Principal Engineer – Industrial Cybersecurity

The Ohio State University•Columbus, OH

1d•$103,000 - $134,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Engineer designs, develops, leads, and executes large-scale industrial cybersecurity research and development efforts for the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME). The role works closely with industry partners to scope complex projects and develop statements of work, manages technical projects to agreed milestones, deliverables, budgets, and schedules, and contributes to business development and funding efforts. The position also collaborates with OSU faculty, CDME staff, and students on multidisciplinary engineering tasks and provides leadership and guidance to less experienced staff and student employees. The role develops and adapts virtual cybersecurity curriculum focused on manufacturing, operational technology (OT), CMMC readiness, and trustworthy AI; establishes technical standards for program delivery; oversees the accuracy and relevance of educational materials; and administers learning platforms and participant data systems. It sets program goals, tracks key performance indicators, and improves participant engagement and completion. The Principal Engineer independently manages customer engagement and the sales process, leads proposals and technical reports, provides intensive cybersecurity assistance to customers, and develops facilitator guides, implementation resources, assessments, technical-assistance protocols, adaptable modules, and national replication packages. Technical work may involve advanced manufacturing equipment and software. The position may require travel to customer facilities and presentations at conferences and symposia. This position requires access to export-controlled data and work in an export-controlled facility. Eligibility is restricted to U.S. persons as defined by U.S. export control regulations: U.S. citizens or nationals, permanent residents, asylees or refugees, or other protected individuals under the cited statute.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Information Systems, or a related field.
At least 6 years of relevant professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Progressively responsible experience in industrial cybersecurity, operational technology, manufacturing information systems, applied research, or technical program delivery.
Demonstrated experience leading complex multidisciplinary projects; developing proposals, statements of work, and technical reports; engaging industry or government sponsors; and managing technical work to defined milestones, deliverables, budgets, and schedules.
Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following: industrial control systems, PLC or SCADA environments, connected manufacturing equipment, OT network architecture, cyber-physical systems, CMMC readiness, NIST SP 800-171, NIST SP 800-82, incident response, disaster recovery, or continuity of operations.
Must qualify as a U.S. person under applicable U.S. export control regulations because the position requires access to export-controlled data and facilities.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Information Systems, or a related field.
Experience with industrial equipment.
Experience supervising direct reports or processes.
Extensive hands-on experience in industrial cybersecurity, OT environments, or manufacturing information systems, including industrial control systems, programmable logic controllers, SCADA networks, or connected manufacturing equipment.
Current or prior security clearance, or experience supporting defense or other regulated programs.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, lead, and execute large-scale industrial cybersecurity research and development efforts for CDME.
Work with industry partners to scope complex projects and develop detailed statements of work.
Plan, develop, and adapt virtual cybersecurity curriculum focused on manufacturing, OT, CMMC readiness, and trustworthy AI.
Establish technical standards for program delivery and oversee the accuracy and relevance of webinars, workshops, events, and other materials presented by staff.
Administer learning platforms and participant data systems; set program goals, track key performance indicators, and drive continuous improvement in participant engagement and completion.
Engage customers and support staff and independently manage and execute the sales process.
Serve as lead writer on large-scale proposals and technical reports to sponsoring agencies.
Collaborate with OSU faculty, CDME staff, and students on multidisciplinary engineering tasks.
Provide guidance and leadership to less experienced staff members in areas of expertise.
Execute technical engineering work using personal expertise, advanced manufacturing equipment, and software, providing innovative solutions that may establish new precedents and standards.
Provide customers with intensive cybersecurity assistance, including structured intake, OT threat-surface review, prioritized findings, 90-day action plans, and qualified referrals.
Manage projects independently and ensure completion in accordance with milestones, deliverable requirements, agreed costs, and schedules.
Lead development and maintenance of facilitator guides, implementation resources, assessment instruments, technical-assistance protocols, adaptable state and sector modules, and national replication packages.
Support business development by researching funding opportunities, traveling to customer facilities for project meetings, and presenting research results at conferences and symposia.
Set priorities and supervise student employees, provide developmental opportunities and coaching, and evaluate performance.
Support CDME professional development and student program activities in the area of expertise.
Bring in sufficient funding to support the position and any direct reports.
Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.