Applied Cybersecurity Engineer, Lead

MITRE; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 159,000 - 238,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE in Colorado Springs seeks a senior Systems Security Engineer to advance security capabilities for national security programs. You will apply cyber test principles, conduct adversary emulation, and lead threat-driven exercises in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

The role requires 8+ years of related experience with a degree, active Secret and eligibility for Top Secret/SCI, and on-site work at least 3 days a week.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years with a bachelor’s degree; or 6 years with a master’s; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated depth in Systems Security Engineering, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or Systems Engineering.
• Experience developing or evaluating Systems Security Engineering solutions and capabilities.
• Ability to think critically and pursue research with minimal supervision.
• Understanding of cybersecurity missions and MITRE sponsor work.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication; collaborative mindset.
• Knowledge of D3FEND, ATT&CK, Caldera, and MITRE’s public-interest work.
• Experience scoping and conducting adversary emulation, simulation, or purple teaming.
• Hands-on red teaming, penetration testing, and offensive security operations.
• Experience leading threat-driven cyber exercises (tabletop/readiness) with risk-based prioritization.
• Active Secret clearance and eligibility for Top Secret/SCI; U.S. citizenship required.
• Minimum three days on-site.

Responsibilities

• Advise sponsors in developing and acquiring secure, resilient cyber-physical systems for mission success.
• Apply Systems Security Engineering and Cybersecurity concepts to assessments and purple team engagements.
• Provide recommendations to ensure systems meet security, resiliency, and safety requirements.
• Collaborate with sponsors and DoD customers to define priorities and support cyber assessments.
• Assist in security strategy development, system testing and evaluation, and verification activities.
• Communicate effectively with MITRE, government, and contractors; write and present findings.
• Promote cross-team collaboration within the System Security Engineering department and MITRE.
• Research and develop advanced security capabilities and resilience analyses for sponsor programs.
• Contribute to cybersecurity problem-solving for sponsors and AI use cases.
• Maintain pace with evolving technologies to support sponsor programs.

Skills

Systems Security Engineering

Cybersecurity

Software Engineering

Threat Emulation

Purple Teaming

Red Teaming

Communication Skills

MITRE/ATT&CK knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

D3FEND

ATT&CK

Caldera

MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

MITRE’s Mission Assured Engineering Department has a new opportunity for a strong technical candidate with systems security expertise to join an innovative team of engineers focused on developing security capabilities and ensuring resilient and secure solutions that overcome sponsor/customer needs.

For this position, you will leverage your academic foundation and your work experiences to develop, hone and apply your knowledge of the latest systems security and cybersecurity engineering concepts to the next generation of trustworthy and resilient capabilities that function anytime the sponsor/customer demands. The right candidate will have opportunities to merge work and interests with advancements from research, industry, academia, and standards groups to develop novel security capabilities. The right candidate will enjoy a fast-paced team environment, working with cutting-edge technology, and contributing to advancing security concepts. We are seeking a self-starter that assists in applying cyber test principles to build security into large engineering projects and acquisition efforts. The candidate for this position will work on a wide variety of challenging problems including systems resiliency, cyber test, security, and cybersecurity activities in direct support of programs.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Advise sponsors in developing and acquiring secure, resilient cyber-physical systems with a focus on protecting mission systems, strengthening defenses, and resolving security weaknesses
• Apply knowledge of Systems Security Engineering and Cybersecurity to conduct cyber assessments and purple team engagements that strengthen defensive cyber capabilities in fielded and acquisition systems
• Provide recommendations on ensuring systems are specified, designed, developed, implemented, integrated, tested and sustained to meet security, resiliency, and safety requirements
• Collaborate closely with sponsors and DoD customers to define priorities, support planning and execution of cyber assessments, and deliver clear, actionable findings
• Assist in development of systems security and cybersecurity strategy development, system testing and evaluation, and verification and validation efforts
• Collaborate effectively with MITRE, government, and contractors; to effectively communicate in writing, presentations, and collaborative discussions; able to interface with peers, managers, and government sponsors
• Promote collaboration and integration with other organizational elements within the System Security Engineering department and across MITRE
• Research and develop unique, cutting-edge technical capabilities and processes for understanding, assessing, and analyzing system and technology resilience and security
• Contribute to projects or small teams to solve complex cybersecurity problems for our sponsors
• Contribute to the innovation of new AI use cases applied to cyber operational challenges
• Keep pace with the rapidly advancing lifecycle of emerging technologies to maintain cutting edge support of sponsor programs

Basic Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Demonstrated technical depth in the field of Systems Security Engineering, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or Systems Engineering
• Experience developing or evaluating Systems Security Engineering solutions and capabilities
• The ability to think critically and be proactive in pursuing research and problem-solving with minimal supervision
• Understanding of the missions, domains, and challenges of cybersecurity work with MITRE sponsors
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills and a keen desire to learn. An open attitude to promoting the work of others
• Knowledge of D3FEND, ATT&CK, Caldera, ATT&CK Evaluations, and MITRE's work for public interest
• Experience scoping and conducting adversary emulation, simulation, or purple teaming
• Experience with hands-on red teaming, penetration testing, and other offensive security operations
• Experience designing and leading threat-driven cyber exercises, including tabletop and readiness exercises, along with threat assessments that prioritize adversary and mission relevance for stakeholders
• Must have an active Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance and must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 3 days on-site

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in planning and leading cyber exercises
• Demonstrated track record building strong internal and external partnerships
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s)

Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s)

Top Secret/SCI

Salary compensation range and midpoint

$158,800 - $198,500 - $238,200 Annual

Work Location Type

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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