Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) (Tech Lead)

Credence•O'Fallon, IL

11d

About The Position

Credence seeks a Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) (Tech Lead) to support Air Combat Command (HQ ACC) Directorate of Cyberspace Operations and Warfighting Communications (A6) Zero Trust (ZT) Functional Management Office (FMO), at Scott AFB, Illinois, and other locations throughout the country. The role provides expert-level guidance and support for Department of Defense (DoD) and Air Force cybersecurity initiatives, bringing technical expertise, strategic insight, and hands-on experience securing enterprise IT infrastructure in compliance with DoD standards and frameworks. The specialist supports DoD and Air Force enterprise infrastructure and security initiatives; advises on cybersecurity architecture, risk management, and compliance; and helps implement cybersecurity controls aligned with NIST, RMF, and DoD frameworks. The role also supports development of cybersecurity policy, directives, plans, operational concepts, governance, oversight, risk management, command and control, failover, and related documentation. It contributes to information protection processes, technology requirements, baseline configurations, system development life-cycle processes, and change control, with a focus on Zero Trust principles and resilience. The position maintains awareness of relevant guidance and regulations and incorporates updates into enterprise strategies. It collaborates with stakeholders on Zero Trust-focused awareness, role-based and operational training, and exercises. It coordinates with portfolio managers and program offices to document and validate system Zero Trust requirements and identify architecture deficiencies. The role also supports executive briefings and metrics, broad-based communications and change management, roadmap and implementation-plan tracking, assessments of existing Zero Trust activities, capability convergence recommendations, and integration of Zero Trust transition activities into capability planning oversight and reporting.

Requirements

Active Secret security clearance.
Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a related field.
CISSP or equivalent IAT/IAM Level III certification.
At least 15 years of IT experience.
Experience providing technical expertise to DoD, other federal agencies, or Fortune 400 organizations.
Hands-on experience with Air Force or DoD enterprise infrastructure, governance, policies, and procedures.
Strong understanding of cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53, RMF, and the DoD 8500 series.
Proven ability to lead enterprise cybersecurity projects and initiatives in complex environments.

Nice To Haves

Deep understanding of Zero Trust technologies, implementation, and integration into enterprise security architecture.
Zero Trust Strategist (ZTS) certification from the Cloud Security Alliance, NIST Zero Trust Architecture training, Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert, and/or MIT xPro Zero Trust Strategy certification.
Cloud Service Provider Security certifications.
DevSecOps certification.
Artificial Intelligence training or certification.

Responsibilities

Serve as a cybersecurity expert supporting DoD and Air Force enterprise infrastructure and security initiatives.
Provide strategic and technical guidance on cybersecurity architecture, risk management, and compliance.
Interpret and apply DoD cybersecurity governance, policies, and procedures.
Lead and support implementation of cybersecurity controls in accordance with NIST, RMF, and DoD frameworks.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to assess, design, and implement secure IT solutions.
Conduct security assessments and vulnerability analysis, and support incident response planning.
Mentor junior cybersecurity staff and contribute to knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Assist in developing policies, directives, memorandums, CONOPS, CONEMP, I-Plans, and other documentation supporting cybersecurity, cyber operations, governance, oversight, risk management, strategy, command and control, failover, and relevant NIST and DoD guidance.
Assist in developing and implementing information protection processes, procedures, and technology requirements, including technology baselines, SDLC and change-control processes, and policies for physical operating environments and organizational asset resilience.
Maintain knowledge of current guidance, policies, laws, and regulations; communicate updates and incorporate them into enterprise strategies affected by Zero Trust.
Collaborate with stakeholders to develop and deliver Zero Trust-focused cybersecurity awareness, role-based and operational training, education, and realistic cyber training and exercise scenarios and objectives.
Coordinate with portfolio managers and program offices for systems maintained or used by the DAF; advise Government leads on researching and documenting Zero Trust requirements for new systems and help identify system architecture deficiencies using available data and reports.
Support executive-level briefings and Zero Trust monitoring and oversight metrics, including reporting to Congress, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, DoD, and DAF senior leaders.
Design, develop, and provide communications and change-management support for program management, financial management, business-process improvement, and process standardization.
Establish and operate ZT FMO capabilities to coordinate, track, and drive activities supporting Zero Trust roadmaps and other guidance in conjunction with SAF/CN.
Establish capabilities to ingest strategic roadmaps, generate capability-specific I-Plans, and track milestones and deliverables.
Assess existing Zero Trust activities and systems and recommend alignment with the DAF Zero Trust Roadmap.
Provide advice and recommendations on implementation and execution options and opportunities for program and capability convergence.
Establish capabilities to support Zero Trust transition activities and integrate them into CPG implementation oversight and reporting.