Computer Network Operations (CNO) Software Engineer

Company: Accenture Federal Services
Location: Herndon
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

At Accenture Federal Services, nothing matters more than helping the US federal government make the nation stronger and safer and life better for people. Our 13,000 people are united in a shared purpose to pursue the limitless potential of technology and ingenuity for clients across defense, national security, public safety, civilian, and military health organizations. Join Accenture Federal Services, a technology company within global Accenture. Recognized as a Glassdoor Top 100 Best Place to Work, we offer a collaborative and caring community where you feel like you belong and are empowered to grow, learn and thrive through hands-on experience, certifications, industry training and more. Join us to drive positive, lasting change that moves missions and the government forward! Accenture Federal Services is seeking an experienced Computer Network Operations (CNO) Software Engineer / Developer who wants to support a critical National Security Mission. We value people that want to get in-depth solving some of the most challenging problems to enable access and results for operations that matter. Software and applications, PCs, Macs, Linux and IoT are all part of our program, so we need someone who likes to solve puzzles and enjoys learning new topics. Our team must work at a fast pace with small groups focusing on diverse projects, so we are looking for someone who wants to be involved in development while also mentoring and leading some of our junior engineers. The team works to develop, evaluate, and test unique cyber capabilities and solutions for our government customer. As a CNO Developer at AFS you will have the opportunity to hone your research and development skills and apply new techniques to existing software or hardware capabilities. Daily activities include writing code for analysis, researching cutting edge analysis techniques, and creating cross-disciplinary techniques in close collaboration with other engineers and researchers. We also encourage employees to come forward with their research ideas with our Internal Research and Development (IRAD) program that provides time and resources for exploring new ideas in cyber you might have, or you choose to work on IRAD topics that have been identified through our customer interactions. Our work is accomplished in our office suite in Herndon with beverages and workout facilities provided and an assortment of restaurants in the nearby area. Multiple development environments are available either at your desk or in secure areas just steps away from your desk. Our government customers are often located nearby or can be reached with in person or via videoconference systems to help address questions and refine research areas. Flexible work hours and big company support resources are available, while the office environment has the small company feel where you know your co-workers and management works in the same suite. We are a team that is dedicated to the mission and doing what is needed to support global cyber operations that have a real impact. Responsibilities include: Conducting CNO related software development and research. Building, configuring, managing virtualized systems. Comfortable and willing to operate/maintain customer-provided COTS, GOTS or custom developed tools and capabilities. Testing and validating including risk assessment. Working with the customer to understand requirements and develop solutions. What you need to get in the door: Experience in software development or hardware design and rapid prototype software development Academic degree(s) in Computer Science, Cyber Security, Software Engineering, Electrical or Computer Engineering, Mathematics or Physics or equivalent military experience In depth knowledge of C, C++ or Python programming languages Experience reading or writing assembly (x86, x64, ARM, PPC, MIPS, TILE, or others) Must possess and be able to maintain a U.S. Top Secret/SCI Security clearance. What we really want to see (but if not, we’ll help you get there): Experience in operating system internals: kernel, scheduler, interrupts, context-switching, etc. Understanding of network protocols (TCP/IP stacks, wire-level protocols, RF communications, BGP, routing protocols, or others). Knowledge of modern software security mechanisms: stack cookies, DEP, ASLR, etc. Experience using reverse engineering tools such as IDA Pro, HexRays, Ghidra, Binary Ninja, or objdump. Experience using debuggers such as gdb, WinDbg, OllyDbg Experience building and using tools to find, exploit, and productize vulnerabilities in complex software systems. Working knowledge of exploitation techniques and mitigation bypasses, root kits, process hiding, communication hiding, bypassing detection of security products, securing data at rest and in transit Bonus Points: Experience in Digital Forensic and Software Reverse Engineering The ability to operate on both sides of the fence, both developing and researching ways of defeating new and advanced security techniques. Prior experience with military or government cyber operations support. Experience participating in CTF events, bug bounty programs, and speaking at the security conferences clearancejobs As required by local law, Accenture Federal Services provides reasonable ranges of compensation for hired roles based on labor costs in the states of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Washington, Vermont, the District of Columbia, and the city of Cleveland . The base pay range for this position in these locations is shown below. Compensation for roles at Accenture Federal Services varies depending on a wide array of factors, including but not limited to office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. Accenture Federal Services offers a wide variety of benefits. You can find more information on benefits here. We accept applications on an on-going basis and there is no fixed deadline to apply. The pay range for the states of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Washington, Vermont, the District of Columbia, and the city of Cleveland is: $134,400 - $223,400 USD What We Believe As a company wholly dedicated to serving the US federal government, we bring together the best talent to help reinvent how federal agencies operate and deliver greater value for their mission and the American people. We have an unwavering commitment to creating a culture in which all our people are respected, feel a sense of belonging, and have equal opportunity. As a business imperative, every person at Accenture Federal Services has the responsibility to create and sustain a culture where everyone feels welcomed and included. This is grounded in our core values and our experience that hiring and developing great people who reflect different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds is key to driving innovation and delivering the results that our clients and the country count on. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement We believe that no one should be discriminated against because of their differences. All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law. Our rich diversity makes us more innovative, more competitive, and more creative, which helps us better serve our clients and our communities. For details, view a copy of the Accenture Federal Services Equal Opportunity Policy Statement. Accenture Federal Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Additionally, as an Affirmative Action Employer for Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, Accenture Federal Services is committed to providing veteran employment opportunities to our service men and women. Requesting An Accommodation Accenture Federal Services is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities or religious observances, including reasonable accommodation when needed. If you are hired by Accenture Federal Services and require accommodation to perform the essential functions of your role, you will be asked to participate in our reasonable accommodation process. Accommodations made to facilitate the recruiting process are not a guarantee of future or continued accommodations once hired. If you are being considered for employment opportunities with Accenture Federal Services and need an accommodation for a disability or religious observance during the interview process or for the job you are interviewing for, please speak with your recruiter. Other Employment Statements Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States. Candidates who are currently employed by a client of Accenture Federal Services or an affiliated Accenture business may not be eligible for consideration. Job candidates will not be obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest as part of the hiring process. The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Additionally, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the Company's legal duty to furnish information. California requires additional notifications for applicants and employees. If you are a California resident, live in or plan to work from Los Angeles County upon being hired for this position, please click here for additional important information.

Keywords: Accenture Federal Services, Montgomery Village , Computer Network Operations (CNO) Software Engineer, Engineering , Herndon, Maryland