Application Developer / Reverse Engineer with Security Clearance

Shadowgate Partners is seeking a Senior Application Developer / Reverse Engineer for a Client. Salary: $256,000 – $280,000 per year, plus an additional 25% of your salary in fully and immediately vested employer 401(k) contributions. This role blends software engineering and reverse engineering to build cutting-edge security tooling within a fast-paced, agile team. You will directly support a national security mission, working closely with data scientists and fellow engineers. You are expected to operate largely independently—pursuing opportunities that emerge from your own research while responding to evolving customer needs. Key Responsibilities • Develop Python applications that automate analysis and operational workflows.
• Reverse engineer network traffic and web applications.
• Partner with customers to gather requirements and validate functionality.
• Coordinate with fellow engineers to adopt new technologies and reuse shared libraries.
• Manage data flow and formatting for integration into customer systems. Required Qualifications • Production-grade software development experience in Python.
• Working knowledge of HTTP, HTML, JavaScript, and other common web traffic.
• Hands-on experience with Burp Suite, browser developer tools, or Wireshark to monitor network communications.
• Service containerization and deployment using Docker/Kubernetes.
• Proficiency with Git/GitLab.
• Experience with AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Claude Code, Copilot, Cursor).
• Familiarity with issue-tracking and documentation tools such as Jira and Confluence. Preferred Qualifications • Web application prototyping in JavaScript.
• Analysis of cybersecurity-related data sets (network traffic, OS events).
• Understanding of end-to-end signals intelligence collection and analysis systems.
• Development or reverse engineering of mobile applications and communications.
• Design and management of GitLab CI/CD automated builds. Experience & Education Minimum 12 years of relevant experience with a B.S., or 10 years with an M.S. Four additional years of software engineering experience may be substituted for a bachelor's degree. Clearance Level This position requires an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with a Full Scope Polygraph. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must hold, or be able to reinstate, the required clearance and polygraph prior to start. Clearance eligibility must be maintained throughout the duration of employment. Benefits In addition to the base salary and 401(k) contributions listed above, our Client offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.