Capabilities Development Specialist

Department of Defense

National Security Agency/Central Security Service

Summary

If you are passionate about using cutting-edge technology and developing groundbreaking solutions for seemingly unsolvable problems, NSA needs your expertise. We're looking for computer science or computer/electrical engineering professionals with strong software or hardware design, development, testing or reverse engineering skills to join our team as a Capabilities Development Specialist (CDS).

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Duties

As a CDS, you will develop custom high-priority offensive and defensive capabilities targeting the hardest-to-reach adversarial networks in the world. You will apply and grow your expertise to create new ways to get critical information to national decision makers as part of the world's most advanced team of computer science and engineering professionals.

Responsibilities may include:
- Developing exploitation capabilities and analytics to enable foreign target network collection
- Designing hardware components and systems to further signals intelligence missions
- Analyzing sophisticated malware Competencies

If you have interests, skills, or experience in one or more of the following areas, we'd like to hear from you:
- Software Specialties: Strong software development skills (C, C++, Assembly, ARM); software RE/interactive debugging tools); software application vulnerability analysis and exploitation; operating system internals; mobile platform development and analysis; algorithmic analysis; prototyping.
- Malware Reverse Engineering: Advanced malware analysis/reverse engineering of specialized malware/complex files.
- Hardware Specialties: Hardware RE, design, development, or testing and debugging.

**Please upload a copy of your transcripts from all schools attended, prior to applying for this position. Unofficial transcripts are fine at this stage. The minimum qualifications for this position may require a degree that demonstrates a concentration of Computer Science (CS) courses in foundational CS areas.**

Requirements

Conditions of employment

All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564.

Qualifications

FULL PERFORMANCE
Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree and no experience. An Associate's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

SENIOR
Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 6 years of relevant experience or a Master's degree plus 4 years of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree plus 2 years of relevant experience. An Associate's degree plus 8 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

EXPERT
Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 9 years of relevant experience or a Master's degree plus 7 years of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree plus 5 years of relevant experience. An Associate's degree plus 11 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

Education

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.

Degree must be in Computer Science (CS), Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field. Degrees in Information Technology, Information Systems, Information Security, Networking (Systems Administration), Information Assurance, or Cybersecurity may be considered relevant if the programs contain, at minimum, a concentration of courses in the following foundational CS areas: algorithms; computer architecture (not network architecture); programming methodologies and languages; data structures; logic and computation; and upper-level mathematics (for example, calculus, discrete mathematics).

Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: engineering hardware or software over their lifecycle (i.e., requirements analysis, design, development, implementation, testing, integration, deployment/installation, and maintenance), programming, vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, computer forensics, or systems engineering. Completion of military training in a relevant area such as JCAC (Joint Cyber Analysis course) will be considered towards the relevant experience requirement (i.e., 24-week JCAC course will count as 6 months of experience).

Additional information

Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.

Salary Range: $105,262 - $197,200 (Full Performance, Senior, Expert) Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position.

Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience.

Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We're looking for candidates with knowledge, skills, and experience in one or more of the following:
- Programming in languages such as C, C++ and Java, especially in kernel development and device driver development; network/socket programming and embedded systems development
- CISSP, CEH, GREM or GPEN certification.
- Assembly language(s)
- Hardware design (e.g., FPGA, VHDL, Verilog, PCB)
- Hardware Reverse Engineering
- RF system design (e.g., DSP, SDR)
- Embedded systems development
- Software reverse engineering/interactive debugging tools (e.g., Ghidra, OllyDbg, gdb)
- Hardware analysis tools (e.g., JTAG, Oscilloscopes)
- Software vulnerability analysis and exploitation

Required Documents

The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the DoD Intelligence Community Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions in the NSA are in the Excepted Services under 10 United States Codes (USC) 1601 appointment authority. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you may be asked to submit documents verifying your eligibility.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1261249

Agency contact information

NSA POC

Phone: 1-844-424-4737
Email: intelcareers@nsa.gov

Next steps