Group Lead, Cryptography Solutions

MITRE; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 199,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE is seeking a senior cybersecurity leader for the Cryptography, ICAM, and System Assurance Department to guide and grow a team of highly technical professionals. The role centers on aligning staff talent with cryptographic projects and driving performance in support of national security objectives.

The position requires active Secret clearance, a STEM bachelor’s degree, and at least eight years of related experience. On-site commitment is expected three days per week.

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years’ experience with a bachelor's degree in a STEM field.
• Ability to lead teams translating mission needs into cryptographic requirements and measurable outcomes.
• Progressive thought and people leadership for cryptographic solutions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with proactive thinking.
• Excellent written and verbal communications and collaborative mindset.
• Active Secret U.S. Government security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
• On-site work minimum three days per week.

Responsibilities

• Providing day-to-day leadership, management, and advocacy of staff.
• Fostering growth and development of a highly technical cybersecurity team.
• Represent staff to MITRE leadership on performance and development needs.
• Collaborate with project leaders to align staff talent with project requirements.
• Work with Department and Division leadership to execute mission strategy and objectives.

Skills

Staff leadership

Team leadership

Analytical thinking

Written/verbal communications

Collaborative managerial mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

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.

L527, Cryptography, ICAM, and System Assurance Department is comprised of an inspired multi-disciplinary team of researchers and practitioners driving innovation in the department’s technical areas of focus, with particular emphasis in Cryptography; Software Assurance (SwA); and Identity, Credential and Access Management (ICAM). We develop and apply scalable approaches for systems and software, evaluate technology and solutions, lead and foster external partnerships within the communities we support, and conduct novel research and development. We serve in critical roles including:

• Conceive of and advance novel technical ideas,
• Provide deep analyses whose results drive decision-making by our sponsors,
• Build proof-of-concept systems that leverage new technology and concepts, and
• Engage with the vendor community, academia, and our sponsors to raise the bar on cybersecurity throughout the industry.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Providing day-to-day leadership, management, and advocacy of staff
• Fostering the growth and development of a team of highly technical cybersecurity professionals
• Represent staff to MITRE leadership in areas of performance and professional development needs
• Collaborate with project leaders to align staff talent with project requirements
• Work closely with Department and Division leadership in executing and achieving mission vision, strategy, goals, and objectives

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years’ experience with a bachelor's degree in a STEM field.
• Ability to lead teams and efforts that translate mission needs into cryptographic technical requirements, interfaces, and measurable outcomes.
• Progressive thought and people leadership for cryptographic solutions
• Analytical and problem-solving skills and proactive, critical thinking skills
• Excellent written/verbal communications skills
• Collaborative managerial mindset
• Must have an active Secret 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:

• Master's or PhD in a STEM field
• Ability to possess and maintain a DoD Top Secret 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):

Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

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

Work Location Type:

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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.

MITRE intends to maintain a website that is fully accessible to all individuals. If you are unable to search or apply for jobs and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of MITRE’s employment process, please email [e-mail] for general support and [e-mail] for intern positions. This service is for individuals requiring reasonable accommodation requests. Please note that vendor solicitations will not receive a reply.

Benefits information may be found here.

Copyright © 1997-2026, The MITRE Corporation. All rights reserved. MITRE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. Material on this site may be copied and distributed with permission only.