Principal Cyber Security Engineer and Architect

Verizon; Ashburn (VA); Hybrid; USD 139,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Dental

Vision

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

Verizon in Ashburn, VA is seeking an experienced System Architecture Engineer for the National Security Program Office. You will assess, define, and enforce core cybersecurity guidelines and guardrails across mission-critical programs, bridging policy with hands-on implementation in enterprise infrastructures.

This hybrid, worksite-based role requires TS clearance, deep knowledge of NIST/CIS/NIST, and experience with containerization and cloud security.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or four or more years of work experience.
• Six or more years of relevant experience in system security engineering or network security architecture.
• Must be able to have or obtain Top Secret Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Guardrail & Baseline Creation: Assess program requirements and author technical security guidelines, policy baselines, and architectural guardrails for all sensitive and mission‑critical program environments based on CISA, CIS Benchmarks, NIST (e.g., CSF, 800-53, 800-171), and SANS guidance.

Skills

Security engineering

Zero-trust

Networking

Cloud security

OpenStack/OpenShift

Education

Bachelor's degree or 4+ years experience

Tools

Kubernetes

OpenShift

OpenStack

TLS/IPsec

Job description

When you join Verizon

You want more out of a career. A place to share your ideas freely — even if they’re daring or different. Where the true you can learn, grow, and thrive. At Verizon, we power and empower how people live, work and play by connecting them to what brings them joy. We do what we love — driving innovation, creativity, and impact in the world. Our V Team is a community of people who anticipate, lead, and believe that listening is where learning begins. In crisis and in celebration, we come together — lifting our communities and building trust in how we show up, everywhere & always. Want in? Join the #VTeamLife.

What You’ll Be Doing…

The Corporate Security team is seeking an experienced, self-motivated System Architecture Engineer to join the National Security Program Office (NSPO). In this high-impact strategic role, you will be responsible for assessing, defining, and establishing core cybersecurity guidelines, guardrails, and technical standards across all sensitive and mission-critical programs.

Working as a core member of the NSPO, you will bridge organizational security requirements with technical execution. Beyond policy creation, you will directly lead the hands‑on implementation and enforcement of these guardrails across critical enterprise infrastructures to ensure all program environments operate strictly according to guidelines published by CISA, CIS, NIST, and SANS.

Key Responsibilities

• Guardrail & Baseline Creation: Assess program requirements and author technical security guidelines, policy baselines, and architectural guardrails for all sensitive and mission‑critical program environments based on CISA, CIS Benchmarks, NIST (e.g., CSF, 800-53, 800-171), and SANS guidance.
• Architecture & Hands‑On Implementation: Translate abstract security guidelines into concrete engineering controls. Lead the technical implementation of hardened network architectures, microsegmentation, zero‑trust patterns, and secure configurations across classified infrastructures.
• Security Assessments & Compliance: Evaluate existing program systems against published CISA/CIS/NIST baselines to identify architectural gaps, drift, or vulnerabilities, driving remediation plans to enforce compliance.
• Cross‑Functional & Security Partnership: Partner directly with Corporate Security, Cybersecurity teams, the Network and Security Operations Center (NSOC), infrastructure groups, and program leadership to align program guardrails with enterprise security strategy, report on compliance posture, mitigate architectural risks, and embed mandatory controls into build patterns, deployment pipelines, and operational workflows.

Where you’ll be working…

In this worksite‑based role, you’ll work onsite at a defined location which is Ashburn, VA.

What We’re Looking For…

You’ll need to have:

• Bachelor’s degree or four or more years of work experience.
• Six or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training in system security engineering or network security architecture.
• Must be able to have or obtain Top Secret Security Clearance

Even better if you have one or more of the following:

• Experience with Windows server operating environments and UNIX/Linux systems engineering (variety of variants).
• Expertise in TCP/IP networking, 4G/5G call flows (SBI, Diameter, SIP), and virtualization technologies like OpenStack and OpenShift / Kubernetes.
• Strong foundational knowledge of incident response lifecycles (NIST or SANS) with experience designing, testing, and maintaining automation playbooks using SOAR platforms.
• Hands‑on experience translating cybersecurity frameworks, such as NIST (800-53, 800-171, CSF), CIS Benchmarks, CISA directives, and SANS baselines, into enforceable engineering controls and technical guardrails.
• Proven experience conducting security assessments against baseline standards to identify architectural gaps, drift, or vulnerabilities, driving remediation plans to enforce compliance.
• Hands‑on experience with virtualization, containerization, and cloud infrastructure security (e.g., Kubernetes, OpenShift, OpenStack, AWS/Azure government environments).
• Expertise in cryptographic controls and data‑in‑transit / data‑at‑rest encryption standards (e.g., IPsec, TLS 1.3, MACsec, PKI).
• Advanced architecture and security certifications such as CISSP, CISSP-ISSAP (Architecture), CCSP, CISM, or vendor networking/security certifications (e.g., CCNP Security, PCNSE).
• Solid understanding of Identity and Access Management (IAM), Least Privilege access frameworks, and Network Access Control (NAC) integration.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail with a proven track record of managing and delivering results.
• Ability to work independently, keeping project teams aware of strategic technical challenges .Experience working within or supporting sensitive/restricted program environments.

Benefits And Compensation

• Our benefits are designed to help you move forward in your career, and in areas of your life outside of Verizon. From health and wellness benefit options including: medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, AD&D insurance, identity theft protection, pet insurance and group home & auto insurance. We also offer a matched 401(k) savings plan, up to 8 company paid holidays per year and up to 6 personal days per year, paid parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition assistance, plus other incentives, we’ve got you covered with our award‑winning total rewards package. Depending on the role, employees have the opportunity to receive compensation in the form of premium pay such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, allowances, etc. Newly hired employees receive up to 15 days of vacation per year, which grows with additional service. For part‑timers, your coverage will vary as you may be eligible for some of these benefits depending on your individual circumstances.
• The salary will vary depending on your location and confirmed job‑related skills and experience. This is an incentive based position with the potential to earn more. For part‑time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.
• The annual salary range for the location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full‑time schedule is: $132,500.00 - $231,000.00.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Verizon is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristics.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Where you’ll be working

In this hybrid role, you’ll have a defined work location that includes working from home and a minimum of three days per week in the office, which will be set by your manager. Employees are responsible for maintaining compliance with hybrid work policies.