As an Associate Director, Cybersecurity Engineer, you will provide hands-on technical leadership for a team researching and evaluating hardware and software solutions in support of defensive cyber operations. Drawing from military or government cyber mission experience, you will lead the assessment of engineering prototypes, validate their operational utility, and translate customer needs into practical technical plans. Solutions may include specialized network sensors, hardware networking devices such as FPGA-based firewalls, and software written in languages such as Rust or Python. You will direct technical teams while remaining engaged in technical analysis, testing, and customer collaboration. Vulnerability research may be part of the work when customer requirements call for it.

This is an onsite role based in the Two Six Technologies Laurel, Maryland office, with approximately 20% travel, including customer meetings in Arlington and Herndon as-needed.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and mentor technical leads, each managing one to two staff or senior personnel
• As the team grows, participate in hiring, performance management, and career development for team members
• Set technical priorities and plans for research, evaluation, and validation of hardware and software solutions
• Apply defensive cyber operations experience to assess mission needs, operational constraints, and candidate solutions
• Plan and oversee testing of engineering prototypes, including test procedures, measures of effectiveness, and analysis of results
• Conduct hands-on technical analysis and testing when needed, and guide teams through complex technical problems
• Communicate technical findings, risks, and recommendations to customers, leadership, and engineering teams
• Coordinate with customers and internal stakeholders to shape requirements and align work to mission needs
• Support vulnerability research when customer requirements call for it
• Establish repeatable technical processes and documentation for evaluations and test activities

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience in one or more related areas, such as incident response, vulnerability research, network engineering, or software development OR comparable experience and education will be considered. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage technical staff or leads, set priorities, and mentor senior engineers
• Experience supporting military or government defensive cyber missions
• Experience researching, evaluating, or validating cybersecurity hardware or software solutions
• Experience planning and conducting technical testing of systems, devices, or engineering prototypes
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present findings and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility or access (TS/SCI)

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with cyber operations platforms, defensive tools, network technologies, or security monitoring systems such as Zeek, Snort/Suricata, Splunk, etc
• Experience evaluating specialized network sensors, hardware networking devices such as FPGA-based firewalls, or software written in Rust or Python
• Experience supporting engineering research and development or prototype transition into operational use
• Familiarity with vulnerability assessment or research methods
• Experience leading the delivery of successful contracts to military or government customers

Security Clearance Requirements: 

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility or access (TS/SCI)

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