Solutions Engineer

Carnegie Mellon University; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance

Health insurance

Transit pass

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University in Arlington, VA seeks a senior security architecture professional to lead, evaluate, and transition cyber resilience initiatives. The role emphasizes strategic guidance, collaboration with government program offices, and advancing SoS architectures and deployment strategies.

A PhD in CS&E is preferred, with senior-level project leadership and government-facing experience. You will drive security program design, mentor staff, and contribute to cross-disciplinary teams

Qualifications

• Background in security architectures and risk-based design.
• Experience communicating complex security concepts to senior leaders.
• Strong written and verbal communication in English.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic technical support to senior decision makers.
• Lead or contribute to teams developing and improving security architectures.
• Develop and analyze SoS architectures, requirements, and deployment guidance.
• Develop and evaluate AI/ML-based analytic techniques for cyber operations.
• Document current-state architectures and identify gaps and risks.
• Support Zero Trust and cyber resilience planning and implementation.
• Evaluate, pilot, and transition new technologies into operations.
• Develop roadmaps aligned with mission and business objectives.
• Assess organizational capabilities and architecture effectiveness.
• Establish domain expertise and collaborate with customers and vendors.
• Lead small to intermediate projects.

Skills

Security architectures

Zero Trust

Stakeholder collaboration

Public sector experience

Education

PhD in Computer Science & Engineering

Job description

Works on interdisciplinary teams by developing engineering guidance as well as applying and tailoring, as appropriate, SEI and non-SEI technologies and resources. Assesses gaps between available tools and resources.

Who We Are

You will work within the CERT Division of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI). Carnegie Mellon University’s SEI researches complex software engineering, cyber, and AI problems; creates and tests innovative technologies; and transitions mature solutions into practice for the Department of War (DoW) and federal government.

What We Do

The CERT Situational Awareness helps organizations, particularly those within the DoW, federal government, and critical infrastructure sectors, develop and maintain awareness of their cyber hybrid environments (cloud, on-premises, mobile), identify risks, and make informed decisions concerning cybersecurity, cyber resiliency, and cyber survivability. The team applies cybersecurity, systems engineering, and operational analysis techniques to understand complex architectures and the relationships among systems, missions, workflows, data, and stakeholders.

Position Summary

As a member of the team, you will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic technical support to senior decision makers.
• Leading or contributing to teams in the development, evaluation and improvement of security architectures.
• Developing and analyzing system of systems (SoS) architectures, systems requirements, engineering, analysis, technology evaluation and deployment guidance.
• Developing and evaluating advanced analytical techniques, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), behavioral analytics, and data-driven approaches for cyber operations.
• Documenting current-state architectures, identifying capability and coverage gaps, evaluating technology integration strategies, recommending security solutions, and developing mission threads/workflows.
• Supporting organizations in planning, assessing, and implementing Zero Trust and cyber resilience strategies.
• Evaluating, piloting, and transitioning new technologies into operational environments.
• Developing of cybersecurity, technology, and architecture roadmaps aligned with mission and business objectives.
• Assessing organizational capabilities, security architectures, operational processes, and cyber resilience to identify strengths, weaknesses, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Becoming a respected domain expert by customers, commercial vendors, and the Internet community.
• Contribute to diverse teams composed of colleagues, customers, and others, to deliver projects
• Occasionally acts in a managerial capacity by leading, mentoring, and motivating less-senior staff.
• Leads small to intermediate projects.

Requirements

• BS with eight (8) years or MS with five (5) years or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Willingness to travel to various locations to support the SEI’s overall mission. This includes within the SEI and CMU community, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings on occasion. Moderate Travel (20%).
• You will be subject to a background check and must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Department of War security clearance.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to present technical topics to audiences from senior leadership to technical experts.
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders to promote practical solutions to tough security problems.
• Strong understanding of networking, security, systems administration, programming, and/or cloud.
• Strong research and writing skills.
• Ability to work at the SoS architecture level to identify and understand tradeoffs of various approaches.
• Experience working with the government, or within a critical infrastructure sector.

Desired Experience

• PhD in Computer Science & Engineering, System Engineering or related discipline with two (2) years of experience in cybersecurity/network operations, model-based system engineering (MBSE), or workflow/process analysis or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Enterprise/system-of-systems/system/security architecture
• Security operations deploying or supporting large-scale network security monitoring infrastructures.
• Security research
• Programming or software engineering
• Networking
• Testing
• Prior responsibility in leading a body of work consisting of numerous large-scale projects and multiple customers or external sponsors.
• History of contributions to the broader industry or research community and experience in a variety of network security areas.

Job Function Breakdown

75% Lead support to government program offices in the areas of strategy; process/policies; requirements elicitation; design and architecture; operations; outreach; and training.

15% Enable the transition and appropriate focus of situational awareness analysis and engineering approaches and tools into operational environments.

10% Design, prototype, and transition tactical analysis studies and tools appropriate for operational use in situational awareness.

100% total effort

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Location

Arlington, VA, Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Software/Applications Development/Engineering

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.
• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits
• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.
• Statement of Assurance