Principal Information Systems Security Engineer

Leidos Holding$154K — $278K *
Aerospace & Defense
15+ years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Information Assurance, or related field, with 20 years of related experience
  • CISSP - ISSEP certification
  • Strong writing abilities for documentation and communications
  • Ability to present to senior level DoD officials confidently
  • Expertise in Risk Management Framework (RMF) and risk assessments
  • Proficiency in network technology and security engineering
  • Experience with security incident response and emerging technologies.

Responsibilities

  • Deliver and lead cybersecurity risk assessments and mitigation recommendations
  • Support the design and operational implementation of real-time threat detection capabilities
  • Evaluate candidate security architectures and identify gaps and mitigation strategies
  • Research emerging technologies for cybersecurity effectiveness
  • Engage with stakeholders to define security objectives and requirements
  • Validate and verify system security requirements and design
  • Contribute to security planning, assessment, and risk management activities.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance plans
  • Retirement savings plans with company matching
  • Professional development opportunities and training programs
  • Flexible work schedule and remote work options
  • Generous paid time off and holidays
  • Access to wellness programs and employee assistance programs.
Full Job Description
As a Principal Information Security Systems Engineer (ISSE) you will join a small team of security engineers providing Information Assurance (IA) Architecture Analysis and Security Engineering Support for the implementation and fielding of the National Leadership Command Capability in support of Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3), Continuity of Government (COG), and Senior Leader communications. The ISSE will perform in a consultant like role providing technical knowledge, expertise and advice to our customer.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Principal ISSE shall deliver and lead threat-informed cybersecurity products - cybersecurity risk assessments, architecture reviews, and engineering guidance that bring sound, accurate, timely, and actionable service to mission partners: This includes:
  • Conduct cybersecurity risk assessments and provide prioritized risk mitigation recommendations in support of the customer's mission.
  • Support the design, implementation, and operation of real-time capabilities to discover, detect, analyze, and mitigate threats and vulnerabilities.
  • Analyze candidate architectures by evaluating against defined security requirements to identify security gaps, and provide recommended mitigation strategy.
  • Research and evaluate candidate emerging technologies to determine cybersecurity effectiveness.
  • Aid stakeholders through the development, refinement, delivery, and implementation of innovative solutions and capabilities.
  • Engage stakeholders to ensure security objectives, protection needs, security requirements and associated validation methods are defined.
  • Validates and verifies system security requirements definitions and analysis and establishes system security design
  • Designs, develops, implements and/or integrates IA and security systems and system components including those for networking, computing and enclave environment to include those with multiple enclaves and with differing data protection/classification requirements
  • Assist architects and systems developers in the identification and implementation of appropriate information security functionality to ensure uniform application of Agency security policy and enterprise solutions
  • Contributes to the security planning, assessment, risk analysis, risk management, certification and awareness activities for system and networking operations
  • Reviews C&A documentation, providing feedback on completeness and compliance of its content


CLEARANCE REQUIRED: Active TS/SCI with polygraph.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited university ideally in Computer Science, Information Assurance, Information Security System Engineering or related field with a minimum of 20 years of experience as an Information Systems Security Engineer (ISSE) or System Engineer on programs and/or contracts with the customer space
  • CISSP - ISSEP
  • Strong writing skills
  • Confidence and ability to present briefing to senior level DoD officials in both prepared briefings and/or in ad hoc discussions.
  • Expertise in the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and conducting cybersecurity risk assessments
  • Expertise in network technology and systems security engineering. Experience in identifying, researching, characterizing, and documenting security weaknesses related to operating systems, software applications, firmware, network hardware components, as well as network architecture design to identify protection needs and documented policies and procedures.
  • Experience developing and documenting system security requirements and conducting requirements gap analysis.
  • Experience with security monitoring and incident response capabilities
  • Experience with emerging technologies such as Zero Trust, Cloud Computing, etc.
  • Knowledge of, and practical experience with the NIST Special Publications 800 Series, CNSSI 1253, and DoD 8500.
  • Ability to work independently within a schedule and with little direction.


conmd

CABARA

Original Posting:
June 29, 2026

Pay Range:
Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and 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.

About Leidos Holding

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At Leidos Holding, innovation is at the core of everything they do. Employees are encouraged to think creatively and push boundaries. The company supports this drive for innovation through comprehensive professional development and diversity training programs that are designed to enhance skills and foster leadership.

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