Principal Cybersecurity Engineer

Are you ready to provide technical leadership for a mission-critical cybersecurity environment supporting the Department of War (DoW)? Leidos is seeking a Principal Cybersecurity Engineer to support the C5ISR Center Cyber Security Service Provider (CSSP), a premier defensive cyber operations organization operating 24x7x365. The CSSP provides continuous monitoring, threat detection, incident response, and vulnerability management across a complex, multi-tenant enterprise environment. As the Principal Cybersecurity Engineer, you will serve as Leidos' primary technical interface to the Government lead for Enterprise Cybersecurity. You will provide strategic and hands-on technical leadership across cybersecurity architecture, engineering, modernization, and technology integration. You will evaluate emerging cybersecurity technologies, recommend and design enterprise solutions, and lead feasibility studies, proofs of concept, pilot projects, and other research and development initiatives designed to strengthen the customer's cybersecurity posture.

Location: Hybrid - 3 days on site at Adelphi, MD Clearance: U.S. Citizenship with an active TS/SCI with SAP Eligibility Required Certifications: CISSP

Primary Responsibilities

Lead the design, architecture, integration, and implementation of complex enterprise cybersecurity systems and supporting technologies. Serve as a senior technical advisor to Government stakeholders and Leidos leadership on enterprise cybersecurity strategy, architecture, risk, and modernization. Assess organizational progress against cybersecurity strategies and develop recommendations aligned with mission objectives and stakeholder priorities. Evaluate emerging cybersecurity technologies and lead feasibility studies, proofs of concept, pilot programs, and technology assessments. Assess enterprise cybersecurity risk, including weaknesses in platforms, access controls, system configurations, networks, applications, and data environments. Provide engineering leadership for the design, development, and implementation of solutions that protect and monitor enterprise networks and systems. Lead the development and integration of innovative cybersecurity solutions through collaboration with engineering, operations, cybersecurity, Government, and industry experts. Identify security-relevant data, technologies, and capabilities across on-premises, hybrid-cloud, and multi-cloud environments and provide formal technical recommendations to stakeholders. Guide cybersecurity modernization initiatives, including the migration of services, applications, and data from on-premises environments to hybrid and multi-cloud architectures. Engage with technology vendors, evaluate solutions, and recommend technologies for enterprise implementation. Influence technical and organizational change by communicating complex cybersecurity concepts, recommendations, and approaches to technical and executive stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 12+ years of relevant IT/cybersecurity experience. Four additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

4+ years of cybersecurity engineering experience directly supporting the Federal Government as a Government or contractor employee. Extensive experience developing and executing migration strategies for services, applications, or data moving from on-premises environments to hybrid or multi-cloud architectures. Strong knowledge and operational experience with Federal cybersecurity requirements and frameworks, including NIST, FISMA, and FedRAMP. Deep understanding of cybersecurity architecture, technical platforms, threat management, security controls, and industry best practices. Experience identifying security-relevant data and technologies across on-premises and cloud environments and developing technical solutions for evolving mission requirements. Experience evaluating vendors, designing technical solutions, and selecting cybersecurity technologies for enterprise implementation. Broad technical knowledge across enterprise IT, systems engineering, cybersecurity engineering, IT lifecycle methodologies, modernization, and transformation. Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and gain support for new technologies, concepts, practices, and approaches. Experience leading technical transformation and improving enterprise cybersecurity services and capabilities. CISSP certification U.S. citizenship with an active Top Secret clearance and eligibility to obtain a SCI. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage technical teams, Government stakeholders, and senior leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

Active Top Secret/SCI clearance. Additional cybersecurity certifications such as CISM, CISSP-ISSEP, GSLC, or CCISO. Knowledge of Agile project management principles and methodologies. Experience supporting both classified and unclassified environments. Experience supporting Security Operations Center (SOC) environments and multi-tenant cybersecurity operations.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting: September 1, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range: Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Leidos Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit

Pay and Benefits Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here.

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Commitment and Diversity All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.