Join Leidos and Shape the Future of Cybersecurity Innovation
Leidos, a FORTUNE 500 company, is a global leader in delivering innovative technology solutions to customers in national security, engineering, and health industries. At Leidos, we are driven by a commitment to excellence, empowering our teams, contributing to our communities, and operating sustainably. Guided by our Mission, Vision, and Values, we are dedicated to doing the right thing for our customers, our people, and the world.
We are seeking a highly qualified and trained Active Cyber Defense Engineer SME to join our Digital Modernization Sector and support the groundbreaking CYBERTRON Program at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. This program is at the forefront of research and development (R&D) and engineering services for the U.S. Army, delivering cutting-edge solutions to combat emerging cyber threats and advance the capabilities of Army technologies. As a key member of the leadership team, you will play a pivotal role in driving innovation and ensuring mission success.
Why Join Us?
Impactful Work: Be part of a team that develops secure, modern technology solutions to protect national security and defeat cyber threats.
Leadership Opportunity: Serve as a key leader, mentor, and technical expert, shaping the future of Army technologies.
Collaborative Environment: Work alongside talented professionals in a dynamic and innovative setting.
Professional Growth: Leverage your expertise while advancing your career through challenging and rewarding projects
Your Role and Responsibilities As a Cyber Security Engineer SME
Develop and implement R&D strategies aligned with the U.S. Army C5ISR mission objectives.
Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies and methodologies to drive innovation.
Monitor industry trends to identify opportunities for advancement.
Lead, mentor, and inspire the R&D team, fostering technical excellence and career development.
Oversee all aspects of R&D projects, ensuring alignment with DoD Cyber Security Strategy and architecture requirements.
Support may include physical testing, analyzing data, and interpreting information.
Prepare recommendations and solutions for specific areas in question.
Prepare and present detailed reports on project progress, findings, and outcomes to stakeholders.
Collaborate with customer stakeholders, functional leaders, subcontractors, and support personnel to achieve program goals.
Basic Qualifications
12+ years of comprehensive cyber security, with a minimum 8 years of experience in Crypto Modernization and Key Management, possessing expertise across the entire key lifecycle. Core competencies including: Full Key Lifecycle Management: Proven experience in the generation, secure distribution, and consumption of cryptographic keys at the unit level. Key Distribution Technologies: Deep understanding and practical experience with Key Management Infrastructure (KMI), KMI Management Client (MGC), KMI Over-the-Network Keying (OTNK), iApp, MPMSS, and modern fill devices. Cryptographic Expertise: Proficient in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), NSA High Assurance standards, cryptographic protocols (CMS), and emerging Post-Quantum Cryptography technologies.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, electronics engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Familiarity with Government security policies and security-related technologies and auditing tools.
U.S. Citizenship and possession of a TS/SCI Clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in heterogeneous computer networking technology and work in protocol and/or interface standards specification.
General experience includes system engineering; electrical design, software engineering; program design and implementation; configuration management; or maintenance.
Experience supporting Army programs
Clearance Required:
Must possess an active DoD TS/SCI at time of consideration
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:February 2, 2026For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
Leidos Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Leidos and has not been reviewed or approved by Leidos.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, with multiple plan options, low office-visit copays in some plans, and access to mental health and wellness support tools. The availability of HSA/FSA options and employer contributions is positioned as a meaningful part of the total package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are framed as a strong component of total rewards, highlighted by a 401(k) match and immediate vesting in the standard package. The Employee Stock Purchase Plan is also presented as an additional long-term wealth-building feature.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle supports extend beyond core insurance, including wellness programs, fitness-related stipends, and assistance resources. Work flexibility and related perks are also included as part of the broader rewards experience.
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What We Do
We Are Leidos For 50 years we have been tackling some of the biggest problems that face our nation and our world. OUR MISSION Through our culture of innovation and history of performance, we develop deep customer trust built on integrity and create enduring solutions that improve our world. Leidos is a science and technology solutions leader working to address some of the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and healthcare markets. The company’s 43,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $11.09 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2020. Leidos was cited for the meaningful work employees perform that is challenging, impactful, and aligned with our customers’ missions as reasons professionals want to work and stay at our company. Leidos has also been named to lists including Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity, Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Women, Military Times Best for Vets Employers, and Ethisphere Institute’s World's Most Ethical Companies®. Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Employees appreciate our flexible work environment, allowing for and encouraging a true work-life balance. Our professionals are also excited about our Employee Resource Groups, like the newly launched Collaborative Outreach with Remote and Embedded Employees (CORE), which strives to create an environment where every employee, regardless of location, feels fully engaged as a valued employee of Leidos. Your most important work is ahead.
