Crypto Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Peraton•Arlington, VA

4d•$146,000 - $234,000

About The Position

Peraton is developing the next generation of mission‑critical command‑and‑control and enterprise software capabilities supporting the U.S. Government’s space communications infrastructure. Our teams deliver secure, resilient services that ensure trusted operations for complex, distributed mission systems. As a Crypto Subject Matter Expert (SME), you will serve as the primary technical authority on cryptographic designs, PKI strategy, and identity‑centric security capabilities across the platform. You will decompose system‑level requirements into implementable cryptographic components, support architecture modeling within a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) environment, and guide engineering teams during development and testing. This role blends deep cryptographic expertise with hands‑on system engineering to ensure secure, scalable, and mission‑aligned solutions.

Requirements

Associates degree and 14+ years of experience in a Systems Engineering related field; OR bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Cloud Computing, or related field and 12+ years of experience in a Systems Engineering related field; OR a master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Cloud Computing, or related field and 10+ years of experience in a systems engineering related field; OR a Ph.D. and 7+ years of experience. Additional four (4) years of relevant experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
This position requires the candidate possess a minimum of Secret clearance with ability to upgrade to TS/SCI. The candidate must maintain the clearance
Experience performing cybersecurity, cryptographic engineering, or information systems security engineering activities in a software or system engineering environment.
Expert‑level understanding of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) architecture and operations, including certificate lifecycle management and key management processes.
Deep expertise in cryptographic protocols and technologies such as device endorsement, auditing, signing workflows, or certificate issuance.
Experience implementing authentication and authorization technologies such as OAuth 2.0, JWT, RBAC, or ABAC.
Proficiency in Python development with experience creating cryptographic automation such as key generation, certificate workflows, or PKI integrations.
Knowledge of Zero Trust architectures and identity‑centric security models.
Experience reviewing or contributing to system architectures, interface definitions, or MBSE models, with the ability to align cryptographic requirements to system design.
Experience supporting Agile development workflows, including backlog refinement, requirement clarification, or verification of implemented security features.

Nice To Haves

Active TS/SCI
Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex cryptographic and system engineering concepts to cross‑functional teams.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with system engineers, MBSE teams, product leadership, and software development teams.
Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize technical work in a fast‑paced development environment.

Responsibilities

Decompose system and element‑level requirements into component cryptographic requirements that support overall system functionality and security objectives.
Provide inputs to architecture teams and review system behavior captured within MBSE models to ensure accurate representation of cryptographic and identity services.
Support the Product Manager in creating and refining the software backlog related to cryptographic functions, PKI capabilities, and identity management features.
Guide Agile development teams during implementation and testing to ensure correct application of cryptographic protocols, certificate workflows, and Zero Trust principles.
Serve as the program’s technical authority on cryptographic design decisions, ensuring alignment with PKI strategy, system architecture, and mission security needs.