Information Systems Security Engineer (ISSE) - Top Secret | North Charleston, SC
Cambridge International Systems, Inc.
We are currently seeking an Information Systems Security Engineer (ISSE) to support the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic (NIWC Atlantic) Expeditionary Enterprise Systems and Services (E2S2) Division in North Charleston, SC. NIWC Atlantic provides design, acquisition, and sustainment services for Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) IT systems. This position requires an active Top Secret clearance.
The base salary range for this role is approximately $103,000-$121,000 annually. The final offer will be based on relevant experience, skills, internal equity, and market data.
What You'll Do
As an ISSE, you will integrate cybersecurity into system architectures throughout the lifecycle, ensuring compliance with government policies, cybersecurity standards, and Risk Management Framework (RMF) requirements. You will partner with engineers, developers, architects, ISSM/ISSO personnel, and government stakeholders to support secure and resilient mission systems. You will:
• Integrate cybersecurity requirements into system architectures, engineering designs, interface specifications, and technical documentation.
• Engineer, implement, and validate security controls in accordance with NIST RMF, NIST SP 800-53, CNSSI 1253, and DoD guidance.
• Conduct architecture reviews, vulnerability assessments, threat analysis, risk assessments, attack surface analysis, and mitigation planning.
• Participate in design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and configuration control boards to embed security from the outset.
• Develop and maintain SSPs, control implementation statements, security and network diagrams, interface documents, and engineering analyses.
• Support RMF artifacts, including SAPs, SARs, POA&Ms, and continuous monitoring documentation.
• Identify security gaps and architectural risks and recommend practical engineering mitigations.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to establish and maintain secure configuration baselines.
• Evaluate system changes, technology insertions, and architecture modifications for cybersecurity and authorization impacts.
• Analyze vulnerability scan results, prioritize findings, plan remediation, and validate corrective actions.
• Support integration, testing, verification, validation, accreditation, and continuous monitoring activities.
• Ensure secure integration of COTS, GOTS, open-source, cloud-based, and custom-developed technologies.
• Provide guidance on secure design, defense-in-depth, Zero Trust, and cybersecurity best practices.
• Prepare technical reports, engineering recommendations, risk assessments, and executive briefings.
What You'll Bring
Required Qualifications:
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer, Electrical, or Electronics Engineering, or Mathematics with a Computer Science concentration, or related discipline, from an ABET-accredited degree program.
• Experience: At least three (3) years developing, implementing, and maintaining cybersecurity policies, including Assessment and Authorization (A&A) activities.
• Certification: DoD 8570/8140 Level I certification in IAM, IAT, or IASAE.
• Clearance: Current active Top Secret security clearance.
Preferred (Nice to Have):
• Experience supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, or classified government systems.
• Demonstrated experience engineering NIST RMF controls and preparing RMF artifacts.
• Secure systems engineering, defense-in-depth, Zero Trust architecture, and large-scale distributed systems.
• Experience with operating systems, networks, virtualization, cloud, identity and access management, encryption, and cybersecurity tools.
• Vulnerability assessment experience with ACAS, Nessus, SCAP, or similar tools.
• Cloud security, hybrid environments, containers, Kubernetes, and DevSecOps pipelines.
• Infrastructure as Code and scripting using PowerShell, Python, Ansible, or Terraform; familiarity with DoD Enterprise DevSecOps Reference Design or Platform One.
• Active security certifications such as Security+, CISSP, CASP+, CCSP, GIAC, or IASAE.
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills for technical and leadership audiences.
• Experience with large-scale defense, intelligence, or space system environments, including ground infrastructure, mission operations, networks, cloud, or enterprise IT.
Physical & Work Environment Requirements
• Periods of prolonged sitting and/or standing, including desk-based computer work.
• Work at government or other secure facilities where personal electronic devices may be restricted.
• Communicate with team members, customers, and stakeholders in writing and verbally.
• Manage competing priorities and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
Background & Security
• Employment is contingent upon successful background investigation.
• Alcohol and drug screening may be required for federal contract compliance.
Benefits & Perks
We believe in investing in our team-both professionally and personally:
• Medical, dental, vision, life, accident, and critical illness insurance
• 401(k) immediate vesting and match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Tuition and training support
• Employee referral program
• Access to Tickets at Work, employee assistance program (EAP), wellness initiatives, and more
Join Us
If you're driven by mission, technology, and teamwork, we want to hear from you. Cambridge is growing, and this position is one of many opportunities on our global team. Apply today and help advance secure systems supporting national security.
