About the Department and/or College

The Critical Infrastructure Security Institute (CISI) is seeking a skilled and experienced Reverse Engineering and Forensic Analyst to join our team. This individual will be responsible for conducting detailed reverse engineering of SCADA systems, PLCs, and other industrial controllers, with a focus on understanding and evaluating proprietary energy systems hardware. This role will involve a mix of technical analysis, security research, and forensic examination, requiring deep expertise in system architectures, control systems, and hardware vulnerabilities.

Major/Essential Functions

Key Responsibilities:

Reverse Engineering of SCADA Systems & PLCs

Conduct reverse engineering of SCADA systems, PLCs, and other industrial controllers to identify vulnerabilities, analyze firmware, and examine communication protocols.
Identify weaknesses, potential exploits, and risks in hardware and software configurations.
Analyze embedded systems and firmware to uncover vulnerabilities and provide recommendations for securing control systems.
Forensic Analysis of Energy Systems Hardware

Perform forensic investigations of proprietary energy systems hardware, including analyzing evidence from compromised or malfunctioning devices.
Document findings, creating detailed reports that outline the results of forensic investigations and potential impacts on the security and integrity of energy systems.
Support incident response and cybersecurity efforts related to energy infrastructure, analyzing devices involved in security breaches or incidents.
Maintain and Enhance Security Posture Evaluation for Critical Infrastructure test setup:

Software upgrades, Nessus vulnerability scanner and STIGs.
PLC environment.
Innovate new test setup capability.
This position involves research, work on, or access to critical infrastructure. In accordance with Texas Executive Order 48 and applicable federal and state regulations, candidates may be subject to a review of relevant criminal history and security-related background checks.


Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering required; five years specifically related experience. An advanced degree in a related field may substitute for one year of experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related field.

Expertise in reverse engineering embedded systems and industrial control systems (ICS), including SCADA, PLCs, and other automation controllers.

Hands-on experience with specialized energy systems hardware (e.g., transformers, generators, distribution systems, etc.).

Knowledge of regulatory and compliance standards in the energy and critical infrastructure sectors.

Experience with forensic tools and techniques used to investigate and analyze energy systems hardware, including memory dumps, system logs, and physical inspection of devices.