Are you ready to provide technical leadership for a mission-critical cybersecurity environment supporting the Department of War (DoW)?
Leidos is seeking a Principal Cybersecurity Engineer to support the C5ISR Center Cyber Security Service Provider (CSSP), a premier defensive cyber operations organization operating 24x7x365. The CSSP provides continuous monitoring, threat detection, incident response, and vulnerability management across a complex, multi-tenant enterprise environment.
As the Principal Cybersecurity Engineer, you will serve as Leidos' primary technical interface to the Government lead for Enterprise Cybersecurity. You will provide strategic and hands-on technical leadership across cybersecurity architecture, engineering, modernization, and technology integration.
You will evaluate emerging cybersecurity technologies, recommend and design enterprise solutions, and lead feasibility studies, proofs of concept, pilot projects, and other research and development initiatives designed to strengthen the customer's cybersecurity posture.
Location: Hybrid - 3 days on site at Adelphi, MD
Clearance: U.S. Citizenship with an active TS/SCI with SAP Eligibility
Required Certifications: CISSP
Primary Responsibilities:
Lead the design, architecture, integration, and implementation of complex enterprise cybersecurity systems and supporting technologies.
Serve as a senior technical advisor to Government stakeholders and Leidos leadership on enterprise cybersecurity strategy, architecture, risk, and modernization.
Assess organizational progress against cybersecurity strategies and develop recommendations aligned with mission objectives and stakeholder priorities.
Evaluate emerging cybersecurity technologies and lead feasibility studies, proofs of concept, pilot programs, and technology assessments.
Assess enterprise cybersecurity risk, including weaknesses in platforms, access controls, system configurations, networks, applications, and data environments.
Provide engineering leadership for the design, development, and implementation of solutions that protect and monitor enterprise networks and systems.
Lead the development and integration of innovative cybersecurity solutions through collaboration with engineering, operations, cybersecurity, Government, and industry experts.
Identify security-relevant data, technologies, and capabilities across on-premises, hybrid-cloud, and multi-cloud environments and provide formal technical recommendations to stakeholders.
Guide cybersecurity modernization initiatives, including the migration of services, applications, and data from on-premises environments to hybrid and multi-cloud architectures.
Engage with technology vendors, evaluate solutions, and recommend technologies for enterprise implementation.
Influence technical and organizational change by communicating complex cybersecurity concepts, recommendations, and approaches to technical and executive stakeholders.
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 12+ years of relevant IT/cybersecurity experience. Four additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
4+ years of cybersecurity engineering experience directly supporting the Federal Government as a Government or contractor employee.
Extensive experience developing and executing migration strategies for services, applications, or data moving from on-premises environments to hybrid or multi-cloud architectures.
Strong knowledge and operational experience with Federal cybersecurity requirements and frameworks, including NIST, FISMA, and FedRAMP.
Deep understanding of cybersecurity architecture, technical platforms, threat management, security controls, and industry best practices.
Experience identifying security-relevant data and technologies across on-premises and cloud environments and developing technical solutions for evolving mission requirements.
Experience evaluating vendors, designing technical solutions, and selecting cybersecurity technologies for enterprise implementation.
Broad technical knowledge across enterprise IT, systems engineering, cybersecurity engineering, IT lifecycle methodologies, modernization, and transformation.
Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and gain support for new technologies, concepts, practices, and approaches.
Experience leading technical transformation and improving enterprise cybersecurity services and capabilities.
CISSP certification
U.S. citizenship with an active Top Secret clearance and eligibility to obtain a SCI.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage technical teams, Government stakeholders, and senior leadership.
Preferred Qualifications:
Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.
Additional cybersecurity certifications such as CISM, CISSP-ISSEP, GSLC, or CCISO.
Knowledge of Agile project management principles and methodologies.
Experience supporting both classified and unclassified environments.
Experience supporting Security Operations Center (SOC) environments and multi-tenant cybersecurity operations.
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:September 1, 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
- Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or four additional years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree
- 12+ years of relevant IT or cybersecurity experience
- 4+ years of cybersecurity engineering experience directly supporting the Federal Government
- Experience developing and executing migration strategies for services, applications, or data moving from on-premises environments to hybrid or multi-cloud architectures
- Operational knowledge of Federal cybersecurity requirements and frameworks, including NIST, FISMA, and FedRAMP
- Deep understanding of cybersecurity architecture, technical platforms, threat management, security controls, and industry best practices
- Experience identifying security-relevant data and technologies across on-premises and cloud environments and developing technical solutions
- Experience evaluating vendors, designing technical solutions, and selecting cybersecurity technologies for enterprise implementation
- Broad technical knowledge across enterprise IT, systems engineering, cybersecurity engineering, IT lifecycle methodologies, modernization, and transformation
- Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and gain support for new technologies, concepts, practices, and approaches
- Experience leading technical transformation and improving enterprise cybersecurity services and capabilities
- CISSP certification
- U.S. citizenship
- Active Top Secret clearance and eligibility to obtain SCI
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Additional cybersecurity certifications such as CISM, CISSP-ISSEP, GSLC, or CCISO
- Knowledge of Agile project management principles and methodologies
- Experience supporting classified and unclassified environments
- Experience supporting Security Operations Center environments and multi-tenant cybersecurity operations
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.
