Senior Systems Security Engineer (SSE)

i3; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

i3, Integration Innovation, Inc., in Huntsville, AL, seeks a Senior Systems Security Engineer to lead the integration of supply chain risk management and program protection into a complex missile portfolio. You will act as the technical authority for secure design, anti-tamper, and cryptographic protections across the development lifecycle.

You will mentor engineering staff, translate complex risks into actionable briefings for leadership, and ensure alignment with RMF and DoD cybersecurity

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years in systems security engineering with DoD weapon systems or critical defense infrastructure.
• Active Top Secret clearance, SCI eligibility preferred; US citizenship required.
• Deep expertise in anti-tamper, hardware/software/firmware assurance, cryptography, secure design.
• Knowledge of SCRM, SSE, RMF and DoD acquisition lifecycle.
• Strong briefing and negotiation skills; ability to translate risks for leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead PPP development and integrate PPP tenets into SEP and system architecture.
• Architect security controls, anti-tamper, secure boot, and cryptographic components across SDLC.
• Serve as lead technical advisor for hardware, software, firmware assurance and CPI.
• Identify and mitigate CPI vulnerabilities; map weapon system architectures for CPI.
• Oversee SCRM activities, threat intelligence analysis, and risk monitoring.
• Coordinate with cybersecurity to align program protection with RMF and DoD policies.
• Direct program protection Working Groups and mentor engineers and managers.

Skills

Security engineering

SCRM

Program protection

DoD acquisition

APTs defense

Cryptography

Communication

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

CISSP/ISSEP

DAWIA certifications

Job description

Overview

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

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

About i3

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.