Principal System Security Engineer

Draper Labs; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 237,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work-life balance

Employee clubs and wellness programs

Job summary

Draper Labs, an independent nonprofit R&D company in Cambridge, MA, is seeking a Principal System Security Engineer to design, integrate, and deploy trustworthy secure platforms across cyber-physical systems.

The role involves working with cross-disciplinary teams of engineers to support program execution, communicate with sponsors, and build secure architectures and evaluations throughout the project lifecycle. Requires a top‑level security clearance and extensive domain experience.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in System Security Engineering or related position.
• Master’s degree requires 5–10 years’ experience in System Security Engineering or related position.
• Proficiency in full life-cycle systems engineering of security technologies and components within cyber-physical systems and systems-of-systems.
• Experience in secure system design per requirements, design analysis, and external vectors.
• Familiarity with program protection plans, STIGs, risk management, information assurance, and cross-domain products.

Responsibilities

• Manage and control priorities, scope, schedule, and cost to baselines by monitoring program/task performance.
• Independently derive system-level requirements from mission requirements and define plans to solve complex problems.
• Assist customers in shaping problems and needs.
• Serve as SME to develop and implement security approaches through a program lifecycle.
• Identify program/system-level risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Develop, document, and teach best practices to engineers; demonstrate organization and time management.

Skills

Curiosity-driven problem solving

Collaboration

Team player

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

DOORS

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross‑fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

The Secure Solutions Group within the System's Engineering Directorate is seeking a Principal System Security Engineer to support engineering, integrating, and deploying trustworthy secure platforms that resist cyber, reverse engineering, and supply chain threats. The group has multidisciplinary proficiencies in secure systems architecture, hardware security and resilience, software security and resilience, system validation and accreditation, and cryptography.

Specific responsibilities include the following:

• Work with cross disciplinary team of system, hardware, and software engineers to support program execution.
• Communicate with program members, program offices, and sponsors to present work to the technical and evaluation community.
• Bring a systems engineering prospective to support development system architectures for secure solutions.
• Support analysis of Draper, customer, and sponsor developed systems to evaluate effectiveness and suitability.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Manage and control priorities, scope, schedule, and cost to baselines by proactively monitoring program/task performance across larger activities.
• Independently derive system-level requirements based on mission requirements and defines plan and approach to solve complex problems.
• Supports helping customers shape problems and needs.
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) able to develop and implement security approaches through a program lifecycle.
• Identify program/system-level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies.
• Develop, document, and teach best practices to less experienced engineers. Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals.

Skills/Abilities

• Curiosity-driven approach to solving complex, industry and customer-driven problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members, program leadership, and non-technical personnel.
• Team player able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands.

Education

Requires a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree requires 10+ years’ experience of working on System Security Engineer or other relevant position.
• Master’s degree requires 5-10 years’ experience of working on System Security Engineer or other relevant position.

Additional Qualifications

• Proficiency in full life-cycle systems engineering (architecture, design, development, integration, approval, and deployment) of security technologies and components within cyber-physical systems and systems-of-systems.
• Experience in the design and implementation of secured systems based on system requirements, design analysis, and consideration of external vectors.
• Familiarity with processes and technologies for identification of critical program information and development of the associated program protection plans.
• Experience in the development of System Security documentation per Government requirements.
• Familiarity with developing and implementing Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs).
• Understanding of supply chain operations, risk management framework, information assurance, technology protection.
• Familiarity with the processes and technologies for cross-domain products, including secured firmware solutions and microelectronics.
• An understanding of the fundamentals of cryptographic key management, public key infrastructure, and NSA’s Key Management Infrastructure, and the applications of cryptology.
• Experience in writing innovative R&D proposals to commercial and government sponsors.
• Familiarity with DOORS, MATLAB, and/or Python.
• Flexibility to multi-task and adapt to changing priorities, technologies, and program needs.

Security Requirements

• Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.
• Current in-scope Secret security clearance required, Top Secret preferred.

Job Location - City: Cambridge

Job Location - State: Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code: 02139-3563

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $95,000.00 - $237,500.00.

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement’s approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].