Senior System Security Engineer

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. in Cambridge, MA seeks a Senior System Security Engineer to support secure platforms, resist cyber threats, and ensure robust systems engineering across hardware, software, and cryptography domains.

Responsibilities include designing security architecture, implementing protective measures, mentoring engineers, and coordinating with cross-disciplinary teams. Requires bachelor’s degree in engineering and 5–10 years of related experience; master’s preferred.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field with strong systems security exposure.
• Master’s degree preferred with focus on security.
• Experience in secure systems development lifecycle and cryptography is desirable.
• Familiarity with DoD/Gov security requirements and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement security measures to protect information, networks, and systems.
• Design cybersecurity architecture and document system security requirements.
• Guide teams and manage priorities, scope, cost, and schedule.
• Mentor engineers and contribute high-quality technical content for reports.
• Identify and mitigate program-level security risks across lifecycles.

Skills

System security engineering

Cybersecurity architecture

Leadership and mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

DOORS

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

The Secure Solutions Group within the System’s Engineering Directorate is seeking a Senior System Security Engineer to support engineering, integrating, and deploying trustworthy secure platforms that resist cyber, reverse engineering, and supply chain threats. The group has multidisciplinary proficiencies in secure systems architecture, hardware security and resilience, software security and resilience, system validation and accreditation, and cryptography.

Specific Responsibilities

• Work with cross disciplinary team of system, hardware, and software engineers to support program execution.
• Communicate with program members, program offices, and sponsors to present work to the technical and evaluation community.
• Bring a systems engineering prospective to support development system architectures for secure solutions.
• Support analysis of Draper, customer, and sponsor developed systems to evaluate effectiveness and suitability.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Develop, execute and track the performance of security measures to protect information and network infrastructure and computer systems.
• Design computer security strategy and engineer comprehensive cybersecurity architecture.
• Identify, define and document system security requirements and recommend solutions to management.
• Configure, troubleshoot and maintain security infrastructure software and hardware.
• Install software that monitors systems and networks for security breaches and intrusions.
• Monitor systems for irregular behavior and set up preventive measures.
• Plan, develop, implement and update company’s information security strategy.
• Educate and train staff on information system security best practices.
• Able to take ownership of assignments and guide others as needed; successfully lead tasks while tracking priorities, scope, cost and schedule.
• Derive plans and approaches to solving complex problems across a program lifecycle, capturing all assumptions and adapting appropriately to changes in requirements with limited direction.
• Independently contributes high quality content for technical reports and presentations which shows an understanding of their task and an awareness of the intended audience. Demonstrates both confidence and success when presenting technical information during meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify program/system-level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies for them.
• Actively mentor less experienced engineers and provide thoughtful, constructive feedback.

Skills and Abilities

• Curiosity-driven approach to solving complex, industry and customer-driven problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members. program leadership, and non-technical personnel
• Team player able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands.

Education

Requires a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field. Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• Bachelor's degree requires 5-10 years' experience of working on System Security Engineer or other relevant position.
• Master's degree requires 3-5 years' experience of working on System Security Engineer or other relevant position.

Additional Qualifications

• Proficiency in full life-cycle systems engineering (architecture, design, development, integration, approval, and deployment) of security technologies and components within cyber-physical systems and systems-of-systems.
• Experience in the design and implementation of secured systems based on system requirements, design analysis, and consideration of external vectors.
• Familiarity with processes and technologies for identification of critical program information and development of the associated program protection plans.
• Experience in the development of System Security documentation per Government requirements.
• Familiarity with developing and implementing Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs).
• Understanding of supply chain operations, risk management framework, information assurance, technology protection.
• Familiarity with the processes and technologies for cross-domain products, including secured firmware solutions and microelectronics.
• An understanding of the fundamentals of cryptographic key management, public key infrastructure, and NSA’s Key Management Infrastructure, and the applications of cryptology.
• Experience in writing innovative R&D proposals to commercial and government sponsors.
• Familiarity with DOORS, MATLAB, and/or Python.
• Flexibility to multi-task and adapt to changing priorities, technologies, and program needs.

Security Requirements

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance. Current in-scope Secret security clearance required, Top Secret preferred.

Job Location

City: Cambridge

State: Massachusetts

Postal Code: 02139-3563

Salary

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $82,300.00 - $220,000.00

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant experience or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Benefits and Work Life

Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].

Company Culture

We are in the business of redefining what is possible.

Join our inclusive multidisciplinary team to engineer the groundbreaking solutions of tomorrow.

Explore life at Draper with our unique culture and benefits at draper.com.