Principal Cyber Systems Engineer – Cyber A&A Engr (26-324)

Northrop Grumman•Colorado Springs, CO

10d•$113,900 - $170,900•Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Space Systems—Missile Defense Integration offers an excellent opportunity for a Principal Cyber Systems Engineer – Cyber A&A Engr (26-324) to join our team of skilled and diverse professionals. Based at Schriever Space Force Base, CO, this role is essential to supporting the U.S. President, the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders at the strategic, regional, and operational levels. This position does not provide relocation assistance and requires on-site work with no remote options. Northrop Grumman Space Systems – Launch and Missile Defense Systems seeks a highly motivated Cyber Assessment & Authorization (A&A) Engineer to join the C2BMC (Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications) program in Colorado Springs, CO. C2BMC integrates the Missile Defense System and is a vital operational capability that enables senior decision-makers and combatant commanders to plan ballistic missile defense operations, maintain shared situational awareness, and dynamically manage sensors and weapon systems to achieve global and regional mission objectives. This role directly supports continuous system authorization by ensuring the cybersecurity posture of complex, distributed mission systems. The Cyber A&A Engineer will apply deep cybersecurity engineering expertise and hands-on experience with RMF, ACAS/SCC/ConfigOS, and eMASS/Xacta to drive risk-informed decisions, maintain strong cyber hygiene, and support mission-critical accreditation activities.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity Engineering, Information Assurance, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field from an accredited university, along with 5 years of experience; or a Master’s degree in a related field with 3 years of relevant work experience; or 9 years of relevant work experience may be considered as an alternative to a degree
Applicants must have a current, active Government-Issued 8140 certification at IAT Level II or higher (such as Security+ CE, GSEC, SSCP, CCNA-Security, CySA+, CND, etc.) at the time of application, which is required to start. The candidate is responsible for maintaining their 8140 certifications throughout the entire contract period
Applicants must have a current, active in-scope Government-issued Top Secret security clearance at the time of application, which is required to start
Strong cybersecurity engineering background with practical experience applying DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF) and NIST SP 800‑53 security controls
Working knowledge of DoDI 8500-series requirements and DoD cybersecurity directives and standards
Hands-on experience reviewing and interpreting ACAS and SCC outputs, including vulnerability findings and compliance check results.
Demonstrated experience with STIGs, vulnerability scanning tools, and security configuration baselines
Experience using eMASS (and/or Xacta) to develop, maintain, and track RMF authorization packages
Experience supporting or participating in the accreditation of Cross Domain Solutions (CDS)
Excellent technical writing skills for preparing security plans, POA&Ms, risk assessments, and supporting documentation
Strong verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

Nice To Haves

Experience managing and responding to Cyber Tasking Orders (CTOs) and Information Assurance Vulnerability Management (IAVM) directives across enterprise environments
Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating POA&M management, including tracking remediation status and verifying closure of vulnerabilities
Experience working with third-party assessors and auditors, including coordinating evidence collection, interviews, and follow-up actions
Experience performing self-assessments against STIGs and RMF controls, and developing corrective action plans
Hands-on experience with account management and auditing for user, admin, and service accounts in complex, multi-domain environments
Knowledge of and experience with patch and configuration management processes for large, distributed, and mission-critical enterprise systems
Familiarity with missile defense, command and control (C2), or space/defense systems environments

Responsibilities

Perform Assessment & Authorization (A&A) activities in support of continuous system Authorization for C2BMC and associated mission systems
Analyze ACAS, SCC, and ConfigOS scan results to identify vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and control gaps across complex enterprise environments
Review, interpret, and validate STIGs, RMF controls (NIST SP 800‑53), and DoD cybersecurity requirements; provide clear technical guidance to engineering and operations teams
Develop and maintain Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&Ms), including engineering responses, remediation plans, and residual risk documentation
Conduct risk analysis for Risk Acceptance Requests (RARs) and provide recommendations to leadership based on mission impact and risk posture
Utilize eMASS/Xacta to create, maintain, and update system authorization packages, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with DoD RMF processes
Support the accreditation of Cross Domain Solutions (CDS), including documentation, control implementation evidence, and coordination with security stakeholders
Collaborate closely with C2BMC internal teams and external stakeholders (including 3rd party assessors and auditors) to plan, execute, and document cybersecurity assessments
Assist with the management and auditing of user and privileged accounts, ensuring adherence to least-privilege and separation-of-duties principles
Contribute to patch and configuration management activities by analyzing scan results, validating remediation actions, and verifying system compliance
Prepare and present clear, concise technical documentation and briefings for program management, cybersecurity leadership, and customer representatives