Chief Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton•Reston, VA

8d•$142,900 - $266,000

About The Position

Booz Allen is seeking a Chief Engineer to serve as the senior technical authority and platform modernization lead for a large-scale, mission-critical defensive security engineering program. The role owns the end-to-end technical vision and architectural discipline across integrated security platforms, while advancing the program’s zero trust posture, operational resilience, and compliance standing. It oversees more than 20 projects involving the design, procurement, testing, implementation, deployment, and sustainment of cyber tools across complex network fabrics with varying security classifications. The Chief Engineer manages and coordinates cross-functional engineering teams organized around DoW-approved Zero Trust capabilities: Identity, Device, Network/Environment, Application/Workload, and Data. The role integrates cybersecurity architecture with Agile IT Service Management to deliver highly available capabilities that are efficiently integrated and sustained. The position also works with program and delivery leadership on technical scope and contract considerations, including T&M level-of-effort implications, FFP deliverable risk, and scope-change documentation. It leads or contributes to technical baseline reviews, CDRLs, and architecture working groups with government stakeholders, and ensures technical solutions meet ATO requirements from design through delivery. The Chief Engineer leads and develops senior engineers and architects, provides clear direction on complex technical issues, and represents the program in executive briefings, customer engagements, and competitive positioning activities. The projected annual compensation range is $142,900 to $266,000. Booz Allen describes benefits that include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits; paid leave; professional development; tuition assistance; work-life programs; dependent care; and recognition awards. Eligible employees must work at least 20 hours per week on a regular basis to participate in the benefit programs described.

Requirements

At least 10 years of experience in cybersecurity engineering or architecture.
At least 5 years serving as a Chief Engineer, Principal Architect, or senior technical leader on a large-scale enterprise program.
Experience delivering enterprise security solutions in highly regulated federal environments, including DoW, IC, or civilian agencies.
Delivery experience in at least three of these domains: network security architecture; SIEM/SOAR; EDR/XDR; cloud security such as AWS or Azure GovCloud; virtualization security such as VMware; or zero trust network access (ZTNA).
Knowledge of federal contract structures such as T&M, FFP, or CPFF and their technical implications for scope, risk, and architecture decisions.
Active TS/SCI clearance and willingness to take a polygraph exam.
One of the following education and experience combinations supporting IT projects and activities: associate degree and at least 10 years; bachelor’s degree and at least 8 years; or master’s degree and at least 6 years.
Ability to obtain a DoD 8570 CSSP-IS certification, such as CEH, CySA+, GICSP, SSCP, CHFI, CFR, Cloud+, or CND, within 30 days of the start date.
Ability to obtain a DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level III certification, such as SecX, CCNP, CISA, CISSP, GCED, GCIH, or CCSP, within 45 days of the start date.

Nice To Haves

Experience with enterprise Security Operations Center (SOC) architecture, SIEM content engineering, and detection engineering programs.
Experience supporting program capture, technical volumes, oral presentations, or architecture demonstrations for competitive pursuits.
Experience with security architecture frameworks such as SABSA, TOGAF, or equivalent, and their application to defense or IC programs.
Knowledge of network security design, including segmentation, NAC, secure DNS, and evolution from perimeter-to-interior trust models.
Knowledge of CMMC, ICD 503, STIGs, and applicable IA policy frameworks.
Knowledge of AI/ML applications in cyber operations and their implications for platform architecture and data pipeline design.
Cloud security certifications such as AWS Security Specialty or Azure Security Engineer.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary technical authority for more than 20 interconnected cyber engineering projects.
Define the technical roadmap, engineering standards, and system architecture across isolated and interconnected network fabrics.
Lead the engineering lifecycle for next-generation cyber tools, including design, procurement, testing, implementation, deployment, and sustainment.
Manage engineering teams organized around Zero Trust pillars and coordinate a unified security posture.
Oversee operationalization of cyber tools using Agile ITSM frameworks, aligning workflows with continuous service improvement, incident, change, and release management while minimizing disruption to live network fabrics.
Partner with acquisition teams to evaluate, select, and procure hardware and software, ensuring security and interoperability compliance.
Lead large-scale staging, testing, and validation strategies, including vulnerability assessments and interoperability testing before production deployment.
Establish practices for long-term maintenance, patching, upgrading, and optimization of deployed tools across network fabrics.
Partner with the Program Manager and delivery leads to align technical scope with contract structure, including T&M level-of-effort implications, FFP deliverable risk, and scope-change documentation.
Ensure technical work products meet quality standards and are traceable to customer requirements, contract deliverables, and applicable control frameworks.
Lead or contribute to technical baseline reviews, CDRLs, and architecture working groups with government stakeholders.
Ensure technical solutions meet ATO requirements throughout design and delivery.
Promote engineering rigor, documentation discipline, and continuous improvement across the program.
Lead, mentor, and develop senior engineers and architects.
Translate complex technical challenges into clear direction and make decisions to resolve ambiguity that slows execution.
Represent the program’s technical capabilities in executive briefings, customer engagements, and competitive positioning activities.