DirectJobHub
Jobs · OTHR · California

Post-Quantum Cryptography Specialist

Iron Bow Technologies · Santa Clara, CA · 2 wk ago
On-siteOTHRFull-time

About the role

Iron Bow Technologies is a next-generation solutions provider delivering mission success across government, healthcare, and commercial industries. The Post-Quantum Cryptography Specialist will serve as the program’s subject-matter expert for the VA’s migration from quantum-vulnerable cryptography to NIST-standardized post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, providing applied cryptographic expertise for PQC assessment, planning, testing, implementation, validation, and transition. The role is primarily remote with limited travel to customer facilities.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as technical SME for NIST-standardized post-quantum cryptography.
  • Lead and support the PQC Readiness Assessment across HSMs, partitions, CAs, KMS platforms, middleware, cryptographic interfaces, and dependent applications.
  • Assess support for ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA.
  • Develop and maintain the PQC Upgrade Roadmap.
  • Plan and validate HSM PQC firmware upgrades and associated rollback procedures.
  • Test PQC and hybrid cryptographic implementations under representative production workloads.
  • Evaluate cryptographic module and algorithm validation status under NIST CMVP and CAVP.
  • Develop migration strategies consistent with NIST IR 8547 and CNSA 2.0.
  • Support creation and maintenance of the Crypto Agility Plan.
  • Develop and maintain the Cryptographic Bill of Materials (CBOM).
  • Assess harvest-now-decrypt-later risks and assist in prioritizing migration of sensitive systems.
  • Support parallel classical/PQC operation and phased deprecation of quantum-vulnerable algorithms.
  • Support PQC/hybrid Certificate Authority testing and migration.
  • Monitor changes to NIST, NSA/CNSA, IETF, CMVP, CAVP, and other relevant cryptographic standards.

Skills

  • Advanced knowledge of applied cryptography.
  • Direct, substantive experience with FIPS 203 / ML-KEM, FIPS 204 / ML-DSA, and FIPS 205 / SLH-DSA.
  • PQC algorithm implementation, testing, integration, or transition-planning experience.
  • Familiarity with NIST IR 8547 transition guidance.
  • Familiarity with CNSA 2.0 requirements.
  • Understanding of NIST CMVP and CAVP processes and ability to interpret module and algorithm validation status.
  • Understanding of HSM and PKI implementation considerations associated with PQC.

What sets you apart

  • Cryptographic engineering, computer science, mathematics, or cybersecurity background.
  • Experience with HSM-based PQC implementations.
  • Experience with hybrid classical/PQC PKI or certificate architectures.
  • Experience developing CBOMs or cryptographic discovery/inventory capabilities.

Why you’ll love it

You will be part of a growing company that values your voice, ideas, and experience, contributing to Iron Bow’s transformational shift in delivering value to customers and employees. You will work with passionate professionals in a culture that fosters respect, support, and empowerment.

Similar jobs