We are seeking a Deputy Chief Engineer to serve as the senior technical authority and platform modernization lead for a large-scale, mission-critical defensive security engineering program. This individual will own the end-to-end technical vision, enforce architectural discipline across integrated security platforms, and drive measurable improvements in the program's zero trust posture, operational resilience, and compliance standing. As the Deputy Chief Engineer, you will bring deep technical range across network security, endpoint, SIEM, virtualization, and cloud infrastructure, and convert that expertise into defensible architectural decisions that hold up under acquisition scrutiny, regulatory audits, and mission pressure. This is a technical leadership role. You will set direction, resolve ambiguity, and elevate the engineering capability of the team around you. What You'll Work On:Establish and enforce architecture review processes, design standards, and technical debt management practices across all program workstreams. Develop and maintain the program's integrated enterprise architecture, ensuring alignment across security domains, platform layers, and operational requirements. Lead architectural trade-off analyses that weigh capability, schedule, cost, and opportunity cost, producing decision-quality artifacts for senior stakeholder consumption. Drive platform modernization roadmaps with clear sequencing logic, risk identification, and dependency mapping. Provide technical oversight across SIEM/ SOAR deployment and tuning, endpoint detection and response (EDR/ XDR) platforms, network segmentation and micro-segmentation architectures, and cloud and virtualization infrastructure. Ensure interoperability and coherent design across hybrid environments including on-prem, cloud, such as IaaS/ PaaS, and virtualized infrastructure stacks. Identify and resolve integration risks early in the design cycle; engage vendors and government stakeholders on technical feasibility and alternative approaches. Maintain situational awareness of emerging tools, frameworks, and threat intelligence relevant to the program's security mission. Delivery Execution & Contract Awareness: Partner with the Program Director and delivery leads to align technical scope with contract structure, including T&M level-of-effort implications, FFP deliverable risk, and scope change documentation. Ensure all technical work products meet quality standards and are traceable to customer requirements, contract deliverables, and applicable control frameworks. Lead or contribute to technical baseline reviews, CDL - Rs, and architecture working groups with government and stakeholders. Ensure technical solutions meet ATO requirements from design through delivery, avoiding rework-intensive compliance gaps late in the delivery lifecycle. Champion engineering rigor, documentation discipline, and a culture of continuous improvement across the program. Team Leadership & Engineering Culture: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of senior engineers and architects, building depth, not just headcount. Translate complex technical challenges into clear direction for engineering teams, and serve as a decision-forcing function when ambiguity slows execution. Represent the program's technical capability in executive briefings, customer engagements, and competitive positioning activities. Join us. The world can't wait. You Have:8 years of experience in cybersecurity engineering or architecture 5 years of experience in a senior technical leadership role in cybersecurity engineering or architecture. Experience delivering enterprise security solutions in highly regulated federal environments, such as DoD, IC, or civilian agency. Experience as a lead architect or chief engineer on programs of record with multi-year, multi-million-dollar scope. Experience with at least three of the following domains: network security architecture, SIEM, SOAR, EDR, XDR, cloud security, such as AWS or Azure Gov. Cloud, virtualization security, such as VMware, or zero trust network access (ZTNA)Knowledge of federal contract structures, including T&M, FFP, and CPFF and the technical implications of each model on scope, risk, and architectural decision-making. Active TS/ SCI clearance; willingness to take a polygraph exam. Associate’s degree and 10 years of experience supporting IT projects and activities, Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience supporting IT projects and activities, or Master’s degree and 6 years of experience supporting IT projects and activities. Ability to obtain a DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level III Certification, such as Sec. X, CCNP, CISA, CISSP, GCED, GCIH, or CCSP within 30 days of start date. Ability to obtain a DoD 8570 Cybersecurity Service Provider - Infrastructure Support Certification, such as CEH, Cy. SA , GICSP, SSCP, CHFI, CFR, Cloud , or CND Certification, within 30 days of start date. Nice If You Have:Experience in network security design including segmentation, NAC, secure DNS, and perimeter-to-interior trust model evolution. Experience with enterprise Security Operations Center (SOC) architecture, SIEM content engineering, and detection engineering programs. Experience in program capture support, contributing to technical volumes, orals preparation, or architecture demos for competitive pursuits. Experience in security architecture frameworks, such as SABSA, TOGAF, or equivalent, and their application to defense or IC programs. Knowledge of CMMC, ICD 503, STIGs, and applicable IA policy frameworks. Knowledge of AI/ ML applications in cyber operations and their implications for platform architecture and data pipeline design. Ability to support high tempo operational environments with mission-sensitive deliverables. Cloud security certifications, such as AWS Security Specialty or Azure Security Engineer. Clearance:Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information; TS/ SCI clearance is required. Compensation.