Principal Cybersecurity Engineer $25k SIGN ON BONUS
Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Principal Cybersecurity Engineer in our Intel Sector- Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA). Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering, Computer Network Operations (CNO), Mission Software, Analytical Methods and Modeling, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Cryptographic Key Management. At Leidos, we offer competitive benefits, including Paid Time Off, 11 paid Holidays, 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, Flexible Schedules, Discounted Stock Purchase Plans, Technical Upskilling, Education and Training Support, Parental Paid Leave, and much more. Join us and make a difference in National Security!
Leidos is seeking a Principal Cybersecurity Engineer to support a mission-critical program, offering a challenging and rewarding opportunity for a hands-on technical leader in the security domain. The selected individual will lead all security engineering efforts for a large, complex network environment with geographically distributed systems; and will manage a team of Information Systems Security Officers (ISSOs) and Information Systems Security Engineers (ISSEs), providing technical leadership and direction to meet program requirements. The selected individual will mentor the team in sound information systems security engineering practices and will be heavily involved in system testing. The selected candidate will work closely with other engineers and technical experts to enhance operational, test, integration, and development environments. Responsibilities include ensuring and maintaining Authorizations to Operate (ATOs) for all System Security Plans (SSPs), and ensuring compliance with Secure the Enterprise/Secure the Network (STE/STN) requirements.
Primary Responsibilities
Responsible for the overall security architecture, ensuring all security requirements are defined, implemented, and verified.
Serve as a security subject matter expert (SME), providing guidance and oversight for the end-to-end security architecture.
Engage with multiple system owners across multiple networks to interpret, negotiate, and refine system and security requirements.
Define and drive security strategy, including risk assessment and management, security control assessment, continuous monitoring, service design, and broader cybersecurity program support.
Identify and analyze security issues across complex, highly integrated systems and environments, and develop clear, actionable remediation recommendations.
Design, develop, and execute static and dynamic application security testing, as well as penetration testing activities.
Partner with development teams to improve understanding of vulnerabilities, attack vectors, and effective remediation techniques.
Lead and mentor a team of program security engineers in day-to-day security engineering activities.
Collaborate with the program security team to ensure STE/STN and continuous monitoring requirements are met for Test, Integration, and Development environments.
Clearly articulate program security requirements, risks, and compliance challenges to multiple customer points of contact.
Coordinate with internal cross-functional teams to plan, prioritize, and execute remediation and other security-related activities.
Required Qualifications
Master’s degree in Information Technology, Information Assurance, or related field, and at least 15 years of relevant experience. Additional experience may be substituted for a degree.
At least 10 years of experience leading large, diverse Security Engineering teams, leading ISSO and ISSE teams.
Current active CISSP certification.
Certified Scrum Master certification.
At least 5 years of experience applying Agile methodologies in security engineering projects, including Scrum or SAFe frameworks.
Extensive hands-on experience with modern security tools; hardware and software security implementation; communication protocols; encryption technologies; and web services.
Expert-level understanding of security vulnerabilities and remediation techniques, including risk assessment, risk management, and security strategy/design.
Extensive experience formulating, implementing, and assessing IT security policy.
Solid understanding of ATOs, SSPs, and STE/STN requirements.
Direct experience collaborating with software developers, software testers, and integration, deployment, and sustainment teams.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to clearly convey program requirements and system compliance challenges to multiple customer stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate across multiple internal teams for planning and remediation activities.
Solutions-oriented team player with a high level of self-initiative.
Clearance Required: Must have TS/SCI with Polygraph.
Preferred Qualifications
Additional certification: Information System Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP)
At least twelve years of experience with defense-in-depth principals/technology (including access control, authorization, identification and authentication, public key infrastructure, network and enterprise security architecture) and applying risk assessment methodology to system development.
Experience developing/implementing integrated security services management processes, such as assessing and auditing network penetration tests, anti-virus planning assistance, risk analysis, and incident response.
Experience developing/implementing integrated security services management processes, such as assessing and auditing network penetration tests, anti-virus planning assistance, risk analysis, and incident response.
Experience providing information assurance support for application development that includes system security certifications and project evaluations for firewalls that encompass the development, design, and implementation.
At Leidos, the opportunities are boundless. We challenge our staff with interesting assignments that allow them to thrive professionally and personally. For us, helping you grow your career is good business. We look forward to learning more about you – apply today.
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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:March 16, 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.
Skills Required
- Master's degree in Information Technology, Information Assurance, or related field (or equivalent experience) and at least 15 years of relevant experience
- At least 10 years of experience leading large, diverse Security Engineering teams, including ISSO and ISSE teams
- Current active CISSP certification
- Certified Scrum Master certification
- At least 5 years applying Agile methodologies in security engineering projects, including Scrum or SAFe
- Extensive hands-on experience with modern security tools; hardware and software security implementation; communication protocols; encryption technologies; and web services
- Expert-level understanding of security vulnerabilities and remediation techniques, including risk assessment, risk management, and security strategy/design
- Extensive experience formulating, implementing, and assessing IT security policy
- Solid understanding of Authorizations to Operate (ATOs), System Security Plans (SSPs), and STE/STN requirements
- Direct experience collaborating with software developers, testers, and integration, deployment, and sustainment teams
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Must have TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance
- Information System Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP) certification
- Experience with defense-in-depth principles and applying risk assessment methodology to system development (12+ years preferred)
- Experience developing/implementing integrated security services management processes (penetration test assessment, anti-virus planning, risk analysis, incident response)
- Experience providing information assurance support for application development, system security certifications, and firewall evaluations
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.
Leidos Insights
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.
