Secure Systems Research and Development Engineer
The Pennsylvania State University2 months ago
Reston, VA, USAEntry Level / Mid Level / Senior
Base Salary
$111k - $241k/yr
Responsibilities
- Research techniques and technologies for secure system design, implementation, and hardening.
- Apply software engineering, systems engineering, system administration, and cybersecurity expertise to established and emerging requirements.
- Support sponsor relationships through technical discussions, presentations, and project correspondence.
- Enhance technical-control implementation, architectures, and security test and evaluation projects.
- Apply project management principles to lead tasks and projects.
- Provide guidance and professional-development support to lower-level R&D engineers.
- For higher-level assignments, develop strategic customer relationships, identify and pursue follow-on funding, initiate project concepts, write technical proposals, present to sponsors, and mentor department staff.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or science.
- Relevant experience requirements vary by appointment level: no prior relevant experience for Professional, 2+ years for Intermediate Professional, or 5+ years for Advanced Professional.
- Documented application of software or systems engineering principles.
- Experience with embedded or cloud system development and secure configuration.
- Computer networking fundamentals and Windows and *NIX system administration.
- Programming experience using C, Java, and Python, along with development environments.
- Knowledge of cybersecurity testing, penetration-testing tools, and methodologies.
- Ability to communicate technical information clearly in documents and presentations for senior leaders.
- Active government security clearance at the SECRET level.
- U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain a government security clearance.
- Preferred qualifications include AI applications to security testing, microcontroller or single-board-computer implementation, radio-frequency signal analysis, industrial-control-system protocol security, project initiation, cybersecurity-testing automation, Atlassian products, and Agile software development tools.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off, including holidays, vacation, and sick time.
- 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible spouses and children.
- Project-dependent work may be on-site or from home, based out of Reston, VA, Annapolis Junction, MD, or State College, PA; remote or hybrid approval is not guaranteed.
- Periodic travel to remote locations is required for testing as part of a small research and engineering team.
- Employment requires background checks, participation in the ARL drug-testing program, and compliance with electronic and physical monitoring requirements.