Cyber Operational Test and Evaluation Project Lead

MITRE; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 259,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE’s OSD Division seeks a Chief Engineer for the Acquisition Studies and Analysis Department (N221) to lead cyber test and evaluation programs. You’ll drive data-driven products supporting DoD cyber capabilities, partnering with DoW and DOT&E to advance STRIDE and speed to field. On-site leadership with senior stakeholders is required.

The role expects extensive DoD cyber experience, the ability to influence strategy, and secure Top Secret/SCI clearance, plus 3 days on-site weekly.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of related DoD/government cyber experience with degree; or 8 years with a Master’s; or PhD with 5+ years.
• Experience supporting cyber security analysis, assessment, and DoD/E governance.
• Proven ability to lead, report to sponsors, and shape work for senior leaders.
• Strong writing and communication skills for senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational cyber assessments, testing, and evaluation efforts.
• Guide research into new cyber technologies and DoW/DOT&E priorities.
• Identify gaps and propose cyber T&E pilots and best practices.
• Develop cyber T&E guidance for DevSecOps and digital engineering.
• Develop and manage project tasks and strategic plans.

Skills

Task leadership

Work shaping

Sponsor reporting

Cyber security

Vulnerability assessments

Attack surface analysis

Operational cybersecurity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Master's degree

PhD

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.

The MITRE OSD Division is seeking an experienced and visionary leader to serve as Chief Engineer for the Acquisition Studies and Analysis Department (N221). The department advances warfighter lethality, operational effectiveness, and acquisition acceleration for the Department of War. N221’s mission-focused portfolio spans several business lines—Cyber, Electronic Warfare, Installation Resilience and Operational Energy, Industrial Base and Investments, Software and Digital Modernization, Threat and Risk Reduction, and Force Design Analysis and FMS reform. The department leverages cutting-edge technologies, data-driven analysis, and innovative acquisition practices to ensure U.S. military superiority in contested environments.

Roles & Responsibilities

This position supports the DoW Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) Cyber Assessment Program (CAP) as MITRE’s D100 Project Lead (PL) for cyber operational test and evaluation. D100 supports DOT&E’s Net-Centric Systems and Missile Defense Systems Directorate, predominantly through the Cyber Assessment Program (CAP). CAP’s mission is to characterize and support improvement of the Department of Defense’s ability to defend critical warfighting capability and missions against cyber-attacks and to project cyber power in support of national defense and security objectives. The project goal is to deliver high-impact, data-driven products on time that enable sponsor mission success.

The PL will work with combatant command and Service cyber assessments (including industrial control systems), test, evaluation, and experimentation initiatives, red/purple/blue team capability development, major defense acquisition programs and modernization efforts across DoW. This also includes the evaluation of cyber strategies and the adequacy of cyber operational T&E test plans. The position requires frequent senior leadership engagements and reports to the Deputy Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Net-Centric, Space and Missile Defense Systems. The PL will also partner with Developmental Test, Evaluation, and Assessments organization and other T&E stakeholders to support joint T&E efforts. These collaborations will align with DoW acquisition-transformation lines of effort and identify opportunities to advance the Government’s Speed, Test, Rigor, and Innovate in Defense Evaluation (STRIDE).

Responsibilities include:

• Actively participate in operational cyber assessments, experimentation and test and evaluation.
• Actively engaged in new research, emerging technologies, and methodologies of operational cyber security testing techniques to provide recommendations of future investments and initiatives aligned to DoW and DOT&E objectives.
• Identify gaps in cyber operational T&E practice and provide solutions to fill those gaps using cyber T&E pilots, case studies, and proven best practices.
• Develop cyber T&E guidance tailored to new development methodologies (DevSecOps, digital engineering, etc.) and acquisition models
• Develop and manage the tasks supporting the project.
• Develop and maintain project strategic plans in collaboration with DOT&E Government leadership.
• Define and manage staffing requirements to ensure that the right staffing skill mix and resources
• Work closely with division and department Chief Engineers to ensure quality of deliverables and identify opportunities for MITRE research to be applied to sponsor-relevant efforts.
• Understand sponsor strategy/plans and participate in future work-shaping
• Work with division leadership to align and support cross-departmental initiatives

Basic Qualifications

• Prior experience with task leadership, work shaping, and sponsor reporting.
• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Assurance, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Security Engineering, or similar field; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination or related education and work experience.
• Experience supporting cyber security analysis, assessment, and test and evaluation for DoD and/or civilian government organizations, including operational T&E, acquisition, and capability development efforts.
• Experience with cyber security vulnerability assessments.
• Experience with attack surface analysis
• Experience with cyber survivability, operational resilience, and defensive cyber operations
• Excellent communication skills and strong writing skills to effectively support senior leaders.
• In-depth background in operational cybersecurity (cyber testing, cyberspace defense, offensive cyber operations, risk management framework, cyber physical systems, and cyber intel)
• Must have an active Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance with the ability 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 a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience/knowledge of operational T&E emerging technologies, including threat emulation, electronic warfare, radio frequency and industrial control systems.
• Active TS/SCI

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:

$172,800 - $216,000 - $259,200 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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