Zero Trust Architect STE
About The Position
The Zero Trust Architecture Senior Technical Expert (STE) serves as the senior advisor and technical authority supporting the CIO's Zero Trust program. The role provides expertise in designing, integrating, and implementing Zero Trust principles across large enterprise IT environments, ensuring compliance with DoD, IC, and federal cybersecurity mandates. The STE advises on Zero Trust strategy and architecture and enables secure digital transformation across multi-cloud, hybrid, and mission-critical systems and data management. The position supports the Government Zero Trust Program Manager with adoption strategies, roadmaps, policy integration, implementation planning, and oversight. It assesses enterprise IT strategies and Zero Trust maturity, develops reference architectures and system designs, evaluates technical gaps, and integrates Zero Trust capabilities into enterprise networks, cloud and hybrid environments, and DevSecOps pipelines. The STE also contributes to governance and compliance, vulnerability remediation, stakeholder coordination, and technical communications. Pueo describes a career-development-focused organization with four career environments—Program, Functional, Service, and Leadership—and small skill-aligned teams called Pods, generally consisting of five or fewer personnel.
Requirements
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
- Ability to work in a team environment and demonstrate a high degree of emotional intelligence.
- Ability to analyze data and use metrics to drive decisions.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, adapt in a dynamic environment, and collaborate with diverse teams.
- Ability to anticipate and mitigate risks to ensure a resilient cybersecurity posture.
- 12 or more years of cybersecurity experience, including at least 5 years dedicated to Zero Trust architecture, enterprise security design, and systems integration.
- Demonstrated experience architecting and deploying Zero Trust solutions in large-scale or government environments.
- Expertise in cloud security (AWS, Azure, or GCP), network segmentation, endpoint protection, and hybrid IT.
- Familiarity with RMF (NIST SP 800-37 and SP 800-53) and DIA/DoD accreditation processes.
- DoD 8140/8570 IAT Level III certification required; examples listed are CISSP, CASP+ CE, CCSP, or equivalent.
- Ability to pass a CI polygraph.
- Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline (listed as preferred).
- Zero Trust vendor certifications, such as Palo Alto ZTNA, Microsoft SC-300/SC-100, Okta, AWS Security Specialty, or Kubernetes Security.
Responsibilities
- Advise the Government Zero Trust Program Manager on Zero Trust adoption strategies, roadmaps, and policy integration.
- Support planning, coordination, and oversight of Zero Trust implementation, including project plans, schedules, and resources.
- Assess current IT strategies, recommend courses of action, and operationalize Cyber IT Strategy in alignment with the organization's mission.
- Conduct maturity assessments and gap analyses, and develop prioritized remediation strategies for enterprise Zero Trust Architecture adoption.
- Develop Zero Trust reference architectures, system designs, and data flows across all Zero Trust pillars.
- Assess identity, device, network, application, and data layers for gaps against Zero Trust principles.
- Integrate Zero Trust capabilities into enterprise networks, cloud and hybrid environments, and DevSecOps pipelines.
- Provide technical support for engineered Zero Trust solutions, including cloud and data engineering, ICAM, microsegmentation, encryption, continuous monitoring, and software-defined perimeters.
- Assist in developing and maintaining IT governance frameworks and SOPs aligned with Zero Trust objectives.
- Ensure compliance with NIST SP 800-207, the DoD Zero Trust Strategy, the CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model, and RMF integration requirements.
- Recommend mitigation and remediation approaches for vulnerabilities identified during RMF and continuous monitoring activities.
- Collaborate with senior leadership, acquisition teams, engineers, and mission stakeholders to integrate Zero Trust into enterprise workflows.
- Respond to Zero Trust data calls and prepare technical edits, executive reports, presentations, and policy updates.
- Serve as the primary technical liaison for Zero Trust engagements, aligning technical, programmatic, and strategic stakeholders.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
