SME Zero Trust Security Engineer

Govcio•Alexandria, VA

15d•Hybrid

About The Position

GovCIO is currently hiring a Zero Trust Security Engineer to join our team, supporting a critical program with the U.S. Coast Guard. This position is located in Alexandria, VA and will be a hybrid remote position. The Zero Trust Security Engineer will be responsible for leading the strategic implementation and operationalization of Zero Trust principles across the enterprise. This role involves serving as the definitive technical authority on all matters related to ZT methodology and its practical application.

Requirements

Bachelor's with 12+ years (or commensurate experience)
Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and extensive, directly relevant experience) with 12+ years (or commensurate experience)
Minimum 8+ years of progressive, hands-on experience in cybersecurity, system architecture, or network engineering, with a minimum of 3 years spent specifically in a senior SME/escalation, engineering, or technical leadership role focused on Zero Trust or advanced security architecture.
Clearance Requirement: Must be clearable up to an active Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Zero Trust architecture, guiding the adoption and operational integration of ZT principles across the entire IT infrastructure.
Lead the design, implementation, and refinement of ZT strategies, focusing on the core tenets of "never trust, always verify" and the micro-segmentation of critical assets.
Conduct in-depth analysis of current network architectures, access controls, and security policies to identify gaps and develop comprehensive ZT migration roadmaps.
Collaborate directly with engineering, architecture, and cybersecurity teams to engineer and implement permanent, scalable ZT resolutions and security controls.
Architect and implement strategic process improvements, develop sophisticated, expert-level ZT implementation guides, and curate the knowledge base to significantly elevate the technical capabilities of the entire cyber operations organization.
Manage complex user identity, device, and application access controls within enterprise Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems, ensuring ZT principles and compliance standards are rigorously met.
Utilize advanced scripting and automation (PowerShell, Python) to automate ZT policy enforcement, enhance diagnostic capabilities, and streamline continuous monitoring processes.
Mentor and provide expert technical coaching to all levels of the security operations and IT support teams, acting as a technical leader and driving continuous skill development in ZT methodologies.
Maintain rigorous and detailed documentation of ZT architectures, configurations, and operational procedures within the enterprise knowledge management systems, strictly adhering to industry frameworks (e.g., ITIL, NIST, DoD).