Lead Cyber Security Engineer

MITRE is a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization that works in the public interest. The MITRE Ft. Meade/Annapolis Junction joint cyber operations work program develops innovative solutions for sponsors to defend the nation and project power in the cyber domain. The role supports military cyber operations, collaborates with industry and academia, and advances MITRE’s reputation for technical quality and innovation.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Lead Cybersecurity Engineers in work that enables sponsor decision‑making, situational awareness, operational concepts, and mission engineering.
• Understand MITRE capabilities, processes, and customers related to cyber‑operations mission areas and combine them to achieve mission outcomes.
• Work independently (with guidance only on the most complex situations) to decompose sponsor problems, apply technical expertise, and produce deliverables as an individual or team member.
• Lead functional teams or complex projects, planning and guiding the work of others.
• Produce technical work products (written reports, models, system diagrams) that guide sponsor creation of new concepts, capabilities, and policies.
• Develop and/or engineer innovative cyber‑operations strategies, prototypes, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
• Communicate vision and strategy to MITRE leadership and government representatives to improve cyber operations.
• Collaborate with MITRE personnel to implement strategy, TTPs, and transition prototypes.
• Research emerging technology innovations and identify ways to leverage them for operational outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to expand the cyber‑operations workspace and integrate work across portfolios that impact government mission space.
• Meet regularly with sponsors on‑site at Fort Meade and Annapolis Junction.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 3 years with a Master’s degree; or a PhD with relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Degree in computer science, computer engineering, cybersecurity, systems engineering, intelligence, or a related field (preferred).
• Knowledge of systems engineering, mission engineering, cyber operations, intelligence support to cyber operations, or capability development.
• Track record of innovative thinking and problem‑solving with a bias toward action in the cyber‑operations domain.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage technology to enable mission or supporting business operations.
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts to a non‑technical audience.
• Hybrid onsite presence in Fort Meade required, with ability to work in a Secure Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) and attend regular sponsor engagements on‑site.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with CI polygraph.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Minimum of three days per week on‑site.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience applying technology to mission, including AI, machine learning, automation, CI/CD pipelines, and platform engineering.
• Knowledge of modernized testing procedures and integration with CI/CD pipelines.
• Ability to analyze user behavior and workflows to solve material and non‑material operational needs.
• Familiarity with Agile acquisition and the DevSecOps process for capability development.
• Understanding of intelligence processes, collection, targeting, and how they enable mission.
• Knowledge of Offensive Cyber Operations (OCO) – exploitation, effects operations, mission‑enabling activities.
• Knowledge of Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO) – threat hunting, cybersecurity, or critical‑infrastructure defense.
• Experience with military or government cyber operations or commercial red/blue teams.
• Active Top Secret/SCI with full‑scope polygraph (highly desired).

Compensation

Salary range: $158,800 – $198,500 – $238,200 per year (midpoint disclosed).

Work Location & Schedule

This position is onsite at MITRE’s Fort Meade, MD location. Hybrid work is required with a minimum of three days per week on‑site, including work in a Secure Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) and regular engagements at sponsor sites on Fort Meade.