Chief Engineer, Defensive Cyber Operations

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The Defensive Cyber Operations Department focuses on threat hunting, detection engineering and analytics, Security Operations Centers (SOCs), malware analysis, cyber deception, and adversary engagement, with an increasing emphasis of applying autonomous solutions to these capabilities. The department applies these capabilities to many varied sponsors across the MITRE Public Sector and the MITRE National Security Sector, developing mission-relevant solutions and maturing reusable methods, tools, and platforms.

Position Summary
The Cyber Operations Division (L510) is seeking a visionary technical leader to serve as Capability Chief Engineer (CE), Defensive Cyber Operations, housed in a relevant department within the Division. The CE will work with Department Managers to define and drive the technical strategy, execution, and development of Security Operations Centers (SOCs), threat hunting, detection engineering and analytics, malware analysis, cyber deception, and adversary engagement, and applying autonomous solutions to these capabilities. The successful candidate is a proven technical leader with demonstrated technical expertise in these areas, inspirational leadership, creativity, and the flexibility to work across evolving and diverse problems sets.

The CE will collaborate with the Division Chief Engineer, Department Managers, and other CEs to bring capabilities to bear on MITRE’s FFRDC work programs. The CE, in coordination with the Division CE, will be accountable for the utility and quality of the capabilities supported by the department, including physical and virtual lab infrastructure, and shared frameworks and technical approaches. While not a formal people-management role, the CE will contribute to staff development and provide technical mentorship across the department.

In addition to direct work programs within the FFRDCs, the CE will engage with the internal research and development program, to influence and shape the research priorities and programs as well as mentor and guide staff all the way from the ideation phase through to proposing and executing internal research projects.

The CE will also provide individual, senior principal technical support directly to MITRE’s work programs. The CE’s time spent on direct sponsor contributions should be in technical leadership within the set of department capabilities.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Technical Quality and Impact

• Lead technical quality efforts and contribute to development/adoption of technical quality standards within key department work programs and department-managed labs/capabilities.
• Drive technical quality across the department’s technical areas by leading capability development, including strategic investment recommendations, stewardship of physical & virtual infrastructure (as applicable), and curating technical development and mentorship opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Division CE, peer CEs, and partners in MNS and MPS to ensure technical strength of the work program by:
  • shaping content via participation in technical product definition and reviews
  • setting expectations for current work and the future work program
  • bringing a perspective grounded in technical domain knowledge and understanding of state of the art

2. Work Program Collaboration

• Build and maintain awareness of technical work, capabilities, processes, and expertise across sponsor missions to identify opportunities for appropriate reuse and collaboration.
• Connect work programs, project teams, and SMEs working on related technical challenges to reduce unnecessary duplication and accelerate delivery of proven approaches.
• Identify opportunities to adapt and transition capabilities, methods, and lessons learned across sponsor environments while respecting sponsor equities, sensitivities, authorities, and information-sharing constraints.
• Facilitate cross-mission technical exchanges that enable teams to learn from one another, surface common challenges, and identify opportunities for shared investment or coordinated capability development.
• Serve as a bridge between department technical leadership and work program leadership to ensure emerging sponsor needs inform department strategy, capability development, and internal research priorities.

Strategy Development & Innovation

• Execute and evolve department technical strategy aligned to MITRE’s S&T and Division technical strategies; identify opportunities to develop new areas and assess technical strengths/weaknesses within the department scope.
• Identify innovation opportunities for department work programs and internal research and development; propose and/or lead cross-cutting initiatives as needed.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key technical leaders across MITRE program divisions, internal research and development, and external partners.
• Coordinate technical outreach to industry, academia, and other stakeholders to ensure best practices and relevant technologies are incorporated into technical products.
• Lead cross-Department and/or cross-Division technical initiatives, as needed, with measurable impact.

Capability Stewardship & Governance

• Conduct ongoing health and quality evaluations of department capabilities, including robustness of staff technical skills, department-managed facilities & infrastructure, mission-ready technology, platforms & frameworks, etc.
• Provide timely recommendations to Division leadership regarding standup, sustainment, or retirement of department labs, infrastructure, tools, and frameworks supporting leading-edge delivery.

Staff Development (non-supervisory, but accountable for technical mentorship)

• Mentor and develop technical staff, including cultivating technical career paths within the department and across the division.
• Provide input to talent assessment and staff development planning.

Direct Sponsor / Program Contributions

• Provide individual, differentiated technical contributions directly to sponsors and internal customers, focusing on technical leadership with measurable impact in Security Operations Centers (SOCs), threat hunting, detection engineering and analytics, malware analysis, cyber deception and adversary engagement

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 10 years with a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 7 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Deep technical expertise and recognition in Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO) with hands-on expertise in Security Operations Centers (SOCs), threat hunting, detection engineering and analytics, malware analysis, cyber deception, or adversary engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to exert meaningful influence over strategic decisions in complex, multi-stakeholder, collaborative environments.
• Demonstrated track record of learning about and rapidly responding to new problems across a variety of domains.
• Experience planning, executing, and presenting complex trade studies while balancing cost and schedule constraints.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to articulate challenging technical concepts to both non-expert and expert audiences.
• Mentoring experience, whether formal or informal roles, across the range of staff experience levels
• Demonstrated proficiency in both virtual and live presentations of complex technical issues.
• Must have an active Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance and must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site

Preferred Qualifications

• A graduate degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Mathematics, or a related field; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Experience creating, articulating, and motivating transformative technical concepts that deliver practical outcomes in complex operational environments.
• Demonstrated track record building strong internal and external partnerships.
• Experience leveraging solutions from leading academic and commercial research groups.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with polygraph

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Top Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$205,500 - $257,000 - $308,500 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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