R&D Cybersecurity - Digital Assurance

Cybersecurity Jobs; Livermore (CA); On-site; USD 122,000 - 238,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance and amenities

Generous vacation

Strong medical and other benefits

Competitive 401k

Learning opportunities

Onsite work in Livermore

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, CA, is seeking an R&D cybersecurity professional to help secure non-traditional digital systems supporting the nuclear deterrent mission. You will develop security requirements and digital assurance plans, perform risk assessments, and guide security efforts for high-consequence systems onsite.

This onsite role requires DOE Q-level clearance or the ability to obtain it, with opportunities to influence cyber, hardware, and embedded domains and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience demonstrating ability to perform R&D
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

Responsibilities

• Develop systems security requirements and digital assurance plans
• Support digital assurance, risk assessment, and security plans
• Perform system-level security risk assessments and provide guidance
• Identify digital assurance gaps and vulnerabilities
• Coordinate digital assurance activities and develop innovative security solutions
• Develop Nuclear Deterrent program-level digital assurance policies and RMF alignment

Skills

Security clearance process

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Join Sandia National Laboratories’ Digital Systems Security Engineering team and contribute to the security and assurance of non-traditional digital systems supporting the nuclear deterrent mission. This R&D cybersecurity role focuses on building security requirements, executing risk assessments, and developing digital assurance plans that help teams reduce gaps and vulnerabilities while maintaining acceptable risk tolerance.

Based in Livermore, CA (onsite), you will work as part of a specialized cyber and digital assurance organization that develops tools and methods to verify high-consequence digital systems and strengthen cybersecurity across enterprise and weapons systems.

What you’ll do

• Develop systems security requirements and digital assurance plans
• Support the implementation of digital assurance, risk assessment, and security plans
• Perform system-level security risk assessments and provide guidance and recommendations
• Identify digital assurance and security gaps and vulnerabilities
• Derive and translate security requirements for system and product design and engineering teams
• Coordinate digital assurance and systems security engineering activities
• Develop innovative security solutions aligned with acceptable risk tolerance
• Develop applicable Nuclear Deterrent Program-level digital assurance policies and requirements
• Support risk management framework activities for Nuclear Deterrent digital systems
• Develop test tools and strategies for digital assurance and cybersecurity testing
• Document and communicate analysis results effectively to both technical and non-technical groups in written and oral formats
• Gather, organize, and present information requested for internal and external security data calls
• Serve as a security subject matter expert and champion security best practices for digital system teams

Clearance and onsite expectations

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance
• Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience demonstrating the ability to perform independent research and development)
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance

Desired qualifications

• Graduate degree in Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Computer Forensics, Mathematics, or directly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement
• Experience with reverse engineering, software vulnerability assessment, web application assessment, computer networking, computer architecture, compilers, or similar computer security topics
• Proficiency in scripting or high-level programming
• Familiarity with secure-system design and information assurance principles
• Excellent communication skills, including presenting technical ideas and results in oral and written form
• Systems Security Engineering concept experience, with digital assurance experience (preferably with DoD platform security, hardware design, and embedded systems security)
• Experience developing security plans and/or performing cyber security assessments for non-traditional (non-IT) digital systems
• Experience developing, testing, and evaluating digital systems for security and reliability
• Knowledge of DOE/NNSA and/or DoD cyber security orders and policies, relevant federal/private standards (including NIST, ISO, CNSS), and understanding of the Risk Management Framework (RMF)
• Experience with security requirements implementation for hardware, software, or firmware
• Familiarity with security best practices and standards in defense, automotive, or aviation industries
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering process and tools
• Experience with hardware systems engineering, hardware/software security architecture, platform security, hardware development, applied cryptography, authentication and protocols, and systems engineering
• Active DOE Q-level security clearance or equivalent DoD Top Secret level security clearance

Team context

The Cyber & Digital Assurance Group includes four cyber security departments that conduct research, develop tools and methods, and support verification of high-consequence digital systems. The group engages across the design-to-retirement lifecycle, manages research collaborations with academic institutions, and provides local domain expertise for nuclear weapon system and component organizations.

Compensation and work schedule

• Salary range: $121,900 - $237,800 per year
• Salary range is estimated; final salary depends on experience and qualifications and application of any approved geographic salary differential
• Flexible work arrangements may include 9/80 (80 hours every two weeks with every other Friday off), 4/10 compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (combination of onsite work and working from home)

Benefits

• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Generous vacation
• Strong medical and other benefits
• Competitive 401k
• Learning opportunities
• Relocation assistance and amenities aimed at supporting work/life balance

Posting and recruiting process

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the posting date. Sandia may extend the posting date at any time. Applicants on this requisition may be interviewed by multiple organizations at Sandia National Laboratories.

Important security and screening notes

• Sandia requires a pre-employment drug test and background review, including checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment and education verifications
• DOE requires U.S. citizenship to obtain a DOE Q-level security clearance
• If you hold more than one citizenship, clearance eligibility may be impacted
• Applicants offered employment may be subject to a federal background investigation if duties require access to classified information or matter
• Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct, or other indicators of untrustworthiness can result in clearance denial or termination by DOE, which can prevent performing assigned duties

NNSA MedPED requirement: If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED) and you are employed by Sandia National Laboratories, you may be required to comply with NNSA MedPED security requirements. If you have a MedPED and are selected for an onsite interview, additional steps may be required prior to the interview date to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements.