Lead Cybersecurity / Information Assurance Engineer

The Office of Space Weather Observations (SWO) under NESDIS is responsible for advancing space weather observational capabilities to meet NOAA programmatic needs. NOAA’s Space Weather Next (SWX) program maintains and extends space weather observations from various vantage points, selected to most efficiently provide comprehensive knowledge of the Sun and the near-Earth space environment needed to protect our technological infrastructure. 

 The Space Weather Ground Services (SWGS) is responsible for comprehensive ground services for all SWX projects, ensuring successful implementation and operation of observing assets and ensuring the continuity of space weather measurements made by SWFO-L1 and the GOES-R series satellites. 

 The SWGS Mission Operations Services (MOS) program must provide a full mission satellite command and control solution to support the L1 Series with two new independently launched observatories. 

Position Overview 

Peraton is seeking a Lead Cybersecurity / Information Assurance Engineer to serve as the primary authority for cybersecurity across a new satellite ground system development program supporting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This senior-level role will lead all cybersecurity and information assurance activities throughout the full system lifecycle—from architecture and design through integration, assessment, authorization, and operational deployment. 

The selected candidate will be responsible for establishing the program’s cybersecurity strategy, ensuring compliance with federal security requirements, and leading the implementation of secure architectures, controls, and processes for a FISMA High-impact system environment.

This role requires close collaboration with other program functional elements including Systems Engineering Integration and Test (SEIT), Software Engineering, Networks, Infrastructure, Architecture, Operations and program leadership to ensure cybersecurity is fully integrated into system design and delivery. 

The Lead will act as the program’s Cybersecurity Subject Matter Expert (SME) and will be accountable for ensuring all security requirements, controls, and Assessment and Authorization (A&A) activities are successfully implemented and maintained. 

Key Responsibilities 

Program Cybersecurity Leadership 

• Lead all cybersecurity and information assurance activities for the satellite ground system development program. 

• Serve as the program’s primary cybersecurity authority and advisor to program management, system engineering leadership, and government stakeholders. 

• Develop and execute the program cybersecurity strategy and policy development aligned with federal standards and mission requirements. 

• Lead cybersecurity planning across system architecture, design reviews, integration, testing, and deployment phases. 

• Ensure cybersecurity considerations are embedded early in system engineering processes and technical baselines. 

Security Architecture & Compliance 

• Ensure full compliance with FISMA High security requirements, including implementation and verification of NIST SP 800-53 High baseline security controls. 

• Oversee system hardening, security control implementation, and continuous monitoring activities. 

• Lead the development and maintenance of system security documentation required for Assessment and Authorization (A&A) activities 

• Coordinate cybersecurity aspects of system Authority to Operate (ATO) processes. 

• Ensure secure configuration and operation of NOAA FISMA High system computers, networks, and infrastructure. 

Technical Cybersecurity Implementation 

• Oversee software and hardware patching strategies and vulnerability remediation across the program environment. 

• Lead implementation of network security capabilities protecting NOAA core networks and mission systems. 

• Guide engineering teams in the secure design and implementation of network, compute, and data environments. 

• Provide direction to ensure secure and reliable network connectivity and data transmission using enterprise security and monitoring tools. 

• Direct incident response preparation, risk management activities, and mitigation strategies. 

Team & Process Leadership 

• Lead and mentor cybersecurity and information assurance personnel supporting the program. 

• Establish and maintain cybersecurity processes, standards, and operating procedures across the team. 

• Drive continuous improvement of cybersecurity practices, automation, and operational readiness. 

• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration between cybersecurity, system engineering, software development, and operations teams. 

• Provide technical leadership on large-scale or complex cybersecurity initiatives. 

 **This position is contingent on contract award.** 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience, 
  OR Master’s degree with 6+ years of relevant experience, 
  OR PhD with 3+ years of experience OR an additional 4 Years of experience may be substituted in lieu of a degree with significant cybersecurity leadership experience
• Active Public Trust clearance (or ability to obtain). 
• Demonstrated experience leading cybersecurity or information assurance efforts on complex systems or programs. 
• Experience supporting or implementing security requirements in FISMA High environments. 
• Strong expertise in NIST SP 800-53 security controls, risk management framework (RMF), and system A&A processes. 
• Experience with Information Assurance (IA) hardening and compliance, including STIG implementation and security documentation. 
• Experience designing, implementing, and maintaining secure enterprise networks including on-prem and cloud environments. 
• Strong knowledge of: 
  • Enterprise vulnerability scanning and security compliance tools 
  • Cloud infrastructure, design, implementation and security 
  • Application layer protocols 
  • Secure system architecture principles 
• Experience working within the Atlassian tool suite (Jira, Confluence, Insight, Risk Register, Crucible, etc.). 
• Experience working in Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) environments or similar Agile methodologies and leading Program Increment (PI) planning activities. 
• Proven ability to lead technical initiatives and influence cross-functional engineering teams. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience supporting satellite ground systems, space systems, or mission-critical government infrastructure. 
• Prior experience leading cybersecurity on a new system development program. 
• Experience with system security architecture design and security engineering integration within system engineering processes. 
• Familiarity with Zero Trust Architectures (ZTA), Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and modern federal cybersecurity frameworks. 
• Experience interacting directly with government cybersecurity authorities and program stakeholders. 
• Professional certifications such as: 
  • CISSP 
  • CISM 
  • Security+ (or equivalent DoD / federal certifications) 

Key Attributes for Success 

• Strong leadership presence and ability to guide cybersecurity strategy at the program level. 
• Experience working within a distributed virtual team environment, with proficiency in remote collaboration tools and practices. 
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate cybersecurity risks and solutions for technical and executive audiences. 
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail in regulated environments. 
• Ability to drive accountability and deliver results across multiple engineering disciplines. 
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to influence teams without direct authority.