Embedded Systems Cyber Security GRA - FALL 2024- CIPHER

Overview :

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).

Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry.

GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.

S. federal government, state, and industry.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do :

1. Students are our top priority.

2. We strive for excellence.

3. We thrive on diversity.

4. We celebrate collaboration.

5. We champion innovation.

6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.

7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.

8. We act ethically.

9. We are responsible stewards.

• Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good;
• breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible;

and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

Job Description

CIPHER’s Embedded Systems Vulnerability Division (ESVD) is skilled in reverse engineering, vulnerability discovery, and forensics analysis of embedded systems.

Red team activities focus on vulnerability discovery and the development and demonstration of RF and network-based techniques to gain unauthorized access to and / or exploit information networks.

These efforts identify weaknesses and help ensure that mitigations are effective. The Division specializes in wireless and embedded devices such as radios, modems, routers, and embedded controllers comprising various military and Industrial Control System (ICS) networks.

Research is also focused on developing innovative tools, architectures, and methodologies for software and microelectronic hardware assurance to support needs in trustworthy embedded computing applications, e.

g., Internet of Things (IoT) Fall 2024

ESVD seeks Graduate Research Assistants to support teams performing embedded system cybersecurity testing starting in Fall 2023.

Successful candidates will need to be able to analyze large problems and break them down into smaller, achievable tasks.

To support this they will need to be able to create high-level block diagrams, create custom scripts to support testing and solve problems from first principles.

Students will be working on projects that may involve one or more of the following : embedded systems development, hardware reverse engineering (RE), firmware RE, software RE and / or signals analysis.

Working alone and alongside other students is expected. Strong written communication skills are a must.

Experience with capture the flag events, firmware / software reverse engineering with Ghidra or IDA, or software-defined radios is desired.

Required Minimum Qualifications

Graduate Research Assistant

• Pursuing a Master’s degree or PhD at Georgia Tech in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Must be enrolled full-time (12+ credit hours)
• Must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA
• Commit to 15-20 hours of work per week
• Experience in 1 or more programming languages : Ex : Python, C, C++, Java, C#, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in 1 or more programming languages : Ex : Python, C, C++, Java, C#, etc.

• Experience with capture the flag events, firmware / software reverse engineering, or software-defined radios
• Task / team leadership experience
• Strong math skills and ability to learn complex engineering concepts
• Familiarity with Linux and open source tools
• Configuration management tools
• Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas
• Knowledge of IDA Pro and / or Ghidra

Top Secret Clearance

Hours per Week

15 20 hours per week

U.S. Citizenship Requirements

Due to our research contracts with the US federal government, candidates for this position are required to be US Citizens.

Clearance Type Required

Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain an active security clearance.

Housing and Relocation

Housing and relocation assistance are not available for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all.

To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and / or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services.

Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions.

This prohibition applies to faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including affiliates, invitees, and guests.

Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

All members of the USG community must adhere to the USG Statement of Core Values, which consists of Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect.

These values shape and fundamentally support our University's work. Additionally, all faculty, staff, and administrators must also be aware of and comply with the Board of Regents and Georgia Institute of Technology's policies on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

More information on these policies can be found here : Board of Regents Policy Manual University System of Georgia (usg.edu).