Legacy sustainment without source
A discontinued vendor's product is still in production and the source or design files are gone.
Reverse Engineering
Reverse Engineering Services
Software, hardware, firmware, mechanical, security, and protocol analysis. Six specialist disciplines covering binary analysis, decompilation services, PCB reverse engineering, IC analysis, firmware extraction, and protocol documentation — all under NDA.
All engagements operate under mutual NDA with documented chain-of-custody for physical samples.
Overview
What Are Reverse Engineering Services?
Reverse engineering services recover the design, logic, and behavior of systems whose source, specifications, or design files are unavailable, untrusted, or insufficient. The work spans every layer where engineers ask “what does this thing actually do?” — compiled software, embedded firmware, integrated circuits, mechanical assemblies, and proprietary protocols.
Our reverse engineering services produce evidence-grade artifacts — annotated source, schematics, specifications, test harnesses — sufficient for engineering action, regulatory submission, and audit review. Every engagement starts with a written legal basis (DMCA §1201(f), EU Software Directive Art. 6, or licensed access) and runs under mutual NDA with documented chain-of-custody for physical samples.
The six service categories below cover the full surface area. Most engagements span more than one — firmware analysis depends on hardware access, security research depends on protocol mapping, sustainment programs combine software and mechanical work. We staff each engagement with the senior engineers whose disciplines actually carry the work.
Service Categories
Our Reverse Engineering Service Categories
Each can stand alone or combine on a single engagement.
- 01
Software Reverse Engineering Services
Decode binaries. Recover logic. Restore source code.
- binary analysis
- decompilation services
- 02
Hardware Reverse Engineering Services
PCB analysis. Schematic recovery. Chip-level reverse engineering.
- PCB reverse engineering
- IC analysis
- 03
Firmware Reverse Engineering & Extraction Services
Extract, analyze, and document embedded firmware.
- firmware analysis
- firmware extraction
- 04
Mechanical Reverse Engineering & 3D Scanning Services
3D scanning. CAD reconstruction. Physical part recreation.
- 3D scanning services
- CAD reconstruction
- 05
Security Research & Vulnerability Analysis Services
Vulnerability discovery. Code audits. Exploit research.
- vulnerability analysis
- security audit
- 06
Protocol & API Reverse Engineering Services
Document protocols. Reverse APIs. Decode formats.
- API reverse engineering
- network protocol analysis
Practice leads
The senior engineers who lead this work.
Each discipline has a named practice lead — the same person from kickoff through handover. No subcontracting, no offshore handoffs. Names redacted pre-NDA; introduced at scoping.
Software RE Lead 
Hardware RE Lead 
Firmware RE Lead 
Mechanical Lead 
Security Lead 
Protocol Lead
When to Engage
When to Use Reverse Engineering Services
Regulatory or audit evidence
A regulator or auditor needs verified behavior of a system the vendor's documentation does not cover.
Independent security review
An internal or board-level decision requires independent verification of a closed-source dependency.
Counterfeit or supply-chain investigation
Components in your supply chain need evidence-grade verification of authenticity.
Interoperability with proprietary systems
Reading or writing a vendor's proprietary protocol or file format where no specification is available.
M&A technical diligence
An acquisition target's claimed architecture or security posture needs independent validation.
Cross-Industry
Industries Using Our Reverse Engineering Services
Process
How Our Reverse Engineering Process Works
Eight phases on every engagement. Read the full methodology →
Discovery
Legal Framework
Sample Logistics
Analysis
Documentation
Reconstruction
Verification
Knowledge Transfer
Questions
Reverse Engineering Services FAQ
What are reverse engineering services?
Reverse engineering services recover the design, behavior, and architecture of systems you do not have source or specifications for. We work across software (binaries, firmware), hardware (PCBs, ICs), mechanical parts, and protocols. Output is documented evidence — annotated source, schematics, specifications — sufficient for engineering, regulatory, and audit use.
Are reverse engineering services legal?
Yes, when performed for interoperability, security research, error correction, or other lawful purposes. In the United States, DMCA Section 1201(f) provides an explicit interoperability carve-out. The EU Software Directive (2009/24/EC) Article 6 grants similar rights. We document the legal basis for every engagement in writing before work begins.
How long does a typical reverse engineering project take?
Most engagements run between four and fourteen weeks. Single-board PCB recovery and well-bounded software analysis run shorter; full chip-level reverse engineering, multi-product firmware programs, and large code audits run longer. We provide a fixed scope letter with milestones before any analysis begins.
How is confidentiality protected during reverse engineering services?
Every engagement runs under mutual NDA executed before any artifact changes hands. Materials are stored on encrypted-at-rest infrastructure under our sole control. Where IP cleanliness matters we run analysis and reconstruction with separate teams and a written specification as the only bridge.
What deliverables come from reverse engineering services?
Deliverables vary by service: annotated source code (software RE), hierarchical schematics and BOMs (hardware RE), verified firmware images and documentation (firmware RE), parametric CAD and drawings (mechanical RE), findings reports and CVE filings (security research), or written protocol specifications (protocol RE). Every engagement also ships with a methodology appendix.
How is pricing structured for reverse engineering services?
Engagements start with a scoping phase under NDA. Project length and pricing depend on system complexity, source-code or sample availability, and required deliverable depth. We work fixed-bid for well-bounded scopes and time-and-materials for exploratory work. Specific rates are shared after intake.
Which industries use reverse engineering services?
Automotive (ECU recovery, CAN bus), aerospace and defense (sustainment, ITAR-eligible work), medical devices (FDA-aligned firmware analysis), industrial and manufacturing (legacy controller recovery), IoT and embedded (firmware extraction at fleet scale), and cybersecurity (vulnerability research, threat analysis). Cross-industry work is common.
Do you support coordinated disclosure?
Yes. When reverse engineering surfaces vulnerabilities affecting third-party products, we coordinate disclosure under a published policy: vendor notification first, agreed remediation window, CVE filings, public publication only after remediation or with vendor consent. Track record across 30+ CVEs.
Discuss your reverse engineering project under NDA
All inquiries reviewed under mutual NDA. We respond within two business days with a written scope letter.
Start a project