Security Engineering Accreditation Lead, Defense

VulnU; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement match

Equity

Job summary

Applied Intuition is seeking an Accreditation Lead to own the authorization portfolio for government and defense programs. You will decide how each program gets authorized, bring a clear plan to sponsors and officials, and ensure engineering teams meet security requirements from design to delivery.

You will act as ISSM of record for cloud and program authorizations under RMF, manage SSPs, POA&Ms, and renewal cycles, and coordinate with classified systems teams to maintain consistency across

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent hands-on experience in cyber security or related field.
• 8+ years in system authorization or security compliance with multiple programs.
• Experience leading authorizations across FedRAMP or DoD IL4/IL5.
• Track record defending authorization decisions with sponsors and officials.

Responsibilities

• Own the government accreditation portfolio and authorization sequencing.
• Serve as ISSM for cloud and program authorizations, manage SSPs and POA&Ms.
• Coordinate authorizations for deployed systems and encrypted connections.
• Lead third-party assessors and manage RMF, CMMC, and DoD risk processes.

Skills

Security governance

Decision making

Negotiation

Team leadership

Policy & compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Cyber Security/IS/CS or related field

Tools

RMF (NIST SP 800-37)

NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

eMASS

FedRAMP

CMMC Level 2

Job description

# Security Engineering Accreditation Lead, DefenseApplied Intuition · appliedintuition.comCategory: GRC & ComplianceLocation: Washington, D.C.Level: ManagerSalary: $175,000 – $225,000Clearance: Top Secret## Quality of lifeWhat the posting states. Hover or tap a perk to see the line it came from.* Retirement match* EquityApplied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positionsAbout the roleWe are seeking an Accreditation Lead to own the authorization portfolio for our government and defense programs. This is a decision-making role. You will decide how each program gets authorized, bring a clear plan to government sponsors and authorizing officials, and hold engineering teams to the requirements needed to get there and stay there.The portfolio spans cloud environments across FedRAMP and DoD Impact Level requirements, program authorizations for deployed systems, encrypted communications, and CMMC. The Accreditation Lead will require a security clearance and works closely with our ISSM for classified systems, our platform and DevSecOps engineers, and program leadership. At Applied Intuition, you will:Own the accreditation portfolio across our government programs: which authorizations each program needs, in what order, and whether it authorizes directly or inherits from an existing authorizationMake and own authorization decisions, including approach, scope, sequencing, and risk recommendations to leadershipBring a clear plan to government sponsors and authorizing officials: propose the approach, negotiate scope and timelines, and drive agreement rather than waiting for directionServe as ISSM of record for cloud and program authorizations under RMF, owning system security plans, POA&Ms, and authorization packagesMaintain software approvals and authorizations on partner and customer platforms, including renewals and new releasesSet security requirements for engineering teams early, hold teams to them through design and delivery, and make the call when trade-offs are neededCoordinate authorizations for deployed systems and their connections, including encrypted links and interconnection agreements with customer and partner systemsPartner with our ISSM for classified systems so cloud, program, and classified authorizations stay consistentServe as the primary interface for CMMC Level 2 assessments, including assessor coordination, POA&M adjudication, and support for annual affirmationManage third-party assessors and support contractors from kickoff through authorizationOwn continuous monitoring after authorization, using machine-readable evidence produced by the delivery pipeline wherever possibleMaintain the authorization calendar across programs, including renewals, assessments, and dependencies, and brief leadership and customers on status and risk in plain termsServe as a documented backup for authorization activity and participate in the security on-call rotation as it is establishedWe're looking for someone who has:A Bachelor's degree in Cyber Security, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experienceA minimum of 8 years of experience in system authorization or security compliance, with at least 3 leading authorizations across multiple programs at onceLed at least one FedRAMP or DoD IL4 or IL5 authorization from initiation through authorizationExperience authorizing deployed or tactical systems under RMF, working directly with program authorizing officialsA track record of owning authorization decisions and defending them with authorizing officials, sponsors, and program officesExperience driving engineering teams to adopt security requirements, including making and defending trade-off decisionsDeep working knowledge of RMF (NIST SP 800-37), NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 baselines, the DoD Cloud Computing Security Requirements Guide, and eMASSWorking knowledge of NSA Commercial Solutions for Classified or other approved encryption architecturesWorking knowledge of NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC Level 2 obligationsExperience managing third-party assessors and support contractorsDoD 8140 qualification for an ISSM role (for example, CISSP or CISM), or the ability to obtain it within six months of hireThe judgment to know when to push, when to compromise, and when to escalate, with government customers and with engineersSecurity Requirements:Must be a U.S. CitizenMust hold or be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearanceFor more information about U.S. security clearances: click here.Nice to have:Experience authorizing classified cloud environmentsExperience as an ISSM on maritime, uncrewed, or autonomy programsParticipation in the FedRAMP 20x pilot or similar automation-first authorization effortsExperience building an authorization program where none existed beforeFamiliarity with continuous ATO approaches and DoD risk management modernization effortsCertifications such as CISSP, CISM, CGRC, or CCSPAn active Top Secret clearanceCompensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.FOR US-BASED ROLES: Applied Intuition is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and interview experience to applicants who are disabled veterans and other applicants with disabilities or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations are available, requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy in any way, and you are not required to disclose the nature of your disability or medical condition in order to make a request. If you require an accommodation please contact [e-mail]. We will work with you!