Critical Infrastructure Protection Staff – ICS Security

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory • Laurel, MD

2d

About The Position

Do you love to develop and implement proofs-of-concept and prototype solutions to protect industrial control systems? Are you searching for important work in defending U.S. critical infrastructure from persistent threats? Are you passionate about analyzing and mitigating vulnerabilities in control systems? If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL. We are seeking an Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security Research Engineer to help us create game-changing capabilities that enable U.S. infrastructure to be robust in the face of complex threats and determined adversaries. As a member of our team, you’ll contribute to shaping premier research facilities such as our CYPRESS Laboratory and provide expertise to DoD, DHS, and other sponsor programs. You will be joining a hardworking group of engineers and scientists who design, build, and invent capabilities to advance the state of the art in ICS resilience. We are passionate about continuously deploying our work into operational facilities to truly support our sponsors’ missions. We strive to foster an environment of creativity and boldness, empowering our staff to design, develop and pursue solutions in their own unique ways. As an ICS security research engineer... Your primary responsibility will be leading interdisciplinary teams to design and engineer cutting edge resilience solutions for industrial control systems. You will reverse engineer control system network protocols and engage in red teaming exercises and adversary emulation. You will work closely with teammates to test, deploy, maintain, and enhance software integrated with ICS testbeds. You will develop and present proposals, briefings, and reports to technical specialists, collaborators, and sponsors to influence important decisions.

Requirements

• Possess a Bachelor's in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, information assurance, control and automation engineering, or other field related to the duties as described above.
• Have 3+ years of experience working with ICS devices, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) technology, HMIs, cybersecurity, and risk management frameworks.
• Are skilled in designing automation control systems from customer specifications and installing, maintaining, servicing, testing, and troubleshooting local and field control devices, ICS hardware, and ICS software.
• Have working knowledge of networking concepts and technologies (TCP/IP, routers, switches, and network-connected devices, etc.), network security, virtualization, Software Defined Networking (SDN), embedded system firmware, real-time operating systems, or ICS protocols (Modbus, S7, BACnet, DNP3, OPC, CAN Bus, Profinet, Ethernet IP, etc.).
• Are deeply knowledgeable of industrial control systems environments, architectures, risks, threats, vulnerabilities, and frameworks.
• Have experience working with federal departments and agencies or their stakeholders (e.g., state/local/tribal/territorial governments) and critical infrastructure organizations (especially electric, gas, or water utilities).
• Can obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

• Possess an MS, or PhD in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, information assurance, control and automation engineering, or related technical field.
• Have experience with policies, industry standards and federal guidelines to securing ICS and SCADA systems, such as NIST CSF, NIST 800-37, NIST 800-82, NIST 800-53, IEC 62443, or ISO.
• Possess Certified Automation Professional (CAP), Certified Control Systems Technician (CCTS), Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP), ISO 27001 Auditor, or other ICS-related certification.

Responsibilities

• Leading interdisciplinary teams to design and engineer cutting edge resilience solutions for industrial control systems.
• Reverse engineering control system network protocols and engage in red teaming exercises and adversary emulation.
• Working closely with teammates to test, deploy, maintain, and enhance software integrated with ICS testbeds.
• Developing and presenting proposals, briefings, and reports to technical specialists, collaborators, and sponsors to influence important decisions.

Benefits

• We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
• At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas.
• Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees