Senior Systems Engineer - Cybersecurity Software

General Dynamics Mission Systems; Manassas (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Flexible time off

Parental leave

Healthcare benefits

Hybrid and flexible work options

Job summary

General Dynamics Mission Systems in Manassas, VA, seeks a Senior Systems Engineer specialized in cybersecurity for software delivering mission-critical Navy computer systems. You will work with customers to understand needs, develop software requirements, and collaborate with software and test teams to ensure solutions meet security objectives.

The role emphasizes understanding attack methods, designing mitigations, and contributing to system security and accreditation efforts, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering or related field with minimum 8 years of experience; or Master's degree with minimum 6 years of experience.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance or ability to obtain; U.S. citizenship required.
• Experience converting customer needs into verifiable software requirements and working with software/test teams.
• Cybersecurity knowledge covering attack vectors, vulnerabilities, adversary techniques, and practical mitigations.
• Familiarity with ICD 503, NIST SP 800-53, JSIG, DoD 8500 series guidance; capability to work with DoD cybersecurity standards.
• Strong technical writing and communication to explain complex cybersecurity topics to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Experience in an Agile environment and proficiency with Microsoft Office products.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the cybersecurity subject matter expert for assigned software capabilities and provide guidance to customers and engineering teams.
• Understand mission needs, environments, threats, and product priorities with customers.
• Develop clear, verifiable low-level software requirements translating customer needs into implementable capabilities.
• Analyze architectures, interfaces, data flows, attack vectors, and vulnerabilities to inform design decisions.
• Recommend capabilities and mitigations to prevent, detect, or reduce cybersecurity risks.
• Collaborate with software engineers to evaluate approaches and design tradeoffs.
• Partner with test engineers to define verification criteria and confirm delivered capabilities meet needs.
• Maintain requirements traceability through development, testing, and delivery.
• Stay current on cybersecurity news and emerging threats; assess implications for the product.
• Develop and review systems engineering, cybersecurity, and accreditation documentation as needed.
• Communicate findings, risks, and progress to customers and stakeholders.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers in area of expertise.

Skills

Cybersecurity expertise

Systems engineering

Customer collaboration

Threat analysis

Technical writing

Agile environment

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

DoD guidance knowledge

Education

Bachelor's in Systems Engineering

Master’s degree

Job description

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering or Mathematics field, plus a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree, plus a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience.

Clearance Requirements

Department of Defense Secret security clearance is obtainable within a reasonable amount of time after hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.

Responsibilities for this Position

Role and Position Objectives

As a Senior Systems Engineer, you will serve as a cybersecurity subject matter expert for software delivered to mission-critical U.S. Navy computer systems. You will work with customers to understand their operational and cybersecurity needs, develop detailed software requirements, and collaborate with software and test engineers to ensure the delivered product meets those needs.

This role is for an engineer who enjoys understanding how systems can be attacked and designing software capabilities that help prevent, detect, or mitigate those attacks. You will bring a strong interest in system design and an active curiosity about emerging threats, vulnerabilities, exploits, and cybersecurity practices. Your work will support the security, resilience, and accreditation of systems important to our nation's defense.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the cybersecurity subject matter expert for assigned software capabilities, providing technical guidance to customers and engineering teams.
• Work with customers to understand mission needs, operational environments, cybersecurity threats, and product priorities.
• Develop clear, detailed, and verifiable low-level software requirements that translate customer needs into capabilities the software team can implement.
• Analyze system architectures, interfaces, data flows, attack vectors, and vulnerabilities to inform requirements and design decisions.
• Recommend software capabilities and technical mitigations that prevent, detect, or reduce cybersecurity risks.
• Collaborate with software engineers to evaluate technical approaches and design tradeoffs.
• Partner with test engineers to define verification criteria, resolve requirement questions, and confirm that delivered capabilities meet customer needs.
• Maintain requirements traceability through development, integration, testing, and delivery.
• Stay current on relevant cybersecurity news, emerging exploits, adversary techniques, and defensive technologies; assess their implications for the product.
• Develop and review systems engineering, cybersecurity, and accreditation documentation as needed.
• Communicate technical findings, risks, recommendations, and progress to customers, program stakeholders, and engineering teams.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers within your area of expertise.

What Sets You Apart

We encourage you to apply if you bring several of the following skills or experiences:

• Strong systems engineering experience with software, including developing and managing detailed, verifiable software requirements.
• Experience working directly with customers to turn operational needs into technical requirements and deliverable capabilities.
• Cybersecurity expertise grounded in how attacks work, including familiarity with attack vectors, vulnerabilities, adversary techniques, and practical mitigations.
• Interest or experience in secure system design and in shaping cybersecurity software capabilities throughout development.
• Ability to work effectively with software and test engineers to clarify expected behavior, evaluate technical tradeoffs, and verify outcomes.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity capabilities such as access control, auditing, network security, intrusion prevention, encryption, or vulnerability detection.
• A genuine interest in staying current with cybersecurity research, news, emerging exploits, and defensive practices.
• Experience applying ICD 503, NIST SP 800-53, the DoD Joint Special Access Program Implementation Guide (JSIG), the DoD 8500 series, or comparable DoD cybersecurity guidance.
• Experience with threat analysis, risk assessment, requirements traceability, or accreditation support.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills, including the ability to explain complex cybersecurity topics to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Experience working in an Agile environment and proficiency with Microsoft Office products.

Our Commitment to You

• A rewarding career path with opportunities for continuous learning, professional development, and increased technical responsibility.
• Opportunities to grow into broader systems engineering leadership roles.
• Research-oriented work alongside award-winning teams developing practical solutions for our nation's security.
• Flexible schedules, including the option for every other Friday off through a 9/80 schedule.
• Competitive benefits, including 401(k) matching, flexible time off, paid parental leave, healthcare benefits, health and wellness programs, employee resource groups, social groups, and more.

Learn more at gdmissionsystems.com/careers/why-work-for-us/benefits.

Workplace Options

This position is primarily on-site, with the opportunity for hybrid and flexible work options available. When working on-site, you will join the General Dynamics Mission Systems team in Manassas, Virginia.

Target salary range: USD $149,902.00/Yr. - USD $166,298.00/Yr.

Company Overview

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans