Cybersecurity Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Akima, LLC•District of Columbia, DC

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Cybersecurity Subject Matter Expert (SME) supports the Department of Energy Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) by applying advanced technical expertise, analytic capabilities, and domain-specific knowledge to assess cybersecurity controls, guide strategic decisions, resolve complex security issues, and strengthen the Department’s enterprise cybersecurity posture. The role includes assessing security and privacy controls, evaluating deficiencies and remediation, and contributing to continuous monitoring and enterprise cybersecurity improvement initiatives. The SME also analyzes complex interactions across operational systems and applies modeling, simulation, statistical analysis, engineering techniques, and operational mathematics to develop solutions for cybersecurity and information assurance challenges. The position provides expertise in specialized domains such as cyber risk analysis, cyber forensics, reverse engineering, and cyber hunt operations. It contributes to enterprise cyber strategy, policy development, strategic initiatives, and supporting technical and policy documentation. The position is remote and requires the ability to complete a DOE background investigation, obtain government clearance for access to federal systems, and obtain DOE Q Clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or four years of equivalent professional experience.
8–10 years of experience in cybersecurity, cyber operations, cyber risk analysis, modeling and simulation, or related technical fields.
Demonstrated expertise in one or more specialized cybersecurity domains, such as risk analysis, forensics, reverse engineering, or cyber hunt.
Advanced proficiency in technical disciplines such as mathematics, statistical analysis, operational modeling, engineering methods, or scientific computing.
Strong understanding of federal cybersecurity frameworks, including NIST RMF and NIST SP 800-53.
Ability to solve highly complex problems, interpret technical data, and develop actionable security recommendations.
Experience contributing to cybersecurity strategy, policy, or program development.
Strong written communication skills, particularly for technical reports, assessment documentation, and strategic papers.
Ability to complete a DOE background investigation and obtain government clearance for access to federal systems.
Ability to obtain DOE Q Clearance.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive assessments of security and privacy controls to determine their effectiveness, implementation, operational behavior, and alignment with DOE requirements.
Analyze assessment deficiencies, determine their severity and mission impact, and recommend remediation strategies.
Prepare detailed assessment reports covering findings, risk evaluations, and recommendations, and present results to Team Leaders and senior stakeholders.
Reassess remediated controls to verify corrective actions are effective and sustainably implemented.
Evaluate system-specific and inherited controls as part of DOE’s continuous monitoring strategy.
Contribute expertise to performance metrics, deliverables, and enterprise cybersecurity improvement initiatives.
Analyze complex operational interactions across military, governmental, or business systems to support cybersecurity decisions and resource allocation.
Apply modeling, simulation, statistical analysis, engineering techniques, and operational mathematics to develop solutions for cybersecurity and information assurance challenges.
Support requirements development, conceptualization, design, testing, verification and validation, documentation, and implementation of modeling- and simulation-based decision-support systems.
Provide specialized expertise in areas such as cyber risk analysis, cyber forensics, reverse engineering, and cyber hunt operations.
Provide high-level technical expertise in cybersecurity, information assurance, and cyber operations.
Identify, analyze, and resolve complex cybersecurity issues spanning multiple domains and operational environments.
Assist senior OCIO staff with enterprise cyber strategy, policy development, and strategic cybersecurity initiatives.
Provide expert input to white papers, position papers, and documentation supporting DOE cyber policy, priorities, and modernization efforts.