Mission Critical Cyber Security/Isso Opportunity

We are seeking a hands-on Cyber Security Engineer at the Subject Matter Expert (SME) level

to lead and execute security engineering activities across complex, enterprise-scale

environments. This role requires deep technical expertise across infrastructure, platforms, and

applications, combined with expert-level, hands-on experience implementing the NIST Risk

Management Framework (RMF) within federal government environments. The ideal candidate is

a technical practitioner, not just an advisor-someone who can design, implement, assess, and

secure systems end-to-ed while directly supporting system authorization, continuous monitoring,

and risk-based decision-making. This role also serves as the technical focal point for all security

incidents, leading triage, investigation, and resolution efforts in coordination with program and, Serve as the Cyber Security Engineer SME, providing hands-on security engineering

across all system layers (infrastructure, platform, and application).

Engineer, implement, and validate security controls in accordance with NIST SP 800-53

and RMF requirements.

Lead and support RMF lifecycle activities (Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess,

Authorize, Monitor).

Perform security engineering for:

o Network architectures and boundary protections

o Windows and Linux operation systems

o Storage and virtualization platforms

o Databases and data platforms

o Web services, APIs, and application stacks

o Custom and COTS/GOTS software solutions

Provide technical input to RMF artifacts, including:

o System Security Plans (SSP)

o Security Control Assessments (SCA) support

o POA&Ms

o Risk assessments and security impact analyses

Collaborate with system owners, architects, developers, and operations teams to embed

security into system design and implementation.

Support ATO, re-authorization, and continuous monitoring activities.

Identify security risks and provide practical, technically sound mitigation strategies.

Participate in security reviews, technical design reviews, and vulnerability remediation

efforts.

Serve as technical point of contact for all security incidents affecting the program.

Lead triage and analysis of new security alerts from SIEM, IDS/IPS, and other security

monitoring tools.

Drive remediation efforts for recurring security alerts, identifying root causes and

implementing systemic fixes.

Coordinate incident response activities between program stakeholders and enterprise

security operations.

Act as primary liaison between program teams and enterprise security for incident

escalation, resolution, and reporting.

Perform forensic analysis and technical investigations of security events.

Document security incidents, response actions, and lessons learned.

Develop and maintain runbooks and playbooks for common security incident types.

Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, IT, or other related technical discipline; or the equivalent

combination of education, technical training, or work/military experience

Minimum ten (10) years applied experience or relevant degree plus five (5) years of

Cybersecurity expertise with demonstrated ability to successfully shepherd IT projects of

varying types through the authorization lifecycle

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

Candidate must demonstrate hands-on experience in all the following areas:

Security & Compliance

Expert-level experience with NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) in federal

government environments.

Strong knowledge of:

o NIST SP 800-53

o NIST SP 800-37

o NIST SP 800-30

Direct involvement in ATO packages, control implementation, and assessments.

Hands-on experience with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

platforms (e.g., Splunk, ELK Stack, ArcSight, Qradar).

Demonstrated experience in security incident detection, analysis, and response.

Proven ability to triage security alerts and determine criticality and impact.

Infrastructure & Platforms (Hands-On)

Networking (e.g., routing, switching, firewalls, load balancers, network security controls)

Operating Systems:

o Windows Server

o Linux (RHEL, CentOS)

Virtualization and storage platforms

Databases (SQL and/or NoSQL)

Data Platforms (e.g., HPCC, Hadoop/Cloudera)

Web services, APIs, and application architectures

Software development environments and CI/CD pipelines

Security tooling (e.g., vulnerability scanners, endpoint protection, SIEM)

Engineering Experience

Security engineering and system hardening

Vulnerability discovery and remediation

Secure system design and architecture reviews

Technical documentation supporting RMF compliance

Experience in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP, CI) within federal RMF contexts

Experience with DevSecOps practices

DESIRED SKILLS

Hands-on experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)

Hands-on experience with infrastructure-as-code

Knowledge of federal overlays (e.g., DoD, FISMA High/Moderate)

Relevant certifications (preferred, not required):

o CISSP

o CAP

o CISM

o Security+

o Cloud Security

o Certified Ethical Hacker

Experience with guiding and directing junior engineers and information systems security

officer (ISSO)

Experience with security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) platforms

Background in threat hunting and proactive security monitoring

Relevant incident response certifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Proven hands-on Cyber Security Engineer SME, not policy-only or audit-only

Comfortable working across network, system, platform, and application layers

Deep understanding of how security controls are actually implemented and validated

Experience in federal RMF-driven environments

Able to bridge security, engineering, and compliance effectively

Experienced in managing security incidents from detection through resolution

Skilled at balancing immediate incident response needs with long-term security

improvements

Effective collaborator across organizational boundaries during high-pressure security, Operate independently as the technical authority for system security engineering.

