Senior Cybersecurity Engineer / Security Architect (MLS & High-Assurance Systems)

Paychex Inc.; Maryland; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Eccalon seeks a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer / Security Architect to define, implement, and evaluate MLS-based security for high-assurance systems. You will lead security definitions, evaluate technologies, and mentor junior staff in a mission-critical environment.

Ideal candidates have eight+ years in information protection, MLS experience, and strong hands-on skills in PKI, cryptography, and secure architecture aligned with NIST CSF and CMMI requirements.

Qualifications

• Eight or more years designing and governing security programs for sensitive or classified information.
• Experience performing IT risk assessments, threat analysis, and security controls evaluations.
• Ability to work independently and as a senior technical resource on cybersecurity initiatives.
• Experience coaching and mentoring junior technical staff.

Responsibilities

• Define and document security requirements for high-assurance systems.
• Evaluate security technologies for classified or sensitive environments.
• Design and implement MLS-compliant security solutions.
• Conduct cybersecurity risk assessments aligned to NIST CSF and CMMI.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers and analysts.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align security with mission and operations.

Skills

MLS expertise

Security architecture

NIST CSF

CMMI

Risk assessments

Mentoring

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, CS, IS, Business

Tools

PKI

Cryptography

MLS architectures

Job description

Senior Cybersecurity Engineer / Security Architect (MLS & High-Assurance Systems)

EOE Statement Eccalon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

EEO is the law.

Category Cybersecurity

The Senior Cybersecurity Engineer / Security Architect is responsible for defining, implementing, and evaluating advanced cybersecurity solutions for high-assurance environments supporting sensitive and classified information. This role requires deep expertise in multilevel security (MLS), security architecture, and risk management, with a strong foundation in NIST and CMMI-aligned cybersecurity programs. The individual will operate independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing technical leadership, mentoring junior staff, and delivering defensible security solutions for complex systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and document security requirements for high-assurance systems and applications.
• Evaluate security technologies and products to ensure suitability for classified or sensitive environments
• Design and implement MLS-compliant security solutions addressing complex data separation and access control challenges.
• Conduct and support cybersecurity risk assessments aligned to NIST CSF and CMMI maturity models.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and subject-matter expertise to junior engineers and analysts.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure security solutions align with mission, compliance, and operational needs.

Required Qualifications

Core Cyber Security & Information Protection Experience

• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in information protection, including the design, implementation, and governance of security programs or processes for the protection of sensitive or classified information.
• Demonstrated experience performing IT risk assessments, threat analysis, and security control evaluations in complex enterprise or government environments.
• Proven ability to work independently or under general supervision, contributing as a senior technical resource on cybersecurity initiatives.
• Experience coaching and mentoring junior technical staff, providing guidance in highly specialized security disciplines.

Security Architecture & Requirements Definition

• At least eight (8) years of specialized experience in:
  • Defining computer security requirements for high-level or mission-critical applications.
  • Evaluating and validating approved security product capabilities.
  • Designing and implementing solutions to Multilevel Security (MLS) problems.
• Hands-on experience translating mission, system, and regulatory requirements into enforceable security architectures and technical controls.

Frameworks, Standards, and Maturity Models

• Demonstrated experience supporting or delivering cybersecurity projects aligned to:
  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF)
  • Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)
• Hands-on experience translating mission, system, and regulatory requirements into enforceable security architectures and technical controls.

Specialized Technical Disciplines

• Penetration testing and adversarial security assessments.
• Intrusion detection, security monitoring, and audit log analysis.
• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and certificate-based trust models.
• Cryptography and cryptographic key management.
• Strong authentication mechanisms and identity assurance.
• Multilevel Security (MLS) architectures and trusted systems design.

Bachelor’sdegreefromanaccreditedcollegeoruniversityinEngineering,ComputerScience,InformationSystems,Business,oracloselyrelateddiscipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in complex, high-risk environments.
• Ability to communicate technical security concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience operating in regulated, government, or defense-related environments.

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Exempt/Non-Exempt Exempt

About the Organization

Eccalon provides global solutions to the most challenging technological issues of the 21st-century, and our evolving portfolio spans five major markets: Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Aerospace & Defense, Material Sciences, Advance Manufacturing, Sports Science, Biotechnology, and Health & Life Sciences.

Why Join Us?

Eccalon's Executives foster a supportive work environment allowing our teams to thrive, and have a fierce dedication to innovation, security, and people. Our culture is built on inclusion, teamwork, trust, and we are committed to offering career advancement opportunities to all employees. Encouraging a healthy and balanced life, we offer an extensive benefits package to support the wellness of our employees and their families. You will be joining a team of innovators, working with cutting edge technologies, supporting mission critical projects, and making an impact.

This position is currently accepting applications.