings to program manager
• Technical evaluations and guidance on reports, briefings, and other performer communications   
• Presentation and report preparation
• Program administration, including development of technical analyses, identification of technology gaps, technical risk management, project cost estimation, technology transfer efforts, as well as supporting technical reviews
• Attending and organizing program reviews/site visits/field tests

Clearance: Minimum Top Secret required. 

Travel may be required up to 10-20% of the time.