Cyber Systems Engineer - Level 4

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman · Aerospace · Chandler, AZ +1 · Cyber

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Cyber Systems Engineer (Level 4) in Chandler, AZ, to serve as the technical authority for system security engineering, anti-tamper, cybersecurity, exportability, and program protection for a complex missile weapon system. The role involves defining security architecture, conducting threat assessments, authoring security documentation, overseeing control implementation, and leading V&V and certification processes. Requires a Bachelor's degree with 8 years of experience or Master's with 6 years, demonstrated experience with Anti-Tamper design for DoD programs, and the ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance.

What you'd actually do

  1. Serve as the technical authority for System Security Engineering (SSE), Anti-Tamper (AT), Cybersecurity, Exportability, and Program Protection across a major missile/weapon program. Develop overarching security architecture, strategy, and implementation roadmap.
  2. Lead the identification and classification of Critical Program Information (CPI), perform advanced threat and vulnerability assessments, and define risk acceptance criteria and trade-offs balancing security, cost, performance, and schedule.
  3. Author, review, and approve key security program artifacts: Program Protection Plan (PPP), System Security Plan (SSP), Security Classification Guide (SCG), AT Plan, Exportability Assessment, supply-chain risk assessments, and other compliance/regulatory documentation.
  4. Oversee implementation of security controls (hardware, firmware, software, supply chain, physical, personnel, industrial security) across the system development life cycle (design, integration, production, sustainment). Ensure countermeasures are effective and compliance with DoD and NIST guidance (e.g., NIST SP 800-160, RMF, DoD AT policies).
  5. Lead Verification & Validation (V&V), security testing, and certification/authorization processes, including risk acceptance documentation, and periodic security reviews.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's degree with 8 years of professional experience or Master's degree with 6 years of professional experience
  • Demonstrated experience with Anti-Tamper design and implementation for protection of CPI on classified DoD programs
  • Deep working knowledge of DoD and NIST processes/frameworks (e.g., DoD AT policy, NIST SP 800-160, RMF, etc.)
  • Proven track record of leading security architecture for embedded weapon systems
  • Ability to obtain DoD Secret (or higher) clearance
  • U.S. citizenship

Nice to have

  • Prior experience authoring and leading Program Protection Plans, Security Classification Guides, AT Plans, Exportability Assessments, Supply Chain Risk Management, and other program-level security documents.
  • Demonstrated success delivering security for complex embedded/missile/weapon systems across full lifecycle, including involvement in certification/authorization and compliance audits.
  • In-depth knowledge of threat-modeling methodologies, adversary capabilities, hardware/firmware reverse-engineering countermeasures, hardware-assurance and tamper-resistance technologies, and security validation (V&V) processes.
  • Prior experience in mentoring teams, guiding SSE/AT strategy, and leading cross-functional trade studies, risk assessments, and security cost/performance trade-offs.

What the JD emphasized

  • Must have ability to obtain DoD Secret (or higher) clearance