Principal Engineer -Cyber Security

a3 architecture; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 50,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

A3 Technology, Inc. in Washington, DC is seeking a Chief Security Architect–level professional to develop and validate cybersecurity architectures for NAS enterprise systems and services.

The role requires extensive FAA security experience, CISSP certification, and US work eligibility. You will advise leadership on risk, implement Zero Trust, and ensure compliance with NIST and FAA directives across legacy and modern NAS environments.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Systems Engineering or equivalent.
• 20+ years of Information Technology professional experience.
• 10+ years of FAA security experience supporting the NAS with compliance focus (NIST & FAA controls).
• Active CISSP certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide Chief Security Architect–level expertise to develop, review, and validate cybersecurity architectures, designs, and interface specifications for NAS enterprise systems and services.
• Ensure cybersecurity controls, Zero Trust Architecture principles, and FAA security standards are incorporated into system requirements, design artifacts, and networks.
• Conduct architecture assessments to identify gaps, evaluate technologies, and recommend mitigation aligned with FAA mission needs and NIST frameworks.
• Advise leadership on cybersecurity impacts, risks, and architecture trade-offs across enterprise solutions.
• Provide technical leadership to integrate cybersecurity standards and enterprise security services into NAS systems, legacy and modern.

Skills

CISSP certification

Education

Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Systems Engineering or equivalent

Job description

Essential Job Duties:

• Provide Chief Security Architect–level expertise to develop, review, and validate cybersecurity architectures, designs, and interface specifications for NAS enterprise systems and services.
• Ensure cybersecurity controls, Zero Trust Architecture principles, and FAA security standards are incorporated into system requirements, design artifacts, engineering baselines, and network architectures.
• Conduct architecture assessments to identify security gaps, evaluate emerging technologies, and recommend mitigation strategies aligned with FAA mission needs and NIST frameworks.
• Advise program leadership on cybersecurity impacts, risks, and architecture trade-offs across enterprise-level solutions.
• Provide technical leadership to integrate cybersecurity standards, policies, and enterprise security services into both legacy and emerging NAS systems.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree, preferably in Computer Science, Information Security, Systems Engineering or equivalent.
• 20+ years of Information Technology professional experience.
• 10+ years of FAA security experience supporting the National Airspace System (NAS):
  • Experience with the full lifecycle security compliance for mission-critical systems, ensuring strict adherence to FAA Order 1370.121 (Information Security and Privacy Program) and NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4/5 controls.
  • Experience with the network architecture and configuration of the FAA NAS Enterprise Security Gateways (e.g., NESG and RMAG).
• Active Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification.

Additionally, US Citizenship or documented proof of eligibility to work in the US is a must. Upon receiving a conditional offer of employment, candidates will undergo a Government investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for Government clearance. Verification of past employment, education and references is also required. It is imperative that candidates be either a US citizen or a current green card holder with the last 3 consecutive years as a resident of the US.

The salary range for positions is $50,000 to $175,000. This range is provided as a general guideline and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of compensation. Actual salary offers will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the specific responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s education, experience, location, knowledge, skills, and abilities. In addition, compensation may be influenced by applicable Federal Government contract labor categories and established contract wage rates.

At A3 Technology, Inc., we take pride in being an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) and Affimative Action (AA) employer. We're committed to considering all qualified candidates for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, protected veteran status, disability, national origin, genetic information or any other protected status.