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EngineerDeveloper (Capabilities Development Specialist) Mid to Expert Level


Job Location:

Denver, CO - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 105262 - 105262
Posted: 6 October 2026 (15 hours ago)
Application Deadline: 3 January 2027
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

If you are passionate about using cutting-edge technology and developing groundbreaking solutions for seemingly unsolvable problems NSA needs your expertise. Were 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). We conduct innovative research and produce hardware and software tools.


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 worlds 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 wed 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.


Requirements
Conditions of employment
  • All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564.
Qualifications

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

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).

FULL PERFORMANCE
Entry is with a Bachelors degree plus 3 years of relevant experience or a Masters degree plus 1 year of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree and no experience. An Associates 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 Bachelors degree plus 6 years of relevant experience or a Masters degree plus 4 years of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree plus 2 years of relevant experience. An Associates degree plus 8 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.

Education

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).

**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.**

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: $105262 - $192764 (Full Performance Senior)
Salary range varies by location work level and relevant experience to the position.

Training will be provided based on the selectees 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.


Required Experience:

IC