SCA-R Validator

Leidos; Odenton (MD); On-site; USD 87,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Per diem for travel

Job summary

Leidos is seeking multiple SCA-R Validators to assess programs’ security posture and develop reports and recommendations for improvement. Roles can be based out of Alexandria, VA, Fort Meade, MD, or Chambersburg, PA and are primarily on-site with travel up to 50%. Per diem is provided while traveling.

Responsibilities include conducting cybersecurity assessments, RMF tasks, and reporting findings. Requires TS clearance, IAM II/IAT II, and STIG/SRG experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an IT-related field and eight years of cybersecurity or network security experience.
• Active DoD Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility required.
• DoD 8570 IAM II or IAT II certification current.
• Five years of experience in Certification and Accreditation/A&A role.
• Experience with STIGs, SRGs, POA&Ms and cybersecurity best practices.
• Strong RMF understanding and familiarity with NIST SP 800-37/53 and CNSSI 1253.
• Demonstrated risk analysis, control validation, and SCA-R responsibilities.
• Experience with eMASS, STIG Viewer, Nessus, ACAS, SCAP, HBSS.

Responsibilities

• Use government tools to perform weekly updates, maintain records, and complete tasks.
• Coordinate with ISSMs and PMOs to understand mission and security posture.
• Conduct cybersecurity assessments and risk analyses across RMF using approved tools.
• Identify data classifications and perform system-level risk assessments.
• Track changes, assess impacts, and report updates to the AO.
• Evaluate authorization requests, web filtering, firewall changes, and STIG compliance.
• Lead assessment visits, briefings, and ensure proper documentation.
• Attend government trainings and stay updated on process changes.
• Maintain access to required databases and cybersecurity tools.
• Prepare authorization packages and determine countermeasures and residual risk.
• Support systems lifecycle in alignment with FISMA requirements.

Skills

Cybersecurity expertise

RMF knowledge

Communication skills

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT or related field

Tools

eMASS

STIG Viewer

Nessus

ACAS

SCAP

HBSS

Job description

Description

Leidos is seeking multiple SCA-R Validators to assess programs’ security posture and develop reports and recommendations for improvement. These positions can be based out of any of our three locations - Alexandria, VA, Fort Meade, MD, or Chambersburg, PA. These positions are primarily on-site. Some travel may be required to support our assessment team, up to 50% of the time. Per diem is provided while on travel.

Responsibilities:

• Use government-assigned tools to perform weekly updates, maintain records, and complete tasks.
• Coordinate with ISSMs and PMOs to understand mission and business functions, security architecture, deployment locations, and planned and projected architectural and functional changes of assigned systems.
• Conduct cybersecurity assessments, risk analyses (operational and technical) and authorization tasks across all RMF steps using approved RE5 tools and processes.
• Verify authorization boundaries and categorize systems (FIPS199).
• Identify data classifications and conduct system-level risk assessments.
• Track system changes, assess impacts, and report updates to the AO.
• Evaluate authorization and change requests, web filtering, firewall exceptions, ports/protocols, cybersecurity risks, STIG/SRG compliance, and on-site security.
• Lead assessment visits, conduct briefings, and ensure proper documentation and reporting.
• Attend required government training and meetings to stay updated on process changes.
• Maintain access and proficiency in required government databases and cybersecurity tools.
• Assess threats, vulnerabilities and cybersecurity risk for systems and compile findings into timely authorization packages to determine countermeasures and residual risk.
• Support assigned systems throughout their lifecycle in alignment with FISMA requirements.
• Submit weekly activity reports summarizing tasks, tracking IDs, and key updates.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree (IT-related field preferred) and eight (8) years of cybersecurity or network security experience. Additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
• Active DoD Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility required
• Current DoD 8570 IAM II or IAT II certification
• Five (5) years of experience in a Certification and Accreditation/A&A role
• Demonstrated experience with STIGs (Security Technical Implementation Guides), Security Requirement Guides (SRGs), Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms) and cybersecurity best practices
• Advanced understanding of the RMF process, NIST SP 800- 37, NIST SP 800-53, CNSSI 1253
• Demonstratable experience in risk analysis, control validation, and as a Security Control Assessor Representative (SCA-R).
• Demonstrated experience with relevant tools such as eMASS, STIG Viewer, Nessus, ACAS, SCAP, or HBSS
• Advanced understanding of key technologies areas/domain such as: Network, Mobility, Windows, UNIX, Cloud Environments and Cloud Native Tools/Services, Host Based Security System (HBSS)/Endpoint Security Solutions (ESS), Databases, Applications
• Customer service skills
• Ability and willingness to travel for assessments as required

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.