JobsMotorola Solutions

Senior Cyber Embedded Software Engineer

Motorola Solutions · Schaumburg, IL

Posted May 20, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you found a vulnerability in an embedded system. How did you find it, and what did you do once you found it?

whether they have actual hands-on vulnerability research experience versus theoretical knowledge

Tell me about a security principle, like least-privilege or data separation, that you had to actually implement or defend in a design review, not just describe.

whether security principles are applied knowledge or memorized vocabulary

Describe a project where the requirements kept changing or were vague from the start. How did you keep making progress?

tolerance for ambiguity and self-direction, since this role has minimal supervision and highly variable projects

Tell me about a time you had to teach yourself how a piece of technology worked with almost no documentation, just experimentation and static analysis.

comfort with the discovery-driven nature of the work versus needing structured specs

Technical

Walk me through how you'd approach reverse engineering a piece of firmware you've never seen before, with no source code and no documentation.

whether the candidate has a real methodology for unknown binaries versus just naming tools

Say you're looking at a disassembly in Ghidra or IDA and the function you care about is heavily obfuscated or stripped of symbols. What's your process for figuring out what it does?

practical fluency with disassembly tools under realistic, messy conditions

How would you go about writing a binary patch for a running embedded system where you can't just recompile and reflash from source?

depth of experience with binary patching, not just source-level fixes

Explain how a JTAG debug session would help you diagnose a problem at the register level, and what you'd be looking for.

whether they truly understand hardware-software interaction at a low level or are name-dropping the tool

You're given a pcap file from Wireshark showing traffic that looks like a proprietary protocol layered over TCP. How do you start figuring out what it's doing?

real packet analysis skill and ability to reverse-engineer protocols, not just textbook OSI knowledge

What's your experience with ARM, MIPS, or x86 assembly, and can you walk me through a specific piece of code you had to read or write by hand?

whether assembly fluency is genuine and recent versus a checkbox on the resume

Situational

Suppose you're on a small multi-disciplinary team and your hardware engineer's design assumption conflicts with a constraint you've found while reverse engineering the target. How do you handle that disagreement?

how they navigate technical disagreement in a small team without a lot of hierarchy to fall back on

If you had to write a whitepaper or proposal to help win new business based on a proof-of-concept you built, what would you make sure you got right?

ability to translate deep technical work into something that persuades non-technical stakeholders

How comfortable are you working on classified programs where you can't discuss details of your work with people outside the team, including at home?

readiness for the compartmentalized, clearance-driven nature of the work environment

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The full job description

As published by Motorola Solutions.

Company Overview At Motorola Solutions, we believe that everything starts with our people. We’re a global close-knit community, united by the relentless pursuit to help keep people safer everywhere. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our solutions foster the collaboration that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately, safer nations. Connect with a career that matters, and help us build a safer future. Department Overview Our Applied Technology organization puts some of Motorola Solutions' brightest minds on unique, highly challenging projects. Based on decades of experience with our customers, we apply leading-edge technologies to support security and safety throughout the world. We engineer our products from start to finish and manufacture them in-house. We're known for low volume and high capability with focused specialization in areas including software-defined radios, advanced antenna solutions, artificial intelligence and machine learning, reverse engineering, cybersecurity, signals intelligence and more. We can't tell you much more about what we do, but we can tell you it's amazing. Job Description Ideal candidates for this position are software engineers with strong knowledge and hands-on experience in embedded systems, telecommunications protocols, reverse engineering, and cybersecurity. We are seeking an experienced professional capable of working in the full spectrum of computer-network operations to architect, design, and implement secure embedded systems.  You will be a member of a small multi-disciplinary team, and will be responsible for performing vulnerability analysis of existing systems, developing source and binary patches, and developing new secure systems. In this role, you will also be asked to discover how technologies and software work through a combination of hands-on experimentation, static analysis, and document research. You will have an understanding of how hardware and software interact in microprocessors at the register level; have a firm grasp on network protocol and security standards; imagine unique and novel solutions to hard and unsolved problems. You will use this knowledge to develop proofs-of-concept, requirements, designs, implementations, testing procedures for new products, and write whitepapers to win new business. You must be a flexible, results-oriented problem-solver who requires minimal supervision. Projects can vary greatly from one to the next, so you must thrive on variety and enjoy taking on new challenges. Specific Skills/Knowledge: • Experience with disassembly tools (e.g  Ghidra, IDA Pro, and Radare2) and debug tools (e.g GDB and  JTAG) • Experience using Wireshark for packet analysis • Understanding of executable file formats (ELF, PE, or similar), linkers, compilers • Preferred familiarity with OSI model layer three and higher networking protocols (IP, TCP, UDP, TLS, SIP, SRTP) • Preferred experience reading, writing, analyzing at least one of ARM, MIPS, PPC, x86 assembly • Familiarity with security principles such as data separation, side-channel attacks, least-privilege, access controls, encryption protocols, keys exchanges, and can advise others on their proper implementation  • Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills • Excellent understanding of real-time embedded software design and be proficient in Linux, C, C++, Python and other software languages and operating systems. • Active TS/SCI clearance preferred. #AppliedTech #LI-JM2 #LI-ONSITE Basic Requirements • Bachelor's (BS) or Master’s (MS) degree, preferably in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or Computer Science • Experience programming in C, C++, Python • Must be a  U.S. citizen  with ability to obtain necessary security clearance as required by government contract. Some contracts may have higher-level clearance requirements. Travel Requirements Under 10% Relocation Provided None Position Type Experienced Referral Payment Plan Yes Our U.S. Benefits include: • Incentive Bonus Plans • Medical, Dental, Vision benefits • 401K with Company Match • 10 Paid Holidays • Generous Paid Time Off Packages • Employee Stock Purchase Plan • Paid Parental & Family Leave • and more! EEO Statement Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic.  We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world. If you’d like to join our team but feel that you don’t quite meet all of the preferred skills, we’d still love to hear why you think you’d be a great addition to our team. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience for candidates with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions. To request an accommodation, please complete this  Reasonable Accommodations Form  so we can assist you.

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