Post-Quantum Cryptography Engineer

Leidos Inc; United States; On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Post-Quantum Cryptography Engineer in a remote capacity to support VA OIT's COSE program. You'll design, implement, and assess enterprise cryptographic modernization aligning with NIST standards and Zero Trust principles.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams across cybersecurity architecture, software, and cloud environments to evaluate quantum risks, migrate to quantum-resistant algorithms, and deliver secure, scalable solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Mathematics, CS, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years IT experience, including quantum computing and cryptography.
• Certification in IAT III, IAM III, or IASAE III.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise in quantum computing and cryptography for VA security.
• Assess cryptographic implementations and identify quantum vulnerabilities.
• Develop and maintain migration plans for post-quantum cryptography.
• Evaluate quantum-resistant algorithms and standards per NIST guidance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including cloud, DevSecOps, and government partners.

Skills

Quantum computing

Cryptography

Post-quantum cryptography

Security architecture

Python

C++

Java

Qiskit

Cirq

Education

Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

Python

C++

Java

Qiskit

Cirq

Quipper

Microsoft Quantum Development Kit

Job description

Description

The Digital Sector at Leidos currently has an opening for a PostQuantum Cryptography (PQC) Engineer. This remote role supports the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Information & Technology (OIT), Office of Information Security (OIS), on the Cybersecurity Operations Systems Engineering (COSE) program.

As a PQC Engineer, you will contribute to the design, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of enterprise security architecture and engineering capabilities across the VA's IT environment. Your work will help unify enterprisewide cybersecurity practices and support alignment with Zero Trust principles, NIST frameworks, and federal cybersecurity requirements. You will collaborate with crossfunctional teams to strengthen the VA's ability to protect sensitive information for more than 18 million Veterans, Families, and Caregivers.

In this role, you will provide specialized expertise in quantum computing, cryptography, postquantum cryptography, and cryptographic modernization in support of the VA COSE program. You will evaluate existing cryptographic technologies, assess quantumrelated cybersecurity risks, and develop strategies for transitioning VA systems and applications to secure, quantumresistant cryptographic standard

This position is contingent upon contract award.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise in quantum computing, quantum information science, cryptography, and post-quantum cryptography to support VA cybersecurity architecture and engineering initiatives.
• Analyze the potential cybersecurity impact of quantum computing technologies on existing VA systems, applications, infrastructure, data protections, and cryptographic implementations.
• Apply knowledge of quantum mechanics, quantum information theory, and quantum algorithms, including algorithms such as Shor's and Grover's algorithms, to evaluate current and emerging cryptographic risks.
• Assess existing cryptographic implementations, protocols, algorithms, certificates, keys, and supporting technologies to identify systems that may be vulnerable to current or future quantum-enabled threats.
• Develop and maintain an enterprise cryptographic inventory identifying cryptographic algorithms, protocols, implementations, dependencies, technologies, and systems across the VA environment.
• Analyze the cryptographic inventory and establish risk‑based migration priorities based on mission criticality, data sensitivity, cryptographic exposure, technology dependencies, and emerging quantum threats.
• Develop and maintain Cryptographic Inventory and Migration Plans defining strategies, timelines, sequencing, and priorities for transitioning VA systems to approved cryptographic standards, including post-quantum cryptography where applicable.
• Develop and recommend Post-Quantum Cryptography migration strategies that enable the VA to transition from existing cryptographic approaches to quantum‑resistant algorithms in a controlled and secure manner.
• Provide technical guidance for cryptographic modernization aligned with applicable NIST post-quantum cryptography standards, including FIPS 203, FIPS 204, and FIPS 205.
• Evaluate and recommend quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms and technologies for use within enterprise systems, applications, networks, cloud environments, data protection solutions, and identity infrastructures.
• Provide subject matter expertise in traditional cryptographic protocols and technologies, including RSA, AES, public‑key cryptography, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), encryption, digital signatures, key management, and related security mechanisms.
• Evaluate interoperability, compatibility, implementation complexity, performance, security, and operational impacts associated with replacing or upgrading legacy cryptographic technologies.
• Identify cryptographic dependencies and potential migration challenges across applications, infrastructure, network technologies, cloud platforms, identity systems, security tools, and enterprise services.
• Support the development of crypto‑agile architectures and engineering approaches that enable cryptographic algorithms and technologies to be replaced or upgraded as standards and threats evolve.
• Perform technical analysis, prototyping, modeling, and testing using classical and quantum simulation tools to evaluate quantum algorithms, cryptographic techniques, and potential security impacts.
• Develop, implement, and test cryptographic algorithms and related engineering solutions using programming languages such as Python, C++, and Java.
• Utilize quantum development languages, frameworks, and platforms such as Qiskit, Cirq, Quipper, and the Microsoft Quantum Development Kit to support research, simulation, testing, and technical analysis.
• Conduct specialized security posture assessments for Post‑Quantum Cryptography and other emerging technologies, documenting risks, vulnerabilities, technology implications, and recommended mitigation strategies.
• Support security architecture reviews and engineering assessments to identify cryptographic weaknesses, architectural gaps, security risks, attack paths, and residual risk associated with existing and proposed systems.
• Develop technical recommendations for mitigating cryptographic vulnerabilities and reducing exposure to "harvest now, decrypt later" and other quantum-related cybersecurity risks where supported by applicable VA risk assessments and modernization activities.
• Support development of secure solution architectures, security patterns, reference architectures, and engineering guidance incorporating modern and post‑quantum cryptographic protections.
• Ensure cryptographic solutions and modernization recommendations align with applicable Federal security standards, VA security requirements, NIST guidance, and enterprise cybersecurity architecture.
• Provide technical input into VA security policies, engineering standards, cryptographic guidance, modernization plans, and governance documentation.
• Participate in technical design reviews, architecture reviews, modernization initiatives, pilots, engineering working groups, and governance forums requiring cryptography or quantum computing subject matter expertise.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity architects, security engineers, application teams, cloud engineers, DevSecOps personnel, network engineers, identity teams, program managers, and Government stakeholders to coordinate cryptographic modernization and PQC migration activities.
• Communicate complex quantum computing and cryptographic risks in clear business and mission terms to technical teams, program leadership, and non‑technical executives.
• Develop technical assessments, white papers, implementation recommendations, risk analyses, briefings, and presentations addressing quantum risk, cryptographic posture, migration readiness, and modernization priorities.
• Track emerging quantum‑computing capabilities, cryptographic technologies, and evolving standards to identify potential impacts to the VA enterprise and recommend appropriate engineering or modernization actions.
• Support project and lifecycle management activities associated with cryptographic modernization, including requirements development, configuration management, risk tracking, implementation planning, and transition sequencing.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field
• Minimum 10 years of IT experience, including at least 5 years of quantum computing and cryptography experience at a large corporation or Government agency comparable to GSA, IRS, DoD, or VA
• Certification in one of the following: IAT III, IAM III, or IASAE III

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.