Senior Systems Security Engineer (SSE)

Integration Innovation, Inc.; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Integration Innovation, Inc. (i3) seeks a Senior Systems Security Engineer to lead integration of SCRM and program protection for a missiles portfolio.

You will shape secure design principles, anti-tamper solutions, and cryptographic protections across the system lifecycle. As the technical authority, you will mentor engineers, translate risk into actionable plans, and ensure alignment with RMF and DoD cybersecurity policies, supporting procurement, design, and development paths within a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 10+ years of professional experience in systems security engineering, with a direct focus on DoD weapon systems or critical defense infrastructure protection.
• Active Top Secret security clearance, with eligibility for SCI highly preferred.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Deep technical expertise in anti-tamper (AT) technologies, hardware/software/firmware assurance, cryptography, and secure system design.
• Familiarity with program protection concepts and the role of Systems Security Engineering within DoD acquisition.
• Thorough understanding of DoD Instruction 5200.44 (Protection of Mission Critical Functions).
• Comprehensive knowledge of DoW/SCRM integration and DoD acquisition lifecycle.
• Strong interpersonal and briefing skills for executive audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the Program Protection Plan (PPP) and ensure its tenets are integrated into the SEP and system architecture.
• Architect, design, and oversee integration of security controls, anti-tamper measures, secure boot, and cryptographic components across the SDLC.
• Serve as lead technical advisor on hardware, software, and firmware assurance including supply chain risk assessments.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate vulnerabilities in CPI and mission-critical functions.
• Assist in decomposing weapon system architectures to identify CPI and vulnerable nodes.
• Conduct complex weapons systems supply chain maps and monitor SCRM risks.
• Analyze supply chain threat intelligence to inform risk impacts for stakeholders.
• Coordinate with cybersecurity teams to align program protection with RMF and DoD policies.
• Direct program protection working groups across engineers, cybersecurity, and logistics teams.
• Provide guidance and mentorship on emerging threats and countermeasures.

Skills

Systems security engineering

DoD RMF alignment

SCRM

Anti-tamper design

Cryptography

Threat assessment

Lead technical advisor

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering or related field

Master’s degree in Systems Engineering / Electrical Engineering

Job description

We are seeking a highly experienced and technically authoritative Senior, Systems Security Engineer (SSE) to lead the integration of Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) and program protection principles into a complex missiles portfolio.

The Senior SSE acts as the primary technical authority responsible for ensuring that critical defense systems are architected, designed, and sustained to be resilient against advanced persistent threats (APTs) and malicious insertions within hardware, software, and firmware supply chains. In this role, you will establish secure design principles, anti-tamper solutions, and cryptographic protections.

Operating as a strategic technical advisor and mentor to engineering staff, you will bridge the gap between high-level program protection plans and concrete engineering execution to safeguard vulnerable nodes across all procurement, design, and development paths.

• Lead the development and implementation of the Program Protection Plan (PPP) and ensure its tenets are seamlessly integrated into the Systems Engineering Plan (SEP) and overall system architecture.


• Architect, design, and oversee the integration of robust security controls, anti-tamper measures, secure boot, and cryptographic components throughout the entire system development lifecycle (SDLC).


• Serve as the lead technical advisor on all matters related to hardware, software, and firmware assurance, including conducting and reviewing component-level supply chain risk assessments.


• Direct the identification, assessment, and mitigation of vulnerabilities in Critical Program Information (CPI) and mission-critical functions.


• Support the decomposition of complex weapon systems architectures to identify CPI and vulnerable nodes.


• Conduct complex weapons systems supply chain maps and identify and monitor SCRM risks and vulnerabilities.


• Oversee the analysis of supply chain threat intelligence to assess and articulate the potential mission impact of identified risks to technical and non-technical stakeholders.


• Interface closely with cybersecurity teams to ensure full alignment of program protection measures with the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and DoW cybersecurity policies.


• Direct program protection working groups consisting of Systems Engineers, Cybersecurity Analysts, Traditional Security Officers, Anti-Tamper Evaluation Teams, and SCRM representatives.


• Provide expert technical guidance and mentorship to program managers, systems security engineers, design engineers, software developers, and logistics personnel on emerging threats and countermeasures.


• Prepare decision-ready technical reports, executive briefs, and mitigation plans translating complex supply chain risks into clearly defined operational and mission impacts.


• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.


• Minimum of 10+ years of professional experience in systems security engineering, with a direct focus on DoW weapon systems or critical defense infrastructure protection. Strong background in systems engineering principles, risk management, and the defense acquisition lifecycle.


• Active Top Secret security clearance, with eligibility for SCI highly preferred. Must be able to maintain the security clearance required for this position.


• U.S. Citizenship required.


• Deep technical expertise in anti-tamper (AT) technologies, hardware/software/firmware assurance, cryptography, and secure system design.


• Familiarity with program protection concepts and the role of Systems Security Engineering within DoW acquisition.


• Comprehensive knowledge of DoW Instruction 5200.44 (Protection of Mission Critical Functions).


• Thorough understanding of the interplay between SCRM, SSE, and the DoW acquisition lifecycle.


• Exceptional executive communication, briefing, and negotiation skills.


• Demonstrated ability to translate complex engineering risks into clear, actionable, and decision-ready briefings for non-technical leadership.


• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities.

Preferred (Desirable)

• Advanced Education Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a relevant engineering discipline.


• Certifications CISSP with Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP) concentration is highly desired.


• Relevant DAWIA certifications in Engineering or Systems Engineering are a plus.


• Specialized ExperienceDirect experience designing, implementing, or assessing protection measures for Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) and ACAT I/II level DoW programs.

Founded in 2007, Integration Innovation, Inc. (i3) is headquartered in Huntsville, AL, with additional offices in Orlando, FL, and the National Capital Region. We are a 100% team member-owned mid-tier integrator with over 800 employee-owners, and our culture speaks for itself we've earned ten Best Places to Work awards, driven by strong employee engagement, transparent leadership, and a genuine commitment to communication.

i3 team members operate at the leading edge of national defense across a broad range of technical disciplines, from systems and software engineering to modeling, simulation, and training solutions to cybersecurity, digital engineering, and enterprise IT. We also take products from prototype through production, bringing that same engineering rigor to manufacturing and delivering hardware at scale. For candidates, that means a rare opportunity the innovation and mission focus of an engineering services company paired with the hands-on impact of building and delivering real solutions that benefit the Warfighter, all inside an employee-owned company where your contributions directly shape both the mission and your ownership stake in the business.