Cybersecurity Engineer

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MITRE’s Resilient Missions and Cyber Defense Department (N157) is seeking a senior cybersecurity operations and mission integration professional to support Air Combat Command’s (ACC) digital transformation. The successful candidate will help design, integrate, and operationalize data-driven, AI-enabled, and cyber-resilient capabilities that enhance mission readiness, agility, and decision advantage across enterprise, mission, and tactical environments.

This is a senior individual-contributor position. The candidate will work closely with the Project Leader, ACC Headquarters, mission partners, and MITRE subject-matter experts to translate strategic objectives into actionable technical analysis, implementation plans, and mission-aligned outcomes. The role does not include formal people-management responsibility.

MITRE serves as a trusted partner with the Air Force, providing objective, cross-domain expertise to accelerate capability transition. This position will contribute to work spanning cyber defense, Zero Trust, data and AI governance, IT modernization, operational readiness, mission assurance, and emerging technology integration.

The successful candidate will apply experience in Department of War (DoW) and Department of the Air Force (DAF) environments to assess complex mission and cybersecurity challenges; develop technically rigorous recommendations; coordinate across operational, programmatic, and technical stakeholders; and deliver clear products for senior leaders.

This position requires occasional, on-site collaboration in Hampton Roads, Virginia, to maintain engagement with ACC leadership, mission partners, and technical teams.

Support Mission-Focused Work Program Execution

• Analyze ACC digital transformation priorities and translate them into actionable technical objectives, work plans, requirements, and measurable outcomes.

• Support development and maintenance of Mission Value Chains, including Target, Threshold, and Objective measures that connect technical work to operational and enterprise impact.

• Contribute to technical strategies, implementation plans, roadmaps, and decision products for cyber defense, Zero Trust, data governance, AI adoption, and digital modernization efforts.

Advance Cyber Defense and Mission Assurance

• Apply threat-informed defense concepts, cybersecurity frameworks, risk-management practices, and DoW/DAF policy to strengthen cyber resilience and mission assurance.

• Contribute to the development of recommendations addressing cyber operations, vulnerability management, defensive capabilities, classified-system security, and secure mission-system integration.

• Support technical coordination across enterprise IT, cyber operations, communications, intelligence, and mission partners.

Integrate Stakeholders and Communicate Technical Findings

• Work directly with ACC Headquarters, MAJCOMs, operational units, government agencies, industry partners, and MITRE technical staff to synchronize work with mission priorities.

• Support planning and execution of innovation events, technology demonstrations, operational assessments, and industry engagements.

Contribute to Innovation and Capability Transition

• Help evaluate emerging technologies and their applicability to ACC operational and cyber defense challenges.

• Support integration of data, analytics, automation, AI-enabled capabilities, and cyber-resilient architectures into modernization initiatives.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in computer scheicne, cybersecurity, information systems or related field; or 3 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with relevant experience who can immediately contribute at this job step; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.

• Experience in cybersecurity, systems engineering, or IAM/ICAM roles

• Experience in complex DoW, DAF, federal, or comparable mission environments.

• Demonstrated experience applying cybersecurity, information assurance, risk-management, compliance, or mission-assurance principles in operational environments.

• Working knowledge of NIST cybersecurity and risk-management concepts, DoW/DAF cybersecurity guidance, and threat-informed defense principles.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop clear, actionable products for senior leaders.

• Demonstrated record of delivering meaningful technical, operational, programmatic, or mission outcomes.

• Active Secret clearance with ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.

• Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements for a clearance, U.S. Citizenship is required.

• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site presence.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with cybersecurity readiness, defensive cyber operations, vulnerability assessment, cyber program management, or mission-system security.

• Experience with enterprise IT audits, corrective-action plans, inspection programs, compliance assessments, or risk-management processes.

• Experience with RMF, DIACAP-to-RMF transition, NIST guidance, ICD 503, CNSSI requirements, or authorization activities.

• Experience supporting SIPRNet, JWICS, SCI environments, COMSEC, ISSO/ISSM functions, or classified-system accreditation.

• Knowledge of Zero Trust architectures, AI/ML-enabled cyber defense, data governance, or digital modernization.

• Relevant cybersecurity certification, such as CompTIA Security+ or equivalent.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$129,200 - $161,500 - $193,800 Annual

Work Location Type:

Hybrid

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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