Senior Cybersecurity Architect

Description

Position Summary 

The Senior Cybersecurity Architect directly supports the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) on the Integrated Research and Development for Enterprise Solutions (IRES) contract. This leadership role is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing secure, resilient cybersecurity architectures that safeguard enterprise systems, data, and mission-critical assets. The Senior Cybersecurity Architect collaborates across multidisciplinary teams to ensure cybersecurity is embedded within all layers of IT infrastructure and aligned with mission objectives, current threat landscapes, and compliance requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Cybersecurity Architecture Design & Development

• Develop and maintain cybersecurity architecture frameworks, standards, and reference blueprints.
• Design and implement security architectures for cloud, on premise, and hybrid infrastructures.
• Evaluate, recommend, and validate security technologies, tools, and platforms.
• Review architectural diagrams, models, and documentation with emphasis on security controls and data flows.
• Lead proof of concept initiatives and prototypes for security design validation.
• Architect secure solutions across data protection, network security, endpoint security, IAM, and application security.

Threat Modeling & Risk Assessment

• Conduct threat modeling to identify vulnerabilities and design mitigations.
• Evaluate security risks through comprehensive risk assessments.
• Develop strategies to reduce likelihood and impact of identified threats.

Technical Leadership & Guidance

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to cybersecurity engineers, analysts, and development staff.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on cybersecurity architecture, emerging technologies, and best practices.
• Guide security integration across all phases of the SDLC.
• Promote adoption of modern security technologies and architectural patterns.

Security Standards & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with frameworks such as NIST CSF, ISO 27001, and STIG requirements.
• Coordinate with compliance and audit teams to support security assessments.

Incident Response Support

• Support incident response activities by providing architectural expertise.
• Review root cause analysis and recommend technical or architectural corrective actions.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work with IT operations, development, and business stakeholders to align cybersecurity goals.
• Communicate complex architectural decisions to both technical and non technical audiences.
• Participate in architecture review boards and governance processes.

Continuous Improvement

• Stay current with emerging security technologies and industry trends.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen enterprise cybersecurity maturity.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must possess an active Secret security clearance.
• 8+ years of general full time work experience (may be reduced with advanced education). 
• 6+ years of direct experience in cybersecurity architecture. 
• 2+ years in a leadership or management role. 
• Proven experience designing and implementing complex enterprise security architectures. 
• Deep understanding of security principles, technologies, and best practices. 
• Hands on experience with firewalls, IDS/IPS, Elastic Security SIEM, ACAS vulnerability scanners, and endpoint security platforms. 
• Experience with cloud security architecture (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS). 
• Experience implementing Zero Trust principles across IT environments. 
• Knowledge of NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO?27001, and related compliance frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CCSP, or AWS Certified Security – Specialty.
• Experience with threat modeling methodologies (e.g., STRIDE, DREAD).
• Experience with penetration testing and vulnerability assessment.
• Familiarity with DevSecOps, security automation, and orchestration.

Physical Demands and Work Environment 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel obje