Senior Engineer, Cybersecurity (R5972)
Washington, D.C. · USD 110,000-170,000 / year · 5+ years experience · Onsite · Posted Sep 22, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 5+ years experience
- Workplace
- Onsite
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Salary
- USD 110,000-170,000 / year
About the role
- Shield AI is seeking a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer to lead cybersecurity activities for an airborne aerospace and defense platform.
- This role will integrate cybersecurity across avionics, mission systems, aircraft networks, communications, embedded software, and ground-support systems.
Responsibilities
- Develop the platform’s cybersecurity architecture, requirements, and protection strategy.
- Perform threat modeling, vulnerability assessments, attack-surface analysis, and cyber risk assessments.
- Define protections for secure boot, authentication, access control, encryption, key management, software updates, and data communications.
- Apply defense-in-depth across aircraft systems, networks, radios, data links, and external interfaces.
- Lead DoD Risk Management Framework activities and develop required authorization evidence.
- Evaluate hardware, software, firmware, and supplier designs for cybersecurity risks.
- Develop cybersecurity verification plans and support vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and cyber-resiliency testing.
- Coordinate risk mitigation and corrective actions with engineering teams, suppliers, customers, and program leadership.
- Ensure cybersecurity solutions support aircraft safety, availability, and mission effectiveness.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer engineering, electrical engineering, software engineering, systems engineering, or a related field.
- Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree.
- Experience with aircraft, aerospace, defense, or other mission-critical embedded systems.
- Knowledge of avionics, mission systems, platform networks, communications, or data links.
- Experience with threat modeling, secure system architecture, vulnerability analysis, and security testing.
- Familiarity with DoD RMF, NIST security guidance, cryptography, and key management.
- Strong technical leadership, writing, and customer communication skills.
- Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.
Preferred qualifications
- Cybersecurity experience on military aircraft, unmanned aircraft, or airborne mission systems.
- Familiarity with NIST SP 800-53, NIST SP 800-160, DO-326A, DO-355, and DO-356A.
- Experience with anti-tamper, program protection, supply-chain risk management, or cross-domain solutions.
- Experience supporting cyber testing, penetration testing, or adversarial assessments.
- Relevant certification such as CISSP, Security+, CEH, or GIAC.
- Active U.S. security clearance.
Benefits
- Bonus
- Benefits
- Equity
- Temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment for temporary employees)
Skills
- DoD RMF
- NIST Security Guidance
- Cryptography
- Key Management
- Threat Modeling
- Secure System Architecture
- Vulnerability Analysis
- Security Testing
- Avionics
- Embedded Software
- NIST SP 800-53
- NIST SP 800-160
Show all 15 skills
- DO-326A
- DO-355
- DO-356A
