Mission SME / Senior Mission Lead - Cybersecurity

Description MBL Technologies, Inc. offers a diverse set of management and technology consulting services to Federal government and commercial markets. Our solutions are tailored to support each client’s mission, accounting for their unique needs and operating environments to ensure success. We bring the right people, capabilities, and expertise together to assist our clients with enabling their mission. Together our individual differences drive successful business results. If you are transitioning from military to civilian life, have prior service, are a retired veteran, or a member of the National Guard or Reserves, or spouse of an active military service member, we encourage you to apply. Please visit our webpage for information on our policies and benefits for the military and veteran community. Why Work with Us? Make an Impact: Work on meaningful projects that support critical missions and drive innovation. Invest in Your Future: Competitive benefits, 401(k) match, and professional development opportunities. Be Part of Something Bigger: Join a collaborative team that values community engagement, volunteerism, and employee connection. MBL Technologies is seeking a Mission Subject Matter Expert (SME) – Cybersecurity to serve as a senior mission integrator and trusted advisor supporting enterprise cybersecurity mitigation and implementation efforts within the Department of War (DoW). This highly visible role requires an operationally credible, seasoned defense practitioner with firsthand experience across defense acquisition, weapons and mission systems, program-office execution, cybersecurity operations, and systems integration. The Mission SME will advise senior leaders and connect strategic priorities to the realities of systems engineering, acquisition timelines, operational risk, cybersecurity requirements, and technical implementation. The Mission SME will shape senior-level mission narratives, briefings, decision points, and recommendations while facilitating coordination across program offices, senior staff organizations, NSA, military Services, and technical stakeholders. This position will work closely with an Action Officer responsible for day-to-day coordination, meeting logistics, staff taskers, action tracking, and requirements management. The Mission SME will provide senior-level mission direction, operational and technical context, quality control, and mentorship. Work Location: Hybrid — Onsite 3–5 days per week in Crystal City, Virginia Security Clearance: Active Secret security clearance required to begin work; must be eligible for TS/SCI access. Key Responsibilities: Advise senior leaders on enterprise cybersecurity vulnerabilities, mitigation priorities, operational risk, and implementation progress. Develop mission narratives, decision points, recommendations, and courses of action for senior-level forums. Lead and support engagements with program offices, Program Executive Offices (PEOs), Program Management Offices (PMOs), NSA, military Services, senior staff organizations, and other mission stakeholders. Translate senior-leader intent and mission requirements into prioritized execution across automation, engineering, cybersecurity, and other technical workstreams. Apply firsthand weapons-system, mission-system, and systems-integration experience to evaluate technical feasibility, dependencies, mission impact, and implementation risk. Provide a seasoned cyber-operator perspective on vulnerabilities, mitigation strategies, continuous monitoring, protection activities, and operational trade-offs. Assess cybersecurity mitigation strategies within the broader context of acquisition schedules, program execution, systems engineering, operational requirements, and mission readiness. Challenge assumptions, identify gaps, and escalate technical, acquisition, organizational, or mission blockers that could affect modernization or protection outcomes. Lead small-group meetings, working groups, and cross-organizational coordination forums. Provide senior-level review and quality control of executive briefings, read-aheads, decision packages, recommendations, and staff products. Prepare and deliver pre-briefs and briefings to senior military, civilian, and executive leadership. Mentor and guide the Action Officer on staff processes, acquisition context, stakeholder engagement, mission priorities, and classified execution. Support the development of repeatable governance, decision-making, and synchronization processes across the mission. Guide multiple high-priority workstreams while balancing operational urgency, technical dependencies, acquisition constraints, and cybersecurity risk. Required Experience Skills & Qualifications: Significant experience supporting defense acquisition organizations, Program Executive Offices (PEOs), Program Management Offices (PMOs), military Services, or comparable defense organizations. Firsthand experience with weapons systems, mission systems, systems integration, fielded capabilities, developmental systems, or defense acquisition program execution. Demonstrated experience as a seasoned cyber operator, cybersecurity mission lead, senior cybersecurity practitioner, or comparable technical mission leader. Advanced cybersecurity knowledge at the CISSP level or equivalent, supported by relevant certifications and/or significant equivalent experience. Significant knowledge of networking, systems architecture, systems engineering, and systems-of-systems environments. Strong understanding of defense acquisition processes, organizational structures, senior-leadership forums, and decision-making processes. Familiarity with defense funding and budgetary processes and their relationship to acquisition and program execution. Demonstrated ability to assess the operational, acquisition, technical, cybersecurity, and mission implications of vulnerabilities and proposed mitigation strategies. Experience translating senior-leader intent and mission requirements into actionable technical, programmatic, and operational priorities. Experience preparing, pre-briefing, and delivering materials to senior military, civilian, or executive leadership. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-organizational working groups and resolve issues involving competing priorities, dependencies, technical constraints, and stakeholders. Strong program leadership and prioritization skills with the ability to guide multiple mission-critical workstreams simultaneously. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop concise, decision-oriented executive materials. Experience operating in classified environments, including classified networks, compartmentalized information, classified material handling, and secure coordination. Multiple relevant cybersecurity, systems, acquisition, or technical certifications. Extensive experience working directly with senior defense leaders, acquisition executives, PEOs, PMOs, or operational organizations. Experience integrating cybersecurity requirements into weapons systems or other mission-critical defense platforms. Experience coordinating complex cybersecurity mitigation or modernization initiatives across acquisition, engineering, cyber, and operational organizations. Relevant DoD 8140-aligned cybersecurity certification, such as CISSP, or another certification appropriate to the position. Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field preferred. Active Secret security clearance required to begin work; must be eligible for TS/SCI access. MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY CODES (MOS codes): 170A, 170D, 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D, 24B, 25B, 47D, 94F, IT, 17 5309, 6203, 9735, 9740, 9890, 9891 CORPORATE CITIZEN: MBL Technologies’ vision is to make a positive difference – for our people, our customers, and our communities. As such, a commitment to service and excellence has been woven into the very fabric of our culture. MBL employees demonstrate a willingness to consistently go above and beyond and strive for excellence in all we do – championing, protecting, and celebrating the core business through the mission, vision, and values. All are expected to be good corporate citizens, supporting one another and internal corporate initiatives to build a stable business platform and ensure lasting company success. Benefits: MBL Technologies offers a competitive salary adjusted for candidate qualifications partnered with an industry-leading benefits package. This package includes incentive plans with corporate and individual-based performance bonuses, 401K, PTO, remote work, health and wellness programs, employee discounts, and learning and development reimbursement. EEO STATEMENT: MBL Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.