Job Description
Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That's because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation's toughest challenges—and we're committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We're making a difference every day—working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth, and a culture of innovation that embraces adaptability, collaboration, technical excellence, and people in partnership. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE - and make a difference with us. The Weapon Systems Engineering Department (N261) is dedicated to delivering world-class engineering solutions and technical leadership to enhance Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capabilities. Its mission is to enable resilient, adaptive, and scalable weapon systems that counter emerging threats and safeguard national security and the homeland. The Department is seeking a technically proficient and operationally oriented Principal Applied Cybersecurity Engineer to serve as the GMD Cybersecurity Principal Engineer within the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program. The successful candidate will bring strong cyber development and operational testing experience and will support oversight of the technical development of next-generation GMD to ensure it is secure and resilient in cyberspace, while helping improve the cybersecurity and cyber resiliency of the GMD element of the Missile Defense System (MDS). Roles & Responsibilities: The GMD Cybersecurity Principal Engineer will be responsible for delivering high-value, high-impact outcomes within the MDA work program in support of the evolving cybersecurity, cyber resiliency, and Defensive Cyberspace Operations posture of the GMD weapon system. The successful candidate will work closely with government contractors and developers, the GMD Cybersecurity Director, and senior GMD leadership while serving as a key technical advisor to the GMD Cybersecurity Director. In this role, the individual will help oversee the technical development of next-generation GMD to ensure the system is secure and resilient in cyberspace, facilitate the active cyber defense of the fielded GMD system, including continuous monitoring and associated Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures as part of Defensive Cyberspace Operations, including integration with broader MDS DCO efforts, and oversee mitigation planning and implementation following cyber test events involving GMD. As a key contributor within the MDA work program, the selected individual will provide technical guidance across acquisition, cybersecurity, cyber resiliency, systems engineering, including requirements definition and verification, and Defensive Cyberspace Operations to enable the sponsor to successfully transform its culture and cyberspace posture and achieve assured GMD weapon system capabilities. Highly competitive candidates must bring a strong technical background and depth of domain knowledge and experience to advance the department’s strategic growth in IAMD (for our people and our mission) in one or more of the following ways: Drive innovation in next generation weapon system technology/applications Advance weapon systems integration within IAMD Architectures Lead technical efforts to ensure weapon systems are integrated into broader IAMD frameworks, enabling interoperability across sensors, interceptors, and Command/Control elements Develop and refine architectures that optimize the role of weapon systems in multi-layered defense strategies, including regional and global missile defense postures In addition, specific responsibilities include (but are not limited to): Serve as the technical advisor to the GMD Cybersecurity Director on all matters related to cybersecurity and cyber resiliency of the fielded and future GMD system. Lead tasks as the GMD Cybersecurity Technical Director which include planning and execution of GMD cybersecurity, cyber defense, and cyber resiliency tasks by identifying technical challenges (to include root causes), facilitating the development of mitigation actions (or other plans of action) through working groups with relevant stakeholders, and presenting results to the sponsor. Engage with GMD stakeholders (government/military staff,