Penetration Tester – Hardware

Packetlabs

. Plan and execute end-to-end hardware penetration tests on embedded and IoT devices .

Posted 11/9/2026full-timeRemote • CanadaMid-LevelSenior💰 CA$90,000 - CA$140,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Expertise in conducting hardware penetration tests on embedded and IoT devices, with strong skills in firmware reverse engineering, debugging interfaces, and risk assessment. Proficient in technical reporting and advising on remediation strategies for security vulnerabilities.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Firmware Reverse EngineeringEmbedded Device Penetration TestingJTAG/SWD/UART DebuggingPython ScriptingElectronics Fundamentals

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Firmware ExtractionSide-Channel AnalysisFault InjectionSoldering SkillsReading SchematicsEmbedded ArchitecturesDebug Interface AccessLogic Analyzer ProficiencyOscilloscope UsageMultimeter Usage

Soft Skills

Clear CommunicationTechnical Reporting

Tools & Technologies

Logic AnalyzersOscilloscopesMultimetersEmbedded ArchitecturesRTOSBare-Metal Concepts

Industry Keywords

Information SecurityEmbedded SystemsIoT SecurityRisk AssessmentSecure BootHSM KnowledgePublished CVEsConference TalksCTF PlacementsOpen-Source Tooling

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

FlashIoTPythonRTOS

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Plan and execute end-to-end hardware penetration tests on embedded and IoT devices
Identify, access, and exploit onboard debug interfaces to gain code execution or memory access
Extract and analyze firmware using debug ports, in-circuit flash reads, or chip-off techniques
Intercept and analyze embedded-bus data using logic analyzers and protocol decoders
Perform side-channel analysis and fault injection where in scope
Reverse engineer firmware and embedded binaries to identify logic flaws, hardcoded secrets, and exploitable conditions
Assess physical attack surfaces, tamper resistance, and key/secret storage
Distinguish theoretical from operationally relevant risk
Write technical reports and present findings to technical and non-technical client stakeholders
Advise clients on practical, prioritized remediation
Build and maintain lab tooling, test rigs, and internal methodology
Contribute to research, responsible disclosure, and internal knowledge-sharing
Stay current on hardware attack techniques, embedded architectures, and defensive controls

Requirements

What you’ll need

Graduate of an Information Security, Computer Science, or Computer/Electrical Engineering degree program, or equivalent hands-on experience
Strong electronics fundamentals; able to read schematics and datasheets and reason about a board
Hands-on soldering ability, including surface-mount (SMD) rework and basic chip removal
Demonstrated experience accessing JTAG, SWD, and UART debug interfaces and extracting firmware from real devices
Comfort with logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and multimeters
Firmware reverse-engineering skills and scripting proficiency in Python, plus enough C to read embedded code
Familiarity with ARM/Cortex-M, MIPS, AVR, and RISC-V architectures and RTOS/bare-metal concepts
Clear written and verbal communication
Side-channel/fault-injection experience, RF and wireless work, secure boot/TEE/secure element/HSM knowledge, PCB design familiarity, published CVEs/conference talks/CTF placements/open-source tooling, and relevant certifications are assets

Benefits

Comp & perks

Immediate and ongoing offensive security training, mentorship, and professional development
Opportunity to shape the growth, direction, and methodology of Packetlabs' expanding hardware practice
Flexible work environment
Competitive compensation and growth opportunity
Collaboration with a highly skilled team of security professionals