Hybrid Security & Network Engineer (RMF/NIST, ATO)

University of California; Pasadena (CA); Hybrid; USD 65,780 - 85,755; Full time

Job summary

Caltech's IPAC is hiring a Security and Network Engineer to strengthen cybersecurity governance and build secure, high-performance networks supporting NASA, NSF, and space missions. You will shape IPAC’s security posture while collaborating with network, systems, and data engineers to defend mission pipelines and data archives.

Responsibilities include coordinating NASA ATO compliance, designing SSPs/POA&Ms, translating NIST and NASA directives into practical architectures, managing firewalls

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in IT/CS/CE and 5+ years in network administration and cybersecurity.
• Hands-on network design and administration, especially with Arista or Cisco.
• Experience managing enterprise firewalls and perimeters.
• Experience with penetration testing, security auditing, and data analysis.
• Familiarity with federal cybersecurity compliance frameworks (NIST RMF, SP 800-53, FIPS).
• US PERSON qualification as defined by ITAR regulations.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate NASA ATO compliance, documentation, and reporting to demonstrate federal compliance.
• Design, maintain, and audit SSPs and POA&M tracking for missions and IPAC infra.
• Translate NIST/NASA directives into enforceable network architectures and workflows.
• Design and maintain firewall rules and security perimeters across the enterprise edge.
• Collaborate with Data Center staff to apply security and networking expertise to IPAC infra.
• Monitor network security, perform centralized logging, and manage security alerts.

Skills

Network design

Cybersecurity

Firewall management

NIST RMF

Arista/Cisco

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT / Computer Science / Computer Engineering

Tools

Arista

Cisco

Palo Alto

Rapid7

CrowdStrike

Job description

Caltech's IPAC is hiring a Security and Network Engineer to strengthen cybersecurity governance and build secure, high-performance networks supporting NASA, NSF, and space missions. You will shape IPAC’s security posture while collaborating with network, systems, and data engineers to defend mission pipelines and data archives.

Responsibilities include coordinating NASA ATO compliance, designing SSPs/POA&Ms, translating NIST and NASA directives into practical architectures, managing firewalls