Cybersecurity System Engineer - Space Force Cyber and Data

aero; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is a premier space engineering and integration partner providing trusted cybersecurity and cloud architecture services. This role leads enterprise‑wide security architecture efforts, guiding teams through the system development lifecycle and aligning with U.S.

Space Force/CYber objectives. The cybersecurity and cloud computing architecture project engineer will drive policy, risk management, and security governance, while translating complex concepts for senior

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM or related field.
• 8+ years of increasing responsibility in system security engineering.
• Experience leading cross-functional technical teams and security initiatives.
• Willing to travel domestically as required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
• Excellent oral and written communication; mature interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead customer tasking for enterprise-wide security architecture concepts across the system development lifecycle.
• Define innovative approaches for security policies, standards, and governance frameworks.
• Manage Aerospace Engineering Technology Group project teams for customer tasks.
• Communicate security strategies, risks, and requirements to senior leadership.
• Apply systems security engineering to understand threats and implement cybersecurity measures to manage risk.
• Utilize knowledge of security reference architectures and reusable solutions for customer needs.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

System security engineering

Security architectures & risk

Communication with leadership

Security concepts translation

Threat assessment & risk management

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM / CS / CE / Cybersecurity

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space- delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you'll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

The Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Material Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers' portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

As the Cybersecurity Systems Engineer for Space Force Cyber and Data you will lead innovative cyber efforts, contribute to the body of knowledge and practice for customer domains of expertise, and transition new ideas and technology to DoD's programs and operations in support of the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Cyber and Data ( HQSF/S6) responsible for executing the complete structural transition of the service's digital architecture into a standardized, mission-focused warfighting domain. Additionally, you will provide Systems Engineering capabilities in the cyber domain that meet long-term technical and engineering needs with independence and objectivity to ensure complex systems meet operational requirements, prioritization of system-of-systems engineering capabilities, testing and verification of performance, integration and interoperability of new capabilities, evaluation of programs and activities undertaken by for-profit organizations, and transfer of new technology to the private sector. The selected candidate will work within Aerospace DSG's Pentagon and Multi-Domain Division and partner closely with the Portfolio Analysis Department in the Aerospace Engineering Technology Group. The selected candidate will be required to work full‑time on‑site at the Pentagon and/or the Aerospace facility in Crystal City, VA.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Lead customer tasking for enterprise‑wide security architecture concepts aligned with organizational mission objectives through the system development lifecycle.
• Defining innovative approaches for developing and enforcing security policies, standards, and governance frameworks across the organization.
• Managing Aerospace Engineering Technology Group project teams built for specific customer task needs.
• Communicating security strategies, risks, and requirements to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Applying systems security engineering principles to understand how threats attack systems and corresponding cybersecurity are implemented to manage risk.
• Utilizing knowledge of existing security reference architectures, patterns, and reusable security solutions for innovative customer solutions that consider system performance, usability, and cost.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Project Engineer - Cybersecurity and Cloud Computing Architecture:

• Bachelor's in STEM, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity, or similar technical area of study.
• 8 or more years of increasing responsible experience in system security engineering
• Experience leading cross-functional technical teams and security initiatives
• Comfortable connecting with military personnel/organizations
• Initiative, flexibility and be able to work in a fast‑paced environment
• Mature interpersonal skills and be well adept at oral and written communication
• Excellent time‑management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects
• Knowledge of space system unique cybersecurity considerations, requirements, and technology
• Proven ability to translate complex technical security concepts to less‑technical stakeholders
• Willing to travel domestically on occasion when required by the customer, approx. This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

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