CYBERSPACE CONCEPT DEVELOPER AND VALIDATOR

Defianx; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Defianx is seeking a Cyberspace Concept Developer to identify and draft innovative cyberspace capability concepts aligned with NATO needs. The role covers requirements development, architectures, specifications, and implementation planning for security-focused cyber systems.

The position emphasizes hands-on system engineering across the full lifecycle, with international collaboration and travel up to 20 days annually. A master’s or a bachelor’s with extensive experience is required.

Qualifications

• Hands-on system engineering across the complete capability life cycle.
• Post-degree education in CIS security and cyber defense disciplines (CISSP/GIAC/CISM).
• Post-degree hands‑on experience in architecture drafting, preferably using NATO FAB/NAF or TOGAF.

Responsibilities

• Identify cyberspace operation concepts to meet NATO operational needs.
• Develop, analyse, validate and enhance capability requirements into specifications.
• Develop capability architectures and capability specifications (functional and non‑functional).
• Develop implementation plans with scope, timelines, cost and risk analysis.
• Build and maintain inter‑organization communities for cyberspace concepts, with NATO and partner groups.
• Contribute to experimentation, feasibility analysis, and validation efforts under guidance.
• Prepare engineering artefacts covering DOTMLPFI, architecture, and interoperability assessments.
• Attend meetings, workshops and events, up to 20 days per year as required.

Skills

System engineering

Team leadership

Cyberspace concepts

Education

Master's degree in engineering / systems engineering / computer science

Bachelor’s degree + 5 years experience in lieu

Tools

NAF architecture framework

TOGAF

CISSP / GIAC / CISM concepts

Job description

Defianx | Full time

Norfolk (On-Site), United States | Posted on 02/24/2026

• Date Opened 02/24/2026
• Job Type Full time
• Industry IT Services
• Work Experience 5+ years
• City Norfolk (On-Site)
• State/Province Virginia
• Country United States
• Zip/Postal Code 23551

Seeking a Cyberspace Concept Developer toidentify, research, and draft innovative cyberspace capability concepts to meet strategic security needs.

• Based on NATO operational needs, literature review, high-level direction and guidance (notably stemming from ACT's Warfare Development Agenda), and guidance from ACT Cyberspace Technical Director, identify cyberspace operation capability concepts to be developed.
• Develop, analyse, validate, complete and enhance capability requirements, departing from operational requirements, to translate them into specifications for the capability description.
• Develop or support the development and documentation of capability architectures.
• Develop or support the development of capability specifications, including functional and non-functional specifications.
• Develop or support the development of implementation plans, including analysis of scope, timelines, cost and risk.
• Build and maintain Communities of Interest (NATO organizations, Nations, Industry, Academia) dedicated to the development and implementation of cyberspace operation concepts, in close coordination with the Technical Director and ACT Cyberspace Federation & Partnership SME.
• Contribute to experimentation and validation efforts related to the cyberspace operation concepts (feasibility analysis, experiment design and preparation, assessment, etc.), under the guidance of the Technical Director.
• Develop (as lead or contributor) relevant engineering products/artefacts to support cyberspace capability development and implementation. This includes capability requirements identification and definition across all DOTMLPFI[1] aspects, Analyses of Alternatives, architecture development, Information Exchange Requirements definition, operational evaluation/validation, and interoperability assessment.
• Support and contribute to other warfare development activities related to concept implementation and engineering (feasibility studies, foresight analysis, technical and operational analysis, experimentation campaigns, etc.).
• Inform, organize and participate in meetings, workshops, conferences and other events, and travel to attend those, as needed, generally within NATO’s boundaries for up to 20 days per year.
• Perform additional tasks, related to the contract, as required by the COTR.

Essential Qualifications

Hands-on experience in system engineering activities, including definition, implementation and engineering of operational/military concepts throughout the complete capability life cycle, is essential. In general, management experience, team leading, participation and/or contribution to the above activities will not suffice to qualify.

• Master’s degree in engineering, systems engineering or computer science. A bachelor’s degree and 5 years of recent experience in system engineering, capability concept development and implementation in a military context will be considered in lieu of a master’s degree.
• Proven recent (at least three within the last five years) post-degree hands‑on experience in authoring cyberspace concepts, specifications, architectures, functional analysis, designs, preferably in the area of military information and cyber systems. Experience at the level of management, overseeing, participating or supporting shall not be accounted for.
• Post-degree education in CIS security and cyber defense disciplines, as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), GIAC Security Expert or ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
• Post-degree hands‑on experience in architecture drafting, preferably using NATO Architectural Framework (NAF) or similar standard (e.g. TOGAF).
• Demonstrated experience in planning, coordinating and executing workshops for various stakeholders including governmental agencies, academia and industry.
• Location & Presence: This position is basedinNorfolk, VA, USA. The team operates on On-site, requiringpresence at the office 5 days per week to maintain the collaborative rhythm ofthe office.
• A minimum of SecreteClearance.