Senior Reverse Engineer - Anti Cheat
Description & Requirements
Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.
The EA Security team protects EA by reducing our exposure to security risks. We raise risk awareness for the entire company and provide measured, proportionate security and risk management controls, services and solutions. We also ensure that EA meets all required security standards as defined by multiple regulatory bodies. Keeping EA safe isn’t a game; join us as we keep the future of play secure for everyone.
Summary
Do you dream in assembly language? Do you spend more time in a debugger than you do in nature? Do you know the difference between an aimbot and a triggerbot? And do you think that all players have the right to a fair and fun gaming experience? If so, this is the job for you!
The Senior Reverse Engineer I is a member of EA Security's Secure Platform Engineering & Anti-Cheat Response (SPEAR) team and will report to the manager of the Gameplay Integrity Operations sub-team.
As a Senior Reverse Engineer I, your primary job will be to analyze cheats developed against EA's games and to make it harder for cheat developers to create new cheats. Your work will help ensure fair and fun gaming experiences for EA's customers across all of EA's games.
In addition to analyzing existing cheats, you'll get your hands on new EA games before release so that you can work with developers to make it harder for players to cheat in their games. This means you will perform anti-cheat assessments that will cover everything from client-side tampering (external/internal), to network-based cheating, to source code review of thick clients in order to gauge resilience against cheat/hack tools.
Lastly, you'll need to determine the business risk posed by the gameplay integrity issues you discover and communicate your findings across teams to both technical and non-technical audiences.
The ideal candidate has an understanding of reverse engineering principals and a passion to learn new technologies, challenge assumptions, and find new ways to solve problems.
Responsibilities
Reverse Engineer obfuscated user-mode and kernal-mode cheats developed for PC, mobile and consoles
Document and report on the functionality of the cheats you’ve analyzed
Solve well-defined technical problems in the cheating space
Define and subsequently solve technical problems that are not well understood / are bleeding-edge in the cheating space
Use architecture and design documentation to create anti-cheat assessment scoping documents and define cheating test-cases for upcoming anti-cheat assessments
Perform anti-cheat assessments of pre-release products
Consult with and advise EA game teams on how to mitigate classes of cheats
Educate your peers on new reverse engineering skills and tools
Develop tools, scripts, and extensions for automation and reverse engineering, both in user space and kernel space
Identify cheat variants that defeat previous mitigations, and suggest solutions
Articulate technical issues clearly to technical and non-technical partners
Identify needs and drive the development of your reverse engineering skills and knowledge
Qualifications
Knowledge of the ARM architecture
Knowledge of operating system internals for Windows, Android & Linux
Knowledge of operating system fundamentals (processes, threads, virtual memory, etc.)
Ability to read and understand x86/x64 assembly language
Experience with debuggers such as WinDbg, x64dbg, OllyDbg, or gdb
Experience with disassemblers such as Ghidra, IDA Pro, Binary Ninja, or radare2
Ability to engage and articulate reverse engineering issues and cheating issues to technical and non-technical audiences
Ability to read and understand three or more of C++, C#, Java, or .NET CIL
Knowledge of cryptography and obfuscation techniques
Software development experience and the ability to write your own tools, scripts, and extensions, both in user space and kernel space
Experience with mobile platforms
Ability to identify knowledge gaps and seek the right sources to close those gaps
Ability to safely handle potentially malicious software
Ability to pick up new technical skills quickly
Ability to drive change throughout all of the Secure Platform Engineering & Anti-Cheat Response (SPEAR) organization
Excellent verbal and written English skills, interpersonal skills, and professionalism
Additional Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or Master's Degree in Computer Science or Information Security
Information Security certifications such as CEH, CISSP, GSEC, OSCP, OSCE, Security+
Experience building tools that automate cheat-related tasks
Hands on experience with reverse engineering or anti-cheat/anti-malware development
About Electronic Arts
We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.
We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.
Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.