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Navy NEC · IT & Cyber

H42A Cyber Research and Development Specialist

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.

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Overview

A Cyber Research and Development Specialist conducts software and systems engineering and researches systems to develop new capabilities for offensive cyber operations missions. The specialist performs comprehensive technology research to evaluate potential vulnerabilities in cyberspace systems and supports special operations forces, national, Fleet, and joint requirements.

Minimum clearance: TS/SCI

Core Skills

  • Software engineering for offensive cyber capabilities
  • Technology research to identify system vulnerabilities

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Software Developers

Military software and systems engineering to develop offensive cyber capabilities transfers directly to civilian software development.

How to prepare: Build a non-sensitive software portfolio project that demonstrates requirements analysis, implementation, and automated testing.

What the civilian work involves
  • Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
  • Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
  • Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • C
  • C++
  • Docker

Information Security Engineers

Military research into cyberspace system vulnerabilities and cyber capability development supports civilian security weakness assessment.

How to prepare: Complete a vulnerability assessment in an authorized lab and document the findings, recommended fixes, and retest results.

What the civilian work involves
  • Identify security system weaknesses, using penetration tests.
  • Assess the quality of security controls, using performance indicators.
  • Scan networks, using vulnerability assessment tools to identify vulnerabilities.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Bash
  • Linux

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (3 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol II (NEOCS, Jul 2026 edition): NEC H42A

    [1] NEC entry "H42A - Cyber Research and Development Specialist"; cached text line 6506; NAVPERS 18068F Vol II, 2026-07 edition

    Supports: Software engineering for offensive cyber capabilities, Technology research to identify system vulnerabilities, Software Developers (O*NET 15-1252.00), Information Security Engineers (O*NET 15-1299.05)

  2. O*NET: Software Developers

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Software Developers (O*NET 15-1252.00)

  3. O*NET: Information Security Engineers

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Information Security Engineers (O*NET 15-1299.05)

Defense contractor jobs for H42A

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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