Principal Cyber Systems Engineer/ Sr Principal Cyber Systems Engineer

Description

Relocation assistance may be available for this role.

The role requires a Top Secret clearance to start and travel of up to 25% of the time. It is based in Rancho Bernardo, CA, within the company Aeronautics Systems, which is hiring a Cyber Systems Engineer at Level 3 or 4 to join a team of qualified, diverse people.

The candidate should be a self-starter who is familiar with working in an Integrated Product Team.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support cybersecurity execution for development and sustainment by spotting risks and driving technical and program fixes with engineering, cybersecurity, program, and customer stakeholders.
• Design, build, integrate, test, verify, and validate system security solutions.
• Prepare, review, and defend accreditation packages as an Information Systems Security Engineer (ISSE) or Information Systems Security Manager (ISSM).
• Apply working knowledge of DoD RMF and JSIG requirements for SAP and SCI systems.
• Check the security posture of information systems, interpret and report what you find, and support risk-acceptance recommendations for security controls.
• Turn RMF controls into system and design requirements, covering decomposition, verification planning, and traceability.
• Support vulnerability management, cybersecurity scanning and assessment, compliance package development, and requirements verification with approved tools such as ACAS and Nessus.
• Support host and network hardening with DISA STIGs and SRGs across Windows, UNIX/Linux, hypervisor, and containerized environments.
• Coordinate with systems engineering, software, integration and test, configuration management, security, and program teams across the system lifecycle.
• Prepare and present cybersecurity and systems engineering material for reviews, working groups, and stakeholder discussions.
• Use systems thinking to assess cybersecurity impacts on architecture, operational constraints, program execution, and mission needs.
• Drive process improvements that strengthen cybersecurity planning, traceability, risk management, and closure discipline.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and coordination across multiple stakeholders and disciplines.

Requirements

• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Principal Cyber Systems Engineer: a Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline with 5 years of related engineering experience, a Master of Science in a STEM discipline with 3 years of related engineering experience, or a PhD in a STEM discipline with 1 year of related engineering experience.
• Senior Principal Cyber Systems Engineer: a Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline with 8 years of related engineering experience, a Master of Science in a STEM discipline with 6 years of engineering experience, or a PhD in a STEM discipline with 4 years of related experience.
• Hold one of these certifications: DoD 8140 Cyber Workforce qualification, DoD 8570 IAM Level II, CompTIA SecurityX or CASP, CISSP, or CSSLP.
• Experience preparing and defending accreditation packages as an ISSE or ISSM.
• Experience working with DoD RMF and JSIG for SAP and SCI systems.
• Experience validating security posture, reporting findings, and supporting risk-acceptance recommendations.
• Experience engaging with stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Active US Government Top Secret clearance, with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or current enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance within a reasonable amount of time, as determined by the company.
• Preferred: current SAP access.
• Preferred: advanced cybersecurity certifications such as CISSP-ISSEP, CISSP-ISSAP, or CSSLP.
• Preferred: experience with vulnerability management, cybersecurity assessment and scanning, compliance and authorization packages, and ATO documentation.
• Preferred: experience with NIST publications, federal regulations, DoD RMF controls, and cybersecurity authorization requirements.
• Preferred: experience with IT principles and practices, including software design, testing, and integration.
• Preferred: familiarity with Windows and UNIX/Linux platforms such as Red Hat, plus hypervisor and containerized environments.
• Preferred: experience designing or reviewing hardening with DISA STIGs and SRGs.
• Preferred: experience developing and evaluating information systems across the systems development lifecycle in a secure environment.
• Preferred: experience working in an Integrated Product Team with engineering, cybersecurity, software, integration and test, configuration management, security, customer, and program stakeholders.

Conditions

Full-time onsite work at the Rancho Bernardo, CA facility. Remote, hybrid, and telework are not available for this position.

Travel of up to 25% may be required to support program needs.

The application period is estimated at 20 days from the posting date, and may be shortened or extended based on business needs and candidate availability.

The company is an equal opportunity employer.

Benefits

• Base pay ranges: Primary level $125,300.00 to $187,900.00; Secondary level $156,400.00 to $234,600.00. The company weighs scope, responsibilities, experience, education, skills, and market conditions when setting offers.
• Depending on the position, you may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary annual bonus that rewards individual contributions and shared company results.
• Vice President and Director roles may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.
• Health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company-paid holidays, and paid time off for vacation or personal business.