Cybersecurity Engineer

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

Responsibilities

The Cybersecurity Engineer position is within the Systems Security Engineering and Research team (6230) within the Office of the Chief Information Security Officer (6200).

We invite you to join our team as a Cybersecurity Engineer, contributing to the development of advanced security capabilities within mission‑critical embedded platforms.

In this role, you will design and implement novel security mechanisms that safeguard network data flows within embedded systems supporting authentication and encryption applications. You will also assess how these mechanisms interact with and strengthen anti‑tamper technologies.

This position requires conducting foundational research in embedded‑system security, with focus areas that include authentication, encryption, system monitoring, and anti‑tamper protection. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and integrating unique security mechanisms for embedded network data flows
• Analyzing interactions among authentication, encryption, and anti‑tamper technologies
• Performing fundamental research in embedded‑system security architectures and methods

Required qualifications:

• Typically requires a bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Physics, or a related technical discipline with a minimum of 9 years of directly relevant cybersecurity engineering experience in mission-critical, embedded, aerospace, or high-performance computing environments; master’s degree with 7 years of related experience or a PhD with 5 years of related experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in cybersecurity engineering for complex hardware and software systems, including FPGA-based architectures, embedded systems, and high-performance data processing environments.
• FPGA architecture development and low-level FPGA implementation techniques, including manual placement and routing, timing closure, floor planning, resource optimization, and hardware performance analysis.
• High-speed networking and transport architectures for FPGA and accelerator-based systems, including low-latency and high-bandwidth interfaces, distributed compute fabrics, and deterministic networking.
• Data science methodologies, large-scale telemetry and sensor data analysis, statistical analysis, and algorithm development for mission, scientific, or cybersecurity applications.
• Embedded system security, hardware security, anti-tamper technologies, hardware assurance, or applied vulnerability research.
• This position requires the candidate to be eligible for a Top-Secret clearance.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with advanced FPGA platforms and heterogeneous compute architectures, including AMD/Xilinx, Intel/Altera, Microchip, Lattice, or radiation-tolerant FPGA technologies.
• Experience with custom hardware development, embedded Linux environments, accelerator-based computing, real-time distributed systems, or high-reliability embedded architectures.
• Significant experience handling, processing, and analyzing large volumes of mission, sensor, telemetry, or cybersecurity-relevant data within distributed, accelerated, or heterogeneous computing environments.
• High-performance computing (HPC) architectures and clustered compute systems for large-scale data processing, telemetry processing, and accelerated analytics workloads. 
• Strong understanding of networking concepts and architectures supporting high-performance FPGA systems, including high-speed serial interfaces, secure data transport, distributed processing systems, and low-latency communications.
• Experience translating cybersecurity, mission assurance, and operational requirements into technical architectures spanning hardware, firmware, software, networking, and distributed compute systems.
• Experience with aerospace, defense, research, or mission-critical operational environments strongly desired.
• Familiarity with tools and platforms such as Splunk, Nessus, RSA Archer, DLP technologies, and large-scale analytics or observability platforms is desired.
• Cybersecurity risk management frameworks including NIST RMF, secure system development lifecycle (SDLC), and mission assurance methodologies.
• Experience supporting cybersecurity assessments, vulnerability research, reverse engineering, or mission assurance activities involving embedded, FPGA-based, or hardware-centric systems.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

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The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.