Leonardo DRS

Principal Cyber Engineer

Leonardo DRS$150K — $203K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Assurance, or related field; advanced degree is a plus.
  • 8+ years of experience in cybersecurity engineering for DoD or federal systems.
  • Hands-on expertise with vulnerability/cyber scanning tools (e.g., ACAS, Nessus, SCAP).
  • Mastery of STIG implementation and hardening across various platforms.
  • Experience leading systems through ATO/RMF process including SSPs and POA&Ms.
  • DoD 8570/8140 IAT/IAM certification required or to be obtained within a specified timeframe.
  • Strong mentoring and technical leadership experience.

Responsibilities

  • Own the cybersecurity engineering strategy and standards for vulnerability management and compliance.
  • Lead vulnerability scanning activities and remediation across systems and networks.
  • Implement and validate STIGs for hardware, software, and network baselines.
  • Manage the end-to-end ATO process with various stakeholders for accreditation.
  • Drive concurrent cybersecurity assessment activities on time and within budget.
  • Develop System Security Plans (SSPs) and related RMF/ATO documentation.
  • Analyze architectures to proactively identify security risks and suggest mitigations.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision.
  • Employer matching 401(k) retirement plan.
  • Paid time off for vacation, holidays, and sick leave, plus parental leave benefits.
  • Tuition reimbursement and professional development support.
  • Wellness programs that promote physical, emotional, and financial well-being.
  • Flexible work schedules under the 9/80 program.
  • Community service hours and life/disability insurance coverage.
Full Job Description
Job ID: 115287

Business Unit: DRS RADA Technologies
Location: Germantown, MD

Relocation: Available
Career Functional Area: Engineering
Schedule: 9/80
Shift: 1st

About the Role

We're hiring a Cyber Engineer 4 to lead cybersecurity engineering across our radar programs - owning vulnerability scanning, STIG compliance, and the Authorization to Operate (ATO) process from initial assessment through accreditation. This is a senior technical leadership role for someone who can set cyber strategy, drive audits and assessments, and mentor engineers while ensuring our systems meet DoD security requirements.

What You'll Do

Lead Cybersecurity Strategy
  • Own cybersecurity engineering strategy across programs, setting standards for vulnerability management, hardening, and compliance
  • Lead vulnerability scanning activities (e.g., ACAS/Nessus) across systems, networks, and endpoints, and drive remediation of findings
  • Lead implementation and validation of STIGs (Security Technical Implementation Guides) across hardware, software, and network baselines
  • Own the ATO process end-to-end - coordinating with ISSMs/ISSOs, Authorizing Officials, and program stakeholders to achieve and maintain accreditation
  • Serve as the technical authority for resolving the most complex security findings and compliance gaps


Drive Technical Delivery
  • Drive cybersecurity assessment and accreditation activities to completion on time and within budget, often across multiple concurrent programs
  • Develop and maintain System Security Plans (SSPs), Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms), and supporting RMF/ATO documentation
  • Analyze system architectures to identify security risks early and drive mitigation strategy
  • Document security control implementation, test results, and continuous monitoring artifacts
  • Provide budget, cost, and schedule input at the program level for cybersecurity scope


What You'II Do

Lead & Mentor
  • Mentor and coach engineers across all levels on cyber scanning tools, STIG remediation, and RMF/ATO processes
  • Communicate security posture, risks, and compliance status clearly to program management, customers, and Authorizing Officials
  • Review customer specifications and requirements, and lead development of security approaches that best support them, including cost as a design variable
  • Participate heavily in preparation of complex, high-value proposals with cybersecurity scope
  • Represent cybersecurity engineering in customer, program, and business reviews
  • Support, communicate, reinforce and defend the mission, values, and culture of the organization


What You Bring

  • Master's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Assurance, or a related technical field; advanced degree a plus
  • 8+ yearsof experience in cybersecurity engineering supporting DoD or federal system
  • Hands-on expertise with vulnerability/cyber scanning tools (e.g., ACAS, Nessus, SCAP) and remediation workflows
  • Demonstrated mastery of STIG implementation and hardening across multiple platforms
  • Proven experience leading systems through the ATO/RMF process, including SSPs, POA&Ms, and continuous monitoring
  • DoD 8570/8140 IAT/IAM certification (e.g., Security+, CISSP, CASP+) required or obtainable within a defined period
  • Strong mentoring and technical leadership experience
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills across technical and executive audiences

U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.

The salary range for this position is $150,452.00/year-$203,111.00/year. This range reflects the good faith estimate of pay the employer is willing to offer at the time of posting. Several factors can influence the pay scale, including but not limited to: Federal contract labor categories and contract wage rates, collective bargaining agreements, geographic location, business considerations, scope, and responsibilities of the position, local or other applicable market conditions, and internal equity. Other factors include the candidate's qualifications such as prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education/training, and certifications. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for: annual performance-based bonuses, equity awards, and overtime pay (for non-exempt employees as applicable. Our benefits package includes comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), employer matching 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave (including ant state-mandated paid sick leave), parental leave benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional development support, and life and disability insurance coverage.

Taking care of our people is a top priority at Leonardo DRS. We are proud to offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a company contribution to a health savings account, telemedicine, life and disability insurance, legal insurance, and a 401(k) savings plan. We champion wellness programs that focus on physical, emotional, and financial well-being. We develop our talent by offering programs and activities to support career-growth, professional development, and skill enhancement. And we understand there is more to life than work, and the importance of offering flexible work schedules with our 9/80 program, competitive vacation, health/emergency leave, paid parental leave, and community service hours.
*Some employees are eligible for limited benefits only

About Leonardo DRS

Leonardo DRS is a leading supplier of integrated products, services and support to military forces, intelligence agencies and prime contractors worldwide. Focused on defense technology, we develop, manufacture and support a broad range of systems for mission critical and military sustainment requirements, as well as homeland security. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Leonardo S.p.A. which employs more than 45,000 people worldwide. We offer a competitive compensation package and a business culture that rewards performance. For additional information on Leonardo DRS, please visit our website at www.leonardodrs.com.
Learn more about Leonardo DRS
Size
11,000 employees
Market Cap
$3.1 billion
Industry
Founded
1968
5 Year Trend
+55.7%
NASDAQ

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