Senior Cyber Security Engineer at Leidos Sterling, VA

Job Description

Leidos is currently seeking a Senior Cyber Security Engineer who is responsible for developing and implementing advanced security solutions to defend critical systems, networks, and data against evolving cyber threats. This role combines technical expertise in both software and hardware to support the design and deployment of defensive cyber measures. The engineer conducts research on current and emerging cyber threats, identifies vulnerabilities, and ensures that development environments and operational systems remain resilient against cyber exploits.

This role will support the NRO cyber operations group or Industrial Control Systems group at each site by working with the Information Security Offices.

• Research and analyze cyber threat trends, vulnerabilities, and exploits to proactively identify risks to critical mission systems.
• Design and implement defensive cyber security solutions to protect data, networks, and applications from unauthorized access, modification, or destruction.
• Perform vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, fuzzing, and malware analysis to detect and mitigate potential security risks.
• Secure development environments by implementing application security architecture and conducting evaluations of software for security compliance.
• Collaborate with development, IT, and operations teams to integrate security into the software development life cycle (SDLC) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Identify, detect, and respond to cyber attacks and incidents, including investigation and remediation efforts.
• Ensure cyber solutions comply with relevant standards, frameworks, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation of security architecture, findings, and mitigation strategies.

• TS/SCI w/ Poly Clearance is required
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or a related technical field with 8+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education, certifications, and experience.
• Proven experience in application development, using programming and scripting languages such as Python, C/C++, Assembly, or Java.
• Demonstrated proficiency in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity.
• Experience with vulnerability research, reverse engineering, and malware analysis.
• Knowledge of code analysis, code manipulation, and payload development.
• Knowledge of defensive tool development, threat detection, and incident response.
• Working knowledge of web application vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and fuzzing techniques.
• Experience conducting cyber threat intelligence research to stay informed on emerging technologies and threat trends.
• Familiarity with secure software development practices, application security architecture, and development environment hardening.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to independently develop innovative technical solutions.
• Experience working in high-impact environments, leading technical projects or mentoring junior staff.

• Industry certifications such as OSCP, OSCE, GREM, GPEN, CISSP, or CEH.
• Experience with reverse engineering tools and platforms such as IDA Pro, Ghidra, Radare2, or x64dbg.
• Proficiency in scripting languages for automation and exploit development (e.g., Bash, Power Shell, Ruby, or Perl).
• Experience with threat emulation, red/blue team operations, or offensive cyber tool development.
• Familiarity with cyber research methodologies, proof-of-concept development, and technical documentation.
• Understanding of advanced persistent threats (APTs) and nation-state level cyber tactics.
• Experience in environments requiring compliance with frameworks such as RMF, NIST 800-53, or STIGs.
• Prior experience supporting DoD, federal agencies, or other classified environments.

Pay Range: $ - $