Demonstrate the ability to provide technical hands-on configuration, validation, an

assessment of security controls.

Translate RMF and NIST requirements into real-world technical implementations.

Communicate complex technical security issues clearly to both technical and non-

technical stakeholders.

Maintain a strong balance between security compliance and operational practicality.

Lead rapid response to security incidents with minimal guidance.

Demonstrate strong analytical and troubleshooting skills under pressure during active

security events.

Effectively communicate incident status, impact, and remediation progress to technical

and leadership audiences.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, IT, or other related technical discipline; or the equivalent

combination of education, technical training, or work/military experience

Minimum ten (10) years applied experience or relevant degree plus five (5) years of

Cybersecurity expertise with demonstrated ability to successfully shepherd IT projects of

varying types through the authorization lifecycle

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

Candidate must demonstrate hands-on experience in all the following areas:

Security & Compliance

Expert-level experience with NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) in federal

government environments.

Strong knowledge of:

o NIST SP 800-53

o NIST SP 800-37

o NIST SP 800-30

Direct involvement in ATO packages, control implementation, and assessments.

Hands-on experience with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

platforms (e.g., Splunk, ELK Stack, ArcSight, Qradar).

Demonstrated experience in security incident detection, analysis, and response.

Proven ability to triage security alerts and determine criticality and impact.

Infrastructure & Platforms (Hands-On)

Networking (e.g., routing, switching, firewalls, load balancers, network security controls)

Operating Systems:

o Windows Server

o Linux (RHEL, CentOS)

Virtualization and storage platforms

Databases (SQL and/or NoSQL)

Data Platforms (e.g., HPCC, Hadoop/Cloudera)

Web services, APIs, and application architectures

Software development environments and CI/CD pipelines

Security tooling (e.g., vulnerability scanners, endpoint protection, SIEM)

Engineering Experience

Security engineering and system hardening

Vulnerability discovery and remediation

Secure system design and architecture reviews

Technical documentation supporting RMF compliance

Experience in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP, CI) within federal RMF contexts

Experience with DevSecOps practices, Analysis Skills, Bridge Building, Civil Engineering, Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS), Communication Skills, Computer Security, Docker, Endpoint Security, Enterprise Protection, FISMA - Federal Information Security Management Act, Federal Government, Firewalls, Forensic Science, Fortune 500 Customers, Government, Government Off-the Shelf (GOTS), Hunting, Identify Issues, Incident Response, Information Technology & Information Systems, Information Technology Consulting, Internet Security, Intrusion Detection Systems, Intrusion Prevention Systems, Load Balancing, Machine Tool, Management Consulting, Microsoft Windows Server, Network Routing, Network Security, Network Switching, Operating Systems, Project/Program Coordination, Risk, Risk Analysis, Risk Management Framework (RMF), Root Cause Analysis, Security Analysis, Security Attacks, Security Compliance, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Security Monitoring, Security System Design, Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), System Architecture, Systems Engineering, Technical Leadership, Technical Operations, Technical Strategy, Technical Support, Technical Writing, Technical/Engineering Design, Top Secret Clearance, U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United States Department of Defense (DoD), Vulnerability Scanners

Leading Path is an award-winning Information Technology and Management Consulting firm focused on providing solutions in process, technology, and operations to our government and Fortune 500 clients. We offer a professional and family friendly work environment with a strong work-life balance. Leading Path provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including fully paid medical/dental/vision premiums, generous PTO, 11 Paid Holidays, 6% 401K contribution, annual training and tuition reimbursement, SPOT Award bonuses, regular team events, opportunities for professional growth and advancement and much more!