Principal Cryptography Engineer – Blockchain Specialist

MITRE; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 259,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Meaningful career development

Job summary

MITRE's Cryptography, ICAM and System Assurance division seeks a senior researcher to lead projects focused on cryptographic foundations as they apply to blockchain and distributed ledger tech. You will analyze DeFi, DAOs, smart contracts, and digital assets to identify vulnerabilities and develop protective frameworks.

You will provide thought leadership, deliver trainings for internal teams and sponsors, and work onsite with a cross-disciplinary group tackling high-impact national security

Qualifications

• 10+ years of work experience with a Bachelor's Degree, 7 years of work experience with a Masters, or at least 5 years of work experience with a PhD
• Demonstrated experience, knowledge and passion in topics that include Zero Knowledge cryptography, threshold cryptography, and post quantum cryptography
• Experience in cybersecurity applied to cryptocurrencies and digital assets (e.g. key management concepts, understanding of KYC, on-chain analysis, and consensus protocols)
• Demonstrable technical program or technical project management experience
• Strong analytical/problem-solving skills and sound technical judgment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results and collaborate across teams
• Ability to work effectively in secure/classified environments
• This position requires a minimum of 3 days a week on-site

Responsibilities

• Lead projects and R&D functions that are focused on cryptographic foundations as they apply to blockchain, understanding on distributed ledger technology, digital assets, cryptocurrency, and Web3 ecosystems
• Understand and analyze DeFi, DAOs/Governance, smart contracts and other tokenized or digital asset concepts
• Lead efforts to determine vulnerabilities, threats, and risks that may compromise digital asset ecosystems
• Develop actionable frameworks and plans to safeguard digital asset ecosystems
• Provide thought leadership on MITRE blockchain and cryptography reasearch
• Serving as digital assets subject matter expert leading trainings and educational sessions for internal teams and sponsors

Skills

Zero Knowledge cryptography

Threshold cryptography

Post-quantum cryptography

Technical program management

Analytical problem-solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

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.

The 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 and Trust; Software Assurance (SWA); Identity, Credential and Access Management (ICAM); and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI). 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:

• Aiding the Federal Government as a community in architecting and applying modern cryptography and PQC technologies to secure systems, software, and protocols.
• Developing strategies, assessing policy and technical constraints, and facilitating the deployment of cryptography solutions into cloud, hybrid, and on-premises infrastructures for enterprise and tactical environments. As senior trusted advisors and leaders within the cryptography and PQC community internally and external to MITRE, we apply our knowledge of industry trends, advances in commercial technology, and relevant industry standards and protocols to inform our sponsors' decision-making.
• Performing research and development, evaluation and testing and operational support for high-priority sponsor mission applications, MITRE Labs strategic initiatives, and MITRE's internal research and development program.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Lead projects and R&D functions that are focused on cryptographic foundations as they apply to blockchain, understanding on distributed ledger technology, digital assets, cryptocurrency, and Web3 ecosystems
• Understand and analyze DeFi, DAOs/Governance, smart contracts and other tokenized or digital asset concepts
• Lead efforts to determine vulnerabilities, threats, and risks that may compromise digital asset ecosystems
• Develop actionable frameworks and plans to safeguard digital asset ecosystems
• Provide thought leadership on MITRE blockchain and cryptography reasearch
• Serving as digital assets subject matter expert leading trainings and educational sessions for internal teams and sponsors

Basic Qualifications:

• 10+ years of work experience with a Bachelor's Degree, 7 years of work experience with a Masters, or at least 5 years of work experience with a PhD
• Demonstrated experience, knowledge and passion in topics that include Zero Knowledge cryptography, threshold cryptography, and post quantum cryptography
• Experience in cybersecurity applied to cryptocurrencies and digital assets (e.g. key management concepts, understanding of KYC, on-chain analysis, and consensus protocols)
• Demonstrable technical program or technical project management experience.
• Strong analytical/problem-solving skills and sound technical judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results and collaborate across teams.
• Ability to work effectively in secure/classified environments.
• This position requires a minimum of 3 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Mathematics or related field.
• Broad exposure to cryptography and applied methods
• Knowledge on Internet and network engineering
• Experience applying cryptographic standards and guidelines in real-world deployed systems
• TS eligibility preferred.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s): None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s): None

Salary compensation range and midpoint: $172,800 - $216,000 - $259,200 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.

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.

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