Software Engineer (SkillBridge Intern)

About the Role

This is an UNPAID internship through the DoD SkillBridge Program for transitioning active-duty US military personnel. This opportunity resides with Warfare Systems (WS), a business group within HII’s Mission Technologies division.

Objective

The Skillbridge intern will train as a Software Engineer within HII-Mission Technologies, with the goal of learning Software Engineering basics and principles, and who can effectively contribute to HII MT's reverse engineering team, with practical experience in hardware/software analysis and development within a cleared environment. The intern will be assigned special projects as needed.

Desired End State (3-4 month target)

At the end of three months, the intern will gain:

• Technical Proficiency
• Master fundamental reverse engineering techniques using industry tools.
• Develop competency in FPGA design software and hardware description languages.
• Gain hands-on experience with object-oriented programming in C++ and Python.
• Project Integration
• Contribute to live projects involving microelectronics trust and assurance.
• Learn to document and integrate discoveries into existing codebase.
• Develop test suites to validate code functionality.
• Professional Development
• Understand DoD/cleared facility work environment protocols.
• Learn collaborative development practices through code review process.
• Gain experience with version control systems and development workflows.

Training Location

• Roanoke, VA (in-person)

Training Plan

• PHASE 1: FUNDAMENTALS AND TOOLS INTRODUCTION (Weeks 1-4)
• Week 1: Orientation and Basic Tools
• Security protocols, facility procedures, and DoD workplace expectations.
• Setup of development environment and introduction to version control (git).
• Basic logic gate review and Boolean mathematics refresher.
• Week 2: Programming Foundations
• C++ fundamentals and modern C++ features (C++17 and STL).
• Python programming essentials for hardware engineering.
• Introduction to hardware description languages (Verilog/VHDL basics).
• Week 3: Hardware Tools
• FPGA development environment setup (Quartus/Vivado).
• Basic FPGA design workflows and simulation.
• Introduction to EDA tools and synthesis concepts.
• Week 4: Reverse Engineering Basics
• Introduction to reverse engineering methodology.
• Hands-on training with IDA Pro and Ghidra.
• Basic hardware analysis techniques.
• PHASE 2: SUPERVISED PROJECT WORK (Weeks 5-8)
• Week 5: Initial Project Integration
• Team workflow introduction and code review process.
• Small-scale reverse engineering assignments.
• Documentation practices and codebase familiarization.
• Week 6: Component Analysis
• Guided hardware component reverse engineering.
• Implementation of findings into source code.
• Test suite development fundamentals.
• Week 7: Tool Development
• Contributing to internal software tools.
• Debugging and optimization techniques.
• Integration with existing systems.
• Week 8: Advanced Analysis
• Complex system analysis techniques.
• Microcontroller and embedded systems exploration.
• Formal verification tool introduction.
• PHASE 3: INDEPENDENT PROJECT CONTRIBUTION (Weeks 9-12)
• Week 9: Project Assignment
• Independent reverse engineering project assignment.
• Planning and documentation of approach.
• Initial analysis and tool selection.
• Week 10: Implementation
• Code development for assigned project.
• Test suite creation.
• Regular code reviews and feedback integration.
• Week 11: Integration and Testing
• System integration of developed components.
• Comprehensive testing and validation.
• Documentation completion.
• Week 12: Final Phase
• Project presentation and knowledge transfer.
• Final code review and optimization.
• Program completion and transition planning.

Key Responsibilities

• Actively train on meaningful projects and work closely with a mentor.
• Contribute to live projects involving microelectronics trust and assurance.
• Document and integrate discoveries into existing codebase.
• Develop test suites to validate code functionality.
• Assist in supporting sensitive missions for the U.S. military and federal agency partners.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• DoD SkillBridge Program eligibility (transitioning active-duty US military personnel within final 180 days of active-duty service).
• Active Secret Security Clearance (minimum).
• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• Ability to obtain a US DoD issued security clearance.
• Availability during core hours for critical meetings and training.
• Version control (git).
• C++ (including C++17 and STL).
• Python.
• Hardware description languages (Verilog/VHDL).
• FPGA design software (Quartus/Vivado).
• EDA tools.
• IDA Pro.
• Ghidra.
• Reverse engineering methodologies.
• Hardware analysis techniques.
• Debugging and optimization techniques.
• Test suite development.
• Code review process.

Qualifications

• Active-Duty Military ONLY within final 180 days of active-duty service.
• Applications accepted within final 12 months of active-duty military service.
• Education and Experience dependent on Program of Instruction.
• Must have Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• Must have the ability to obtain a US DoD issued security clearance.
• SECRET security clearance preferred.