Cyber Security Engineer

HireClearedTalent; Maryland; On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HireClearedTalent is seeking a Senior Cyber Range Engineer to lead the design, development, and management of cyber range environments for large‑scale cyber exercises and multi‑domain operations.

The role supports DCO/OCO, mission rehearsal, and cyber training activities, requiring extensive cyber, networking, virtualization, and Linux expertise. Onsite work in Annapolis Junction, MD with Top Secret clearance desired.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional experience supporting CNO, CNE, and CND platforms or operations.
• 5+ years of experience supporting cyber training, validation exercises, cyber exercises, or CPT operations.
• Demonstrated experience designing, building, managing, or operating cyber range or cyber exercise environments.
• Strong understanding of enterprise networking, including DNS, TCP/IP, routing, network troubleshooting.
• Hands-on experience with VMware or other virtualization technologies.
• Experience with Linux/RHEL environments.
• Experience with Microsoft Active Directory.
• Experience with Security Onion and/or comparable cybersecurity monitoring platforms.
• Experience with RHEL Identity Management (IdM), LDAP, and/or SSO.
• Ability to translate cyber mission objectives into actionable training and exercise events.
• Experience supporting mission rehearsal, cyber exercises, or other mission-critical training environments.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams in fast-paced operational environments.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills when working with technical teams, vendors, users, and senior leadership.
• DoD 8570 IAT Level II or higher certification, such as Security+, CCNA, CISSP, or equivalent.
• Associate’s degree or higher in Information Technology, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Active Top Secret security clearance.
• Ability to obtain SCI and Poly within approximately 6–9 months.
• Must be willing to work 100% onsite in Annapolis Junction, MD.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, manage, and execute cyber range environments supporting DCO/OCO activities.
• Develop realistic cyber mission scenarios and training events based on operational objectives.
• Support large-scale cyber exercises, mission rehearsal, validation events, and CPT operations.
• Apply the Joint Events Life Cycle (JELC) to support planning and execution of cyber events.
• Configure and manage virtual environments, network infrastructure, cybersecurity tools, and user/account access.
• Troubleshoot complex virtual networks, enterprise IT infrastructure, and software/hardware integration issues.
• Support networking, DNS, TCP/IP, routing, virtualization, Linux/RHEL, and identity-management infrastructure.
• Work with technologies such as VMware, Microsoft Active Directory, Security Onion, RHEL IdM, LDAP, and SSO.
• Identify and mitigate cybersecurity threats while maintaining compliance with DoD policies and standards.
• Develop and implement best practices for cyber event planning, execution, performance evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Lead and provide technical guidance to cyber engineers supporting multiple programs and cyber exercise activities.
• Coordinate with vendors, users, technical teams, and senior leadership to resolve technical issues and meet mission requirements.
• Manage multiple priorities and adapt cyber range environments to changing customer and operational requirements.

Skills

Cyber Range

CNO/CNE/CND

Networking

Linux

VMware

Active Directory

Security Onion

IdM/LDAP/SSO

DoD 8570 IAT II

Problem Solving

Education

Assoc. degree or higher in IT/CS/SE

Tools

VMware

Security Onion

RHEL IdM/LDAP/SSO

Microsoft Active Directory

DNS/TCP IP/Routing

Splunk

Job description

Salary: $140,000–$180,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications

Start Date: Immediate

Openings: 1

Clearance: Active Top Secret required; ability to obtain SCI and Poly within 6–9 months

Relocation: May be considered

Position Overview

We are seeking a Senior Cyber Range Engineer to provide technical leadership in the design, development, management, and execution of cyber range environments supporting large-scale cyber exercises and multi-domain cyber operations.

The selected candidate will support Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO), Offensive Cyber Operations (OCO), mission rehearsal, and cyber training activities. This position requires a strong background in cyber operations, enterprise networking, virtualization, Linux environments, and cyber exercise execution.

The engineer will work closely with cyber mission teams, technical stakeholders, vendors, users, and senior leadership to develop realistic training environments that replicate real-world cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and operational conditions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, configure, manage, and execute cyber range environments supporting DCO/OCO activities.
• Develop realistic cyber mission scenarios and training events based on operational objectives.
• Support large-scale cyber exercises, mission rehearsal, validation events, and Cyber Protection Team (CPT) operations.
• Apply the Joint Events Life Cycle (JELC) to support planning and execution of cyber events.
• Configure and manage virtual environments, network infrastructure, cybersecurity tools, and user/account access.
• Troubleshoot complex virtual networks, enterprise IT infrastructure, and software/hardware integration issues.
• Support networking, DNS, TCP/IP, routing, virtualization, Linux/RHEL, and identity-management infrastructure.
• Work with technologies such as VMware, Microsoft Active Directory, Security Onion, RHEL Identity Management, LDAP, and SSO.
• Identify and mitigate cybersecurity threats while maintaining compliance with applicable DoD cybersecurity policies and standards.
• Develop and implement best practices for cyber event planning, execution, performance evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Lead and provide technical guidance to cyber engineers supporting multiple programs and cyber exercise activities.
• Coordinate with vendors, users, technical teams, and senior leadership to resolve technical issues and meet mission requirements.
• Manage multiple priorities and adapt cyber range environments to changing customer and operational requirements.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional experience supporting CNO, CNE, and CND platforms or operations.
• 5+ years of experience supporting cyber training, validation exercises, cyber exercises, or CPT operations.
• Demonstrated experience designing, building, managing, or operating cyber range or cyber exercise environments.
• Strong understanding of enterprise networking, including: DNS, TCP/IP, routing, network troubleshooting.
• Hands‑on experience with VMware or other virtualization technologies.
• Experience with Linux/RHEL environments.
• Experience with Microsoft Active Directory.
• Experience with Security Onion and/or comparable cybersecurity monitoring platforms.
• Experience with RHEL Identity Management (IdM), LDAP, and/or SSO.
• Ability to translate cyber mission objectives into actionable training and exercise events.
• Experience supporting mission rehearsal, cyber exercises, or other mission‑critical training environments.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams in fast‑paced operational environments.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills when working with technical teams, vendors, users, and senior leadership.
• DoD 8570 IAT Level II or higher certification, such as: Security+, CCNA, CISSP, or equivalent.
• Associate’s degree or higher in Information Technology, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Active Top Secret security clearance.
• Ability to obtain SCI and Poly within approximately 6–9 months.
• Must be willing to work 100% onsite in Annapolis Junction, MD.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced DNS knowledge, including: Authoritative vs. recursive DNS, SOA, NS, MX, A, CNAME.
• Advanced routing experience with: OSPF, BGP, route maps, access lists, prefix lists.
• Experience configuring or deploying Security Onion or Splunk at enterprise scale.
• Experience with VMware networking and port properties.
• Experience supporting Microsoft Exchange environments.
• Experience troubleshooting complex enterprise hardware/software integration issues.
• Experience supporting U.S. Cyber Command, JCTE, or similar DoD cyber mission environments.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will combine cyber range/cyber exercise experience with strong CNO/CNE/CND, networking, virtualization, and Linux expertise. Experience with every technology listed above is not required, but candidates should demonstrate strong hands‑on experience across the core cyber operations and infrastructure areas.

Security & Employment Requirements

• Active Top Secret clearance is mandatory.
• No clearance sponsorship is available.
• Candidate must be able to obtain SCI and Poly within approximately 6–9 months.
• Position is 100% onsite in Annapolis Junction, MD.
• Background investigation and drug screening are required.