Samuel Reed
Columbia,MD
Summary
Accomplished Embedded Security Engineer with over 4 years of experience in low-level C/C++ development and high-assurance cryptographic subsystems. Specializes in firmware hardening, secure algorithm implementation, and threat surface reduction for mission-critical hardware defense programs. Holds a Master of Science in Cybersecurity, with expertise in cryptographic protocols, secure boot, and bare-metal driver integrity.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Associate Software Engineer
L3HARRIS
Columbia, MD
03.2024 - Current
- Cryptographic Protocol Integration: Modernized and integrated HAIPE ACC and SCIP ACC cryptographic algorithms in C++ for the AN/PRC-167 tactical radio (supporting MUOS satellite communication), ensuring strict alignment with NSA security, key management, and performance specifications.
- Security Architecture & Threat Modeling: Authored comprehensive technical documentation and UML security models in MagicDraw to translate high-assurance government cybersecurity requirements into hardened embedded firmware.
- Firmware Hardening & Vulnerability Mitigation: Refactored legacy embedded C/C++ codebases to eliminate memory corruption vulnerabilities, reduce attack surfaces, and ensure high-integrity communications across secure channels.
- Cross-Functional Security Leadership: Led asynchronous technical collaboration across interdisciplinary hardware, software, and systems engineering teams to establish secure coding baselines and resolve architecture bottlenecks.
Associate Software Engineer
L3HARRIS
Columbia, MD
08.2022 - 03.2024
- System Performance & Latency Optimization: Diagnosed system execution bottlenecks and re-engineered core cryptographic algorithms, achieving a 98% decrease in execution time (from 150 seconds to 2 seconds) while preserving cryptographic strength.
- Cryptographic Subsystem Development: Engineered and tested high-security features within a bare-metal Cryptographic Subsystem as part of a 17-member Agile team, ensuring compliance with strict NSA specifications.
- Code Auditing & Secure Code Reviews: Conducted rigorous peer code reviews focused on logic validation, memory safety, prevention of timing/side-channel exploits, and adherence to defensive programming standards.
- Low-Level Driver Hardening: Refactored bare-metal C++ device drivers to enhance system reliability, prevent buffer overflows, and establish secure hardware-software interaction baselines.
Education
Master of Science - Cybersecurity
University of Delaware
Newark07-2023
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
University of Maryland, College Park
College Park, MD05-2021
Skills
- Security & Cryptography: High-Assurance IP Encryptor (HAIPE), Network Security Protocols, NSA Compliance, Cryptographic Subsystems, Threat Surface Reduction, Secure Boot, Defensive Programming, Secure Coding Practices
- Embedded & Low-Level Engineering: C, C, Bare-Metal Drivers, Firmware Optimization, Microcontrollers, Execution Bottleneck Analysis, Real-Time Systems
- Secure coding practices
- Languages & Tools: Python, C#, MagicDraw (UML), Subversion (SVN), Git, IAR Embedded Workbench/Debugger, AutoTest
- Methodologies & Governance: Agile/SCRUM, Code Reviews & Static Analysis, Security Documentation, Secret Security Clearance
Timeline
Senior Associate Software Engineer
L3HARRIS
03.2024 - Current
Associate Software Engineer
L3HARRIS
08.2022 - 03.2024
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
University of Maryland, College Park
Master of Science - Cybersecurity
University of Delaware
Clearance Level
Active Secret Security Clearance