Senior Cybersecurity Architect & Risk Advisor

QinetiQ US (formerly Avantus Federal); Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

QinetiQ US is seeking a highly technical Senior Cybersecurity SME/SCA to assess and secure complex, multi-domain systems. You will advise the AO, influence architecture, and ensure continuous risk determinations align with agency timelines and evolving threats.

The role requires deep engineering and integration experience, active TS clearance with SCI/SAP, and proficiency with RMF, DoD standards, and automated testing within Agile environments.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI and SAP accesses.
• 12+ years in IT, cybersecurity engineering, and A&A with increasing responsibility.
• Experience with SAP, SCI systems including PIT, cloud environments, and CDS.
• IA WIP Level III IAM/IAT certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM).
• Direct defense-ecosystem experience with rapid prototyping and Platform IT systems.

Responsibilities

• Engineering Technical Reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) to bake security in from design.
• DevSecOps alignment: integrate SAST/DAST and continuous compliance into Agile pipelines.
• Threat modeling during design to identify attack vectors and mitigations.
• Technical validation of vulnerability scans, STIGs, and pen test reports; translate findings to risk.
• RMF execution per NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 and related DoD/IC guidance.
• Evaluate security across PIT, hardware/software, networks, and satellite control systems.
• Zero Trust implementation across portfolios and CDS architecture considerations.
• Engage stakeholders and translate AO directives to engineers; liaise with DIB and SAP groups.

Skills

Threat modeling

RMF/A&A

DevSecOps

Systems integration

Education

Master's degree in Engineering, IT or Cybersecurity

Tools

SAST/DAST

ACAS/Nessus

STIG checklists

Penetration testing

Job description

QinetiQ US is seeking a highly technical Senior Cybersecurity SME/SCA to assess and secure complex, multi-domain systems. You will advise the AO, influence architecture, and ensure continuous risk determinations align with agency timelines and evolving threats.

The role requires deep engineering and integration experience, active TS clearance with SCI/SAP, and proficiency with RMF, DoD standards, and automated testing within Agile environments.