Senior Azure Security & Compliance Engineer (CMMC/NIST)

Location: Remote (Preference for 1 day/week onsite in Chicago, IL)

Duration: 6-9 Month Contract (Potential Extension)

Hours: Approximately 20 Hours per Week

Start Date: ASAP

About the Opportunity

A leading research and higher education organization is seeking an experienced Azure Security & Compliance Engineer to support a critical security and compliance initiative. This is an urgent contract opportunity for a hands-on security professional with deep expertise in Azure, Zero Trust architecture, CMMC compliance, and NIST remediation.

The ideal candidate will have experience implementing enterprise security controls, supporting compliance audits, remediating security gaps, and strengthening cloud security posture within Microsoft Azure environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead CMMC Level 2 and NIST SP 800-171 remediation efforts
• Resolve POA&M findings and collect technical evidence for compliance requirements
• Design and implement Azure Zero Trust security architectures
• Configure and manage Microsoft Entra ID governance and security controls
• Implement Azure network segmentation strategies
• Deploy and manage Private Link and Private Endpoints
• Configure and administer Azure Bastion environments
• Harden Azure Virtual Desktop host pools and implement DLP controls
• Apply CIS Benchmarks and DoD STIGs to virtual machine environments
• Develop and enforce Azure Policy and regulatory compliance initiatives
• Configure and optimize Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Sentinel
• Implement encryption solutions using Azure Key Vault and related security services

Required Skills

• Microsoft Azure Security
• CMMC Level 2 Compliance
• NIST SP 800-171
• Zero Trust Architecture
• Microsoft Entra ID
• Azure Networking & Security
• Microsoft Defender for Cloud
• Microsoft Sentinel
• Azure Policy & Governance
• Security Hardening & Compliance Remediation

Preferred Certifications

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500)
• CISSP
• CyberAB Registered Practitioner (RP/RPA)
• Other relevant cloud security certifications

Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience leading security and compliance initiatives
• Strong knowledge of federal compliance frameworks
• Hands-on Azure security engineering experience
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication and documentation skills

Why Apply?

• Flexible remote engagement
• Opportunity to support a high-impact security initiative
• Potential contract extension and expanded responsibilities
• Immediate interview and start process

Apply today with your updated resume, hourly rate and relevant certifications. Qualified candidates will be contacted immediately.