Intern - Firmware / Hardware Security Engineer

Itron is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water. We create a more resourceful world to protect essential resources for today and tomorrow. Join us.

We are seeking a motivated intern with a strong interest in cybersecurity and embedded systems to join our Hardware Security team. You will begin by performing static firmware code analysis on embedded products, focusing on identifying vulnerabilities, insecure coding practices, and compliance issues in source code. Over time, you will expand into the full spectrum of hardware security engineering work at Itron, including secure boot verification, key management, hardware root of trust validation, and hardware security penetration testing. This role offers a hands-on opportunity to build expertise in embedded security and protect critical infrastructure at scale.

Duration 20+ hours per week during the academic year with potential for full-time continuation.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

Initial Focus – Firmware Analysis

- Perform static analysis of firmware source code to identify security vulnerabilities, coding weaknesses, and standards compliance issues

- Use automated static analysis tools and internal frameworks to assist in code review

- Contribute to the development of secure coding guidelines and remediation recommendations

- Document findings and work with development teams on mitigation

Growth Path – Hardware Security Engineering for Distributed Intelligence System (DI)

- Assist in secure boot and trust anchor validation

- Support secure key provisioning, storage, and lifecycle management

- Verify cryptographic service implementations and integration with hardware security modules (HSMs)

- Conduct hardware-assisted authentication and anti-tamper feature testing

- Perform hardware security penetration testing on embedded devices, including interface analysis, fault injection, and physical security checks

- Participate in hardware threat modeling and embedded device security assessments

- Collaborate with firmware, hardware, and product security teams to improve device security posture

Required Skills & Experience

- Education: enrolled in an accredited and related degree program with completion of at least two years of college-level coursework (Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering (with embedded systems focus) or related)

- Fundamental understanding of C, C++ and embedded system

- Understanding of microcontroller architectures and hardware abstraction layers (HAL)

- Familiarity with Linux and scripting languages (Python, Bash, etc.)

- Strong interest in firmware and hardware security

- Detail-oriented mindset with problem-solving ability

- Professional verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Skills & Experience

- Academic experience related to Cybersecurity or Information Security

- Familiarity with embedded security concepts such as secure boot, HSM, or key management, cryptographic key algorithms and network security

- Experience with static code analysis tools (e.g., Coverity, BlackDuck)

- Experience developing firmware within embedded codebases

- Experience applying secure coding practices to detect vulnerabilities and reliability issues in embedded C, C++ code (e.g., rules inspired by MISRA or CERT C)

- Exposure to hardware debugging interfaces (e.g., JTAG, SWD, UART) and basic lab equipment

Travel:

0 – 10%

Physical Demands

This is a typical office job, with no special physical requirements or unusual work environment.

This position will be tied to our

Raleigh, NC

location with hybrid work flexibility of 1-3 days on-site per week.

This is a safety sensitive role.

Itron is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce and providing an authentic workplace experience for all employees. If you are excited about this role but your past experiences don't perfectly align with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. In the end, you may be just who we are looking for!

The successful candidate's starting wage will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills and experience.

Itron is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you require an accommodation to apply, please contact a recruiting representative at 1-800-635-5461 or email Accessibility@itron.com.

Itron is transforming how the world manages energy, water and city services. Our trusted intelligent infrastructure solutions help utilities and cities improve efficiency, build resilience and deliver safe, reliable and affordable service. With edge intelligence, we connect people, data insights and devices so communities can better manage the essential resources they rely on to live. Join us as we create a more resourceful world: www.itron.com