Security SME

Acuity

$90K — $130K *
US-AnywhereRemote in Washington DC, US
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • 8+ years experience in cybersecurity or software engineering, with 3–5+ years in government security solution architecture.
  • Strong background in secure system design and compliance-driven architecture.
  • Experience in Agile and/or DevSecOps environments.

Responsibilities

  • Architect and implement security solutions for federal missions across various agencies.
  • Design compliant systems following NIST RMF and FedRAMP standards.
  • Lead security initiatives in classified and high-security environments.
  • Integrate advanced security controls into existing enterprise architectures.
  • Define and enforce security governance and responsible data practices.
  • Collaborate with cybersecurity teams and stakeholders for the ATO process.
  • Guide secure cloud-based deployments in GovCloud environments.
  • Oversee DevSecOps pipelines focusing on compliance and auditability.
  • Support proposal development related to security architecture.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on mission-driven security initiatives.
  • Collaboration with diverse cybersecurity teams across government sectors.
  • Involvement in cutting-edge security practices like Zero Trust Architecture.
  • Exposure to the latest technologies in cloud security and compliance frameworks.
Full Job Description
Overview

Responsibilities

  • Architect and implement security solutions aligned with federal mission objectives across defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies.
  • Design secure systems compliant with federal frameworks, including the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) and FedRAMP.
  • Lead security initiatives in classified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and high-security environments.
  • Integrate advanced security controls into existing enterprise architectures and legacy government systems.
  • Define and enforce security governance, risk management, and responsible data practices in accordance with federal guidelines.
  • Collaborate with cybersecurity teams, program managers, and mission stakeholders to navigate the Authority to Operate (ATO) process.
  • Guide secure cloud-based deployments in GovCloud environments (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government).
  • Oversee DevSecOps pipelines with a focus on auditability, traceability, and compliance.
  • Support proposal development, technical volumes, and security architecture for new contract bids.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • Experience: 8+ years in cybersecurity or software engineering, with 3–5+ years specifically architecting security solutions in government environments.
  • Expertise: Strong background in secure system design and compliance-driven architecture.
  • Environment: Experience working in Agile and/or DevSecOps environments.

Preferred Certifications

  • Federal & Security: CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), CCSP (Certified Cloud Security Professional), or CompTIA Security+.
  • Cloud: AWS or Azure Security/Solutions Architect certifications (GovCloud experience preferred).
  • Architecture: TOGAF or similar frameworks.

Technical Skills & Regulatory Expertise

  • Frameworks: Deep familiarity with FISMA, NIST 800-53, and DoD 8570 / 8140.
  • Cloud Security: Knowledge of FedRAMP Moderate/High baselines and secure data handling for CUI.
  • Security Architecture: Expertise in Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) and microservices security in zero-trust environments.
  • Infrastructure: Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) in secure clusters and securing data platforms like Databricks or Spark.

Clearance Requirement

  • Active security clearance (Secret or Top Secret) or eligibility to obtain one.

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