Senior Crypto Security Engineer

SAIC; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 160,001 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC is seeking a motivated Cryptography Subject Matter Expert to join our team in El Segundo, CA. You will lead cryptographic development for space and ground systems within the MILSATCOM SE&I framework, working on mission-critical encryption solutions.

Expected to bring 15+ years in systems engineering with crypto and 10+ years in crypto and NSA-related processes, along with strong leadership and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance required.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of systems engineering experience (crypto, cyber security, verification, integration, test).
• 10+ years experience with crypto, NSA certification processes, and Key Management.
• 5+ years experience with DoD/IC space and ground.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise in development, integration, and delivery of space and ground cryptographic units.
• Lead crypto unit trade studies, evaluating candidates against requirements and interfaces; deliver data-driven recommendations.
• Oversee design, interfaces, development, and delivery of encryption units, ensuring compatibility with subsystems and standards.
• Manage crypto design and delivery with ground systems, mission operations, and secure architectures.
• Support testing activities for encryption units including test plans, procedures, and reports; participate in reviews.
• Provide PKMA support including secure key management processes and architecture alignment.
• Build strong relationships with government customers, contractors, and partners; represent crypto engineering in reviews and meetings.
• Lead and mentor engineers from junior to mid-level, including task assignments and reviews.
• Oversee crypto lifecycle management and alignment with program schedules and constraints.
• Establish and enforce cryptographic standards across programs.

Skills

Crypto experience

Systems engineering

Clearance TS/SCI

Leadership/mentoring

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Job description

SAIC is seeking a motivated and experienced Cryptography Subject Matter Expert to join our team in El Segundo, CA. SAIC is a sub‑contractor on the Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) Systems Engineering, Integration and Test (MSEIT) contract.

The MSEIT effort provides leading‑edge Systems Engineering & Integration (SE&I) for the United States Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC). We acquire state‑of‑the‑art Military and Commercial Satellite Communications (SATCOM) systems, providing global, secure, survivable, and protected communications for our nation’s warfighters. We seek technical individuals who will thrive in a highly collaborative work environment of small teams, using the most modern tools and methodologies to tackle the challenges of integrating complex space and ground communications systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise in the development, integration, and delivery of both space and ground cryptographic units, ensuring all solutions align with mission objectives and system requirements.
• Lead spacecraft cryptographic unit trade studies, evaluating candidate solutions against requirements, interface constraints, environmental considerations, performance criteria, and testability. Deliver clear, data‑driven recommendations to program leadership and customers.
• Oversee the technical design, interface definition, development, and delivery of needed encryption units, including hardware and firmware. Ensure compatibility with subsystems and compliance with mission, cybersecurity, and interface standards.
• Manage technical design, interface definition, development, and delivery of needed encryption units, ensuring proper integration with ground systems, mission operations, and secure architectures.
• Support and oversee all testing activities for encryption units including dry runs and SVT. Ensure successful completion of verification and validation campaigns by developing or reviewing test plans, procedures, and reports. Participate in TRRs, dry run, SVTs, participate in CDRL review, address anomalies, and ensure full requirement traceability.
• Provide supplemental support for Protected Key Management Architecture (PKMA) including secure key management processes, documentation, and architecture alignment.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with government customers, contractors, subcontractors, and FFRDC partners. Represent the crypto engineering function in design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and program‑level forums.
• Lead and mentor engineers (junior to mid‑level), including task assignment, technical reviews, and professional development.
• Oversee crypto lifecycle management. Manage technical scope, priorities, and dependencies for cryptographic tasks within program schedules and constraints.
• Establish and enforce cryptographic standards and best practices across programs and platforms.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance is required.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Understanding of the discipline and practice of Systems Engineering throughout the system lifecycle phases of concept, development, production, operations, and sustainment.
• 15+ years of experience with systems engineering, which may include crypto, cyber security, requirements development, verification, integration, and test.
• 10+ years experience with crypto, NSA certification processes, and Key Management processes.
• 5+ years experience with military or DoD or Intelligence Community space and ground.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products, such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong oral and written communication and presentation skills; able to author final‑version deliverable technical documents and reports.

Desired

• Bachelor’s degree in technical field, such as engineering, mathematics, physics, information systems, information technology, or computer science.
• Master’s degree.
• Familiarity with Jira and Confluence.
• Experience with NSA’s Key Management Infrastructure (KMI).
• Experience with HAIPEs and cross‑domain solutions (CDS).
• Certifications, such as CISSP, SANS, CEH, INCOSE CSEP or ESEP, OCSMP (MBSE).

Target salary range $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.