The Security Subject Matter Expert (SME) is the program’s security lead for a large, hybrid enterprise (on-prem data centers and multi-cloud).
You will architect, implement, and operate a Zero Trust, RMF-aligned security solutions that keep systems reliable, data protected, and the program audit-ready at all times.
You will own the end-to-end security operating model, identity and access (including PIV/FIDO and PAM), vulnerability and patch orchestration, logging and SIEM/SOAR, supply-chain integrity (SBOM/provenance), backup/DR resilience, and continuous monitoring.
You will convert compliance into a running capability rather than a paperwork cycle.
By embedding controls in automation, policy-as-code in pipelines, signed artifacts with attestations, identity-centric access, and immutable backups, you will raise assurance while reducing toil and mean time to recover.
You’ll drive continuous compliance with authoritative evidence from VA systems (ITSM/CMDB, SIEM/EDR, vulnerability tools), cut vulnerability aging against CISA KEV targets, and raise control pass rates without slowing delivery.
During incidents, you will lead joint “swarm” response, contain issues quickly, and turn lessons into baseline changes, POA&Ms, and updated playbooks.
For executives and non-technical stakeholders, you’ll translate risk into clear narratives - what happened, what changed, how we’re safer, and publish trend lines that connect security investments to fewer outages, cleaner audits, and lower total cost of ownership.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's Degree. In lieu of a degree, an additional four years of related experience required
Experience: 10+ years in enterprise cybersecurity engineering/operations with direct ownership of hybrid (data center + AWS/Azure) environments; 3+ years in regulated or federal programs (VA/DoD/DHS/HHS or equivalent).
Demonstrated delivery of Zero Trust architectures (per NIST SP 800-207/TIC 3.0), RMF/ATO sustainment (SP 800-53 Rev 5/53B baselines), and continuous monitoring at scale.
Hands-on leadership standing up SIEM/SOAR, EDR, vulnerability management, identity platforms (SSO/PIV/FIDO, PAM/JIT), and audited disaster recovery programs (SP 800-184).
Proven record improving outcomes: higher control pass, reduced critical vuln aging, faster MTTR, successful external assessments, and repeatable ATO renewals.
Experience operating within multi-vendor/SIAM models with cross-vendor OLAs and shared KPIs.
Technical skills: Identity & Access (ICAM): SSO (SAML/OIDC), PIV/CAC and FIDO2, JIT/PAM, least-privilege for human and workload identities; directory hygiene and join/move/leave automation.
Network & Platform Security: Segmentation and micro-segmentation, SASE/SD-WAN patterns aligned to TIC 3.0; hardened baselines (STIG/CIS) for OS, containers, and Kubernetes/OpenShift (admission control, policy engines).
Logging, Detection, and Response: Event logging per OMB M-21-31, SIEM content engineering, SOAR playbooks, EDR tuning; run tabletop exercises and purple-team improvements.
Vulnerability & Patch Orchestration: Toolchain proficiency (e.g., Tenable/Qualys, WSUS/Linux lifecycle), KEV-driven prioritization, SLAs by criticality, and automated compliance evidence (SCAP).
Secure SDLC & Supply Chain: SSDF (SP 800-218) practices, artifact signing and provenance/attestations (SLSA/SBOM), trusted registries, policy-as-code gates in CI/CD; secrets management (KMS/Vault).
Data & Storage Protection: Encryption in transit/at rest (FIPS-140 validated), key management, DLP patterns, immutable/object-lock backups, tested DR with objective pass/fail artifacts.
Standards & Tooling Fluency: NIST CSF 2.0, SP 800-61 (IR), SP 800-53/53B, SP 800-207, SP 800-184, TIC 3.0, FIPS-140; OSCAL for machine-readable SSP/ConMon

Benefits

Full-flex work week to own your priorities at work and at home
401K with company match
Comprehensive health and wellness packages
Internal mobility team dedicated to helping you build your skills and own your career
Professional growth opportunities including paid education and certifications
Cutting-edge technology you can learn from
Rest and recharge with paid vacation and 10 company-paid holidays

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard skills

Zero Trust architectureRMF/ATO sustainmentSIEMSOAREDRvulnerability managementidentity platformsdisaster recoveryencryptionautomated compliance

Soft skills

leadershipcommunicationincident responseproblem-solvingcross-vendor collaborationnarrative translationcontinuous improvementstakeholder engagementteam coordinationrisk assessment

Certifications

Bachelor's DegreeNIST SP 800-207NIST SP 800-53NIST SP 800-184FIPS-140CISA KEVSP 800-218SLSASBOMOSCAL