Senior Cybersecurity Engineer – Airborne Defense Platform

Shieldai; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer to lead cybersecurity activities for an airborne platform. You will integrate cybersecurity across avionics, mission systems, aircraft networks, and ground-support systems.

The role requires seven+ years in cybersecurity for mission-critical embedded systems, DoD RMF familiarity, and active U.S. clearance. Expect collaboration with engineering teams and suppliers to maintain safety and mission effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer engineering, electrical engineering, software engineering, systems engineering, or related field.
• Typically seven or more years of relevant cybersecurity or systems security experience.
• Experience with aircraft, aerospace, defense, or other mission-critical embedded systems.
• Knowledge of avionics, mission systems, platform networks, communications, or data links.
• Experience with threat modeling, secure system architecture, vulnerability analysis, and security testing.
• Familiarity with DoD RMF, NIST security guidance, cryptography, and key management.
• Strong technical leadership, writing, and customer communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.
• Cybersecurity experience on military aircraft, unmanned aircraft, or airborne mission systems.
• Familiarity with NIST SP 800-53, NIST SP 800-160, DO-326A, DO-355, and DO-356A.
• Experience with anti-tamper, program protection, supply-chain risk management, or cross-domain solutions.
• Experience supporting cyber testing, penetration testing, or adversarial assessments.
• Active U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop the platform’s cybersecurity architecture, requirements, and protection strategy.
• Perform threat modeling, vulnerability assessments, attack-surface analysis, and cyber risk assessments.
• Define protections for secure boot, authentication, access control, encryption, key management, software updates, and data communications.
• Apply defense-in-depth across aircraft systems, networks, radios, data links, and external interfaces.
• Lead DoD RMF activities and develop required authorization evidence.
• Evaluate hardware, software, firmware, and supplier designs for cybersecurity risks.
• Develop cybersecurity verification plans and support vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and cyber-resiliency testing.
• Coordinate risk mitigation and corrective actions with engineering teams, suppliers, customers, and program leadership.
• Ensure cybersecurity solutions support aircraft safety, availability, and mission effectiveness.

Skills

Threat modeling

Secure system architecture

Vulnerability analysis

Security testing

Technical leadership

Customer communication

RMF experience

NIST guidance knowledge

Writing skills

Security clearance ability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or related field

CISSP / Security+ / CEH / GIAC certifications

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer to lead cybersecurity activities for an airborne platform. You will integrate cybersecurity across avionics, mission systems, aircraft networks, and ground-support systems.

The role requires seven+ years in cybersecurity for mission-critical embedded systems, DoD RMF familiarity, and active U.S. clearance. Expect collaboration with engineering teams and suppliers to maintain safety and mission effectiveness.