Network Security Engineer

The Pennsylvania State University•San Diego, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) is seeking a Network Security Engineer for the DevSecOps Team in the Joint Mission Integration and Experimentation Division of the Information Advantage Office. The role is based fully onsite in San Diego, California, and requires periodic travel to local and remote test sites. The team develops advanced communications capabilities and secure experimentation networks for mission partners, including cross-domain data movement, tactical compute environments, and resilient edge processing. The engineer designs and maintains secure network architectures across multi-domain and cloud-connected environments, establishes cybersecurity and network administration processes, and works with infrastructure, systems, and cloud teams using Agile methods. The role develops Risk Management Framework (RMF) documentation and Body of Evidence artifacts, validates security requirements through security engineering practices, and plans and conducts network security assessments across classification domains. Responsibilities also include implementing and validating security controls, coordinating accreditation documentation for cloud environments, and supporting security throughout the system lifecycle. For higher-level roles, the engineer collaborates with ISSOs and ISSMs to refine RMF materials and independently develops authorization and assessment packages and artifacts needed to obtain an Authority to Operate. The role requires U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain a government security clearance. Employment is contingent on background checks and involves participation in ARL’s drug-testing program and compliance with applicable electronic and physical monitoring requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 3 years of relevant experience for the Advanced Professional level, or at least 6 years for the Senior Professional level; an equivalent combination of education and experience is accepted.
Demonstrated experience developing RMF documentation and guiding systems through accreditation across multiple environments.
Ability to design and scale secure network architectures across multi-domain systems.
Strong background in cybersecurity disciplines, including vulnerability management, scanning, compliance evaluation, and control implementation.
Experience interpreting security policy, generating evidence, and documenting test results for NIST 800-53 / JSIG security controls.
Active TS/SCI clearance or eligibility to obtain one.
Must be a U.S. citizen.
Must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance and participate in ARL’s drug-testing program, and comply with applicable electronic and physical monitoring requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing configuration control for security-related network hardware, software, and firmware.
Prior work as a System or Network Administrator.
Hands-on experience with Windows and Linux environments, especially in enterprise or tactical networks.
Familiarity with DoD technical and policy documentation.
Experience developing security or RMF training materials.
Proficiency with eMASS, ACAS/Nessus, STIG application, and network hardening.
Certifications such as GRC, CISSP, CISM, CCISO, GIAC, GSLC, or CASP+.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and maintain network security architectures across multi-domain and cloud-connected environments.
Define and enforce cybersecurity and network administration processes to protect data flows across experimental and operational networks.
Collaborate with infrastructure, systems, and cloud teams using Agile methods to support secure design, verification, deployment, and continuous monitoring.
Develop RMF documentation and Body of Evidence artifacts, including system security plans and concept-of-operations documents for networked and cloud systems.
Apply security engineering principles, including secure design, secure coding practices, static and dynamic analysis, and architectural review, to validate system security requirements across network infrastructure.
Conduct network security assessments within MLS systems, supporting vulnerability analysis, threat modeling, and security control validation.
Plan, execute, and report on security assessments across multiple classification domains.
Implement and validate security controls across network architectures, including boundary protections, segmentation, cross-domain interfaces, and secure transport mechanisms.
Coordinate and oversee RMF documentation required for accreditation of networked cloud environments, including Cybersecurity Strategy and Continuous Monitoring Plans.
Support lifecycle security requirements such as patch management, supply chain evaluation, change control, and defect management.
Mentor and support team members when needed.
For higher-level roles, collaborate with ISSOs and ISSMs to refine RMF documentation and review system security plans, risk assessments, accreditation packages, and POA&Ms.
For higher-level roles, independently develop RMF Authorization and Assessment packages and deliver artifacts required to obtain an Authority to Operate.