Senior Staff Software Systems Engineer, Cybersecurity and Compliance

Vantor is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators navigate what’s happening now and shape what’s coming next. Vantor is a place for problem solvers, changemakers, and go-getters—where people are working together to help our customers see the world differently, and in doing so, be seen differently. Come be part of a mission, not just a job, where you can shape your own future, build the next big thing, and change the world.

To be eligible for this position, you must be a U.S. Citizen. This position requires an active U.S. Government security clearance; applicants who do not currently hold the required clearance will not be eligible for consideration. Employment for cleared roles is contingent upon verification of clearance status. Certain roles may be subject to U.S. export control laws, requiring U.S. person status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

About the role

The Senior Staff Software Systems Engineer - Cybersecurity & Compliance serves as a senior technical authority within Core Mission Systems, helping ensure complex software-intensive mission systems meet applicable cybersecurity and compliance requirements. Working across engineering, cybersecurity, program, and operational teams, this engineer interprets security requirements, assesses impacts to system architecture and engineering processes, and translates compliance obligations into practical technical solutions. The role supports classified and unclassified environments while helping Core Mission Systems achieve and sustain compliance with frameworks such as NIST and CMMC without compromising mission effectiveness, system resiliency, or engineering velocity.

Success in this role requires strong systems thinking, software architecture expertise, cybersecurity knowledge, technical leadership, and the ability to bridge security requirements with real-world engineering execution. This position involves regular interaction with internal security organizations, engineering teams, and U.S. Government customers supporting classified and unclassified programs and may require limited travel.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical authority for cybersecurity and compliance across software-intensive mission systems, ensuring engineering solutions align with applicable security and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with engineering teams, security organizations, U.S. Government customers, and program leadership to translate compliance requirements into technical direction and engineering priorities.
• Lead the integration of cybersecurity and compliance requirements into system architecture, software development, cloud infrastructure, and operational processes.
• Assess technical risk, identify compliance gaps, and guide engineering teams in developing practical, sustainable remediation strategies.
• Support security assessments, accreditation activities, and continuous compliance efforts while balancing mission performance, schedule, and operational objectives.
• Mentor engineers and promote secure systems engineering practices that improve consistency, quality, and collaboration across multiple teams.
• Champion the responsible use of AI-assisted engineering to improve compliance analysis, technical documentation, and engineering efficiency while maintaining security and data protection requirements.

AI-Enabled Systems Engineering

Artificial Intelligence is transforming how secure software-intensive systems are engineered. We are seeking engineers who understand that as AI accelerates software development, strong systems engineering and cybersecurity become increasingly important.

• Apply AI-assisted techniques to improve compliance analysis, architecture reviews, requirements evaluation, technical documentation, and engineering workflows.
• Evaluate AI-generated technical work products using sound engineering judgment and cybersecurity best practices.
• Identify opportunities to improve engineering efficiency while maintaining the rigor required for mission-critical and classified environments.
• Ensure AI-assisted engineering practices align with organizational policies, customer requirements, and data protection standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated experience applying systems engineering principles to complex software-intensive systems in regulated or classified environments.
• Experience implementing or supporting cybersecurity compliance frameworks such as NIST, CMMC, or comparable government security standards.
• Strong understanding of modern software architecture, cloud technologies, cybersecurity principles, and secure software development practices.
• Experience translating security and compliance requirements into engineering solutions, system designs, and technical implementation plans.
• Active U.S. Government security clearance appropriate for the supported mission environment.
• Excellent communication and technical leadership skills with the ability to influence engineering teams, security organizations, and government customers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, National Security Space, or other regulated government environments.
• Experience with Risk Management Framework (RMF), NIST 800 standards (53 and 171), CMMC, or other related security control implementation.
• Experience with DevSecOps, secure cloud architectures, or continuous compliance practices.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) or formal systems architecture methods.
• Relevant cybersecurity or cloud certifications (for example, CISSP, Security+, or AWS Security Specialty).

What Success Looks Like

• Enable Core Mission Systems to achieve and sustain cybersecurity compliance while maintaining engineering agility and mission effectiveness.
• Translate complex compliance requirements into clear, actionable engineering solutions.
• Identify and resolve security and compliance risks early in the system lifecycle.
• Improve collaboration between engineering, cybersecurity, and program teams.
• Strengthen the organization's cybersecurity posture through sound systems engineering and technical leadership.
• Deliver secure, resilient, and mission-ready capabilities that meet customer expectations.

Pay

Starting pay for this role will fall within the listed range and will be based on factors such as experience, qualifications, skills, location, and market conditions. The base pay range for this position within Colorado is $128,000.00 - $170,000.00 - $187,000.00 annually. For all other states, geographic cost of labor is used to develop market-driven ranges, and each location may have a different range.

Benefits

Vantor offers a competitive total rewards package that goes beyond the standard, including:

• A robust 401(k) with company match
• Mental health resources
• Student loan repayment assistance
• Adoption reimbursement
• Pet insurance
• Incentive eligibility with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved