Candidates MUST:

Have the ability to full-time on-site in McLean, VA AND

have the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance (three years continuous U.S. residency required) and a valid drivers license

Why This Role Matters

The Mid-Level OT/IT Network & Cybersecurity Engineer owns STOLs operational technology (OT) and IT network and testbed infrastructure, and its OT and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) cybersecurity posture, applying that foundation to support the labs connected-vehicle testing and experiments  keeping these systems reliable, secure, and ready for research and high-visibility demonstrations.

Youll sit within the labs Operations team and work across a matrix organization, partnering with researchers and project engineers to support testing campaigns and demonstrations. Your work directly enables STOLs connected-vehicle research and national transportation initiatives.

Role Overview & Priority Focus Areas

Two closely related primary disciplines, in priority order, with testing and experiment support woven through both:

OT/IT Network Engineering & Testbed Operations  design, build, operate, and secure the networks and physical testbed infrastructure underpinning the labs connected-vehicle and infrastructure research.

OT Cybersecurity Posture & Operations  establish and operate a lab-wide security posture that keeps the research environment sound and, by design, enables the labs transportation cybersecurity research.

We expect strong hands-on OT/IT networking as the foundation, with security posture and operations as a closely paired second focus; V2X depth is valued and can be grown into. Why youll want it: access to a one-of-a-kind connected-vehicle testbed and real-world deployments, direct contribution to USDOT/FHWA initiatives, and a clear path to grow at the rare intersection of OT networking, V2X, and cybersecurity.

What Youll Do

Network Engineering & Testbed Operations

Design, build, and operate the OT/IT networks underpinning the testbeds  VLAN segmentation, firewall/ACL and routing, wireless distribution, the fiber/copper cabling plant, and backhaul to field-deployed roadside units (RSUs), edge nodes, and remote sites (C-V2X PC5/Uu, 5G NR, Wi-Fi).

Own day-to-day testbed and Smart Garage operations  commissioning and maintaining RSUs, onboard units (OBUs), signal controllers, edge platforms, and network hardware, and resolving issues across connectivity, latency, protocols, and hardware in lab and field.

Maintain accurate network documentation, precise time synchronization (PTP/IEEE 1588, NTP, GPS), and reliable edge-to-analytics data movement  all essential to reproducible experiment data.

OT Cybersecurity Posture & Operations

Establish and maintain a lab-wide OT security posture, applying relevant frameworks (e.g., NIST SP 800-82/800-53) with judgment where the research environment or task orders call for them  not as a blanket compliance program  including defense-in-depth segmentation (IT/OT DMZ, bastion hosts, filtering) via the Purdue Model or IEC 62443.

Stand up and operate V2X security capabilities (PKI and SCMS credentialing) and run OT-appropriate vulnerability assessment and intrusion/anomaly monitoring, coordinating remediation with program security.

Build and maintain a security environment that enables the labs transportation cybersecurity research and keep practical incident-response procedures and cybersecurity reviews current.

Testing & Experiment Support

Apply your network and security skills to support concurrent R&D projects  translating research requirements into testbed configurations and instrumentation, and keeping environments in known, repeatable states for valid results.

Support test scenarios, in-vehicle and roadside instrumentation, and the technical preparation and execution of lab tours, live demonstrations, and field testing.

Operational Safety & Compliance

Uphold the labs safety posture in daily operations  ensuring IT, OT, and cybersecurity work follows safety procedures across routine operations, testing, and special events, with change-control for reconfigurations, deployments, and firmware updates.

Treat OT cybersecurity as safety-critical, apply domain-specific safety practices (RF, electrical/cabling, on-road and closed-course protocols), and partner with facilities on power, environmental controls, and cable management.

Desired Qualifications

We encourage candidates who meet most  but not necessarily all  of these to apply; depth in OT/IT networking is the foundation, and cybersecurity and V2X depth can be partly grown into.

Education & Experience

Bachelors degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Network Engineering, Computer Science, IT, or a related technical field with 48 years of hands-on experience in OT/IT networking, R&D, industrial, or field-deployed systems  OR a technical associates degree with 7+ years. Equivalent demonstrated experience is considered in lieu of a degree.

4+ years designing, deploying, and administering OT or IT/OT converged networks (managed switching/routing, VLAN segmentation, VPN, firewall rules), including OT/ICS or research-testbed environments with field-deployed devices.

Command of infrastructure fundamentals: fiber/copper cabling, network/RF diagrams, time synchronization (NTP, PTP/IEEE 1588, GPS), and comfort with Linux for device administration and scripting.

Working knowledge of C-V2X (PC5/Uu) for connected-vehicle communication, or strong aptitude to acquire it quickly.

OT Cybersecurity Posture

Holistic understanding of OT/ICS security requirements and how to apply the right controls (NIST SP 800-82/800-53, Purdue Model or IEC 62443) to a transportation research environment, with judgment about where they are needed; plus familiarity with the OT threat landscape and PKI/SCMS for V2X credentialing.

Awareness of how cybersecurity relates to functional safety in automated systems.

Professional & Work Requirements

Strong written and verbal communication for documentation and stakeholder briefings, with the organization to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Hands-on work in lab, garage, and field settings (lifting up to 50 lbs; occasional off-hours for testing and events, with reasonable scheduling flexibility in return).

Preferred Qualifications

Certifications such as CCNA/CCNP, Security+, CySA+, or GICSP; ICS/SCADA security training (e.g., SANS ICS515); hands-on RSU platform experience (Savari, Cohda Wireless, Commsignia, Kapsch) with SCMS enrollment; C-V2X (PC5) and 5G NR; SAE J2735 and SAE J3161 (C-V2X); OT monitoring tools (Claroty, Dragos, Nozomi); and experience supporting federally funded R&D or government contracting.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $110,000  $130,000 per year (commensurate with experience). Eligible for the companys comprehensive benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plan, and paid time off.

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.