Computer Science Internship: Ethical Hacker – Firmware Reverse Engineering on FPGA

Introduction

At ASML, protecting our intellectual property (IP) is essential to maintaining our innovation leadership. As our systems become more complex and programmable, the risk of IP theft through reverse engineering increases. Security evaluations are therefore a vital part of our product development process.

We are offering a challenging and hands-on internship for a Master’s student with a strong background in electronics engineering and a keen interest in FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) technology. This is a unique opportunity to explore hardware security from an attacker’s perspective.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the security of cutting-edge technology while developing your skills in a real-world engineering environment. If you're ready to take on this challenge, we look forward to hearing from you.

Your assignment

As an ethical hacker, you will attempt to reverse-engineer firmware from an FPGA embedded in a PCBA provided by ASML. You’ll receive a working hardware setup and are encouraged to apply any legal and ethical technique to retrieve the original code. This exercise simulates real-world attack scenarios and helps us identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.

In this assignment, you will:

• Analyze and interact with an FPGA-based system to identify reverse engineering pathways.
• Apply a variety of techniques—such as side-channel analysis, fault injection, or bitstream analysis.
• Document all tools, methods, and findings in detail.
• Deliver a final report with your results, challenges, and recommendations for improving firmware protection.
• Create a poster for a possible conference

This is a bachelor/master internship or graduation (thesis) project for 3-5 days a week, with a duration of 3-6 months. The start date of this internship is as soon as possible.

Your profile 

To be a fit for this internship, you:

• Have a curious, analytical, and methodical mindset.
• Have a strong interest in electronics, embedded systems, and cybersecurity.
• Preferably are familiar with FPGA architectures and programming.
• Have a passion for ethical hacking and creative problem-solving.

Other requirements you need to meet

• You are enrolled at an educational institute for the entire duration of the internship;
• You need to be located in the Netherlands to be perform your internship. In case you ‘re currently living/studying outside of the Netherlands, your CV/motivation letter includes the willingness to relocate.
• If you are a non-EU citizen, studying in the Netherlands, your university is willing to sign the documents relevant for doing an internship (i.e., Nuffic agreement).

This position requires access to controlled technology, as defined in the United States Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. § 730, et seq.). Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to access such controlled technology prior to beginning work. Business demands may require ASML to proceed with candidates who are immediately eligible to access controlled technology.

Diversity and inclusion

ASML is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.

Need to know more about applying for a job at ASML? Read our frequently asked questions.