Job Information
Pennsylvania State University Cyberspace Operations Research and Development Engineer in Reston, Virginia
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process (https://pennstateoffice365.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/KnowledgeBaseArticlesSharing/EfiwgKReZ4VAjprFZPKWUm0Bq_sU3KzTmERfpryq0esPKQ) . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. (https://pennstateoffice365.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/KnowledgeBaseArticlesSharing/Eeys15Xva4hFokHVtbP1eGIB5i1WFLc-J3k9KHgrFYZ7mg) Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants (https://hr.psu.edu/sites/hr/files/Application_Process_for_External_Applications_Non-Penn_State_Employees_.pdf) .
JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
We are searching for a self-motivated Cyberspace Operations Research and Development (R&D) Engineer to join our Offensive Security Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. ARL/Penn State’s purpose is to develop innovative solutions to challenging national problems in support of the Navy, DoD, and Intel communities engineering and technology needs. The Offensive Security Department provides technical expertise in adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to support system evaluation and provide security hardening support to various sponsors.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
Research cutting edge techniques and technologies for cyber security
Leverage expertise in cyberspace operations to develop novel concepts and technical approaches to address established needs and investigate solutions to emerging requirements.
Assist the Offensive Security Department Head in maintaining relationships with sponsors through on-site technical discussions, preparation and presentation of technical materials, and project-related correspondence.
Provide process enhancement for external risk assessments, vulnerability analyses, and penetration testing projects.
Support the design and tailored engineering of security solutions based on sponsor-unique requirements.
Apply project management principles and methods to the leadership of tasks or projects
Leverage software development knowledge to support implementation of tools to automate or more effective perform computation and cyber-relevant digital tasks.
Provide guidance to lower level Engineers to foster professional growth.
This position will be filled at the advanced professional or senior professional level, depending on the successful candidate’s competencies, education, and experience. Minimally requires a Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering or Science discipline plus five years' related experience for the advanced professional level. Additional experience and/or education are required for higher level positions. A Master’s Degree is preferred.
Additional responsibilities for higher level position includes:
Understand broad strategic objectives and contribute to them; nurtures and maintain relationships with major customers/grantors of external research and development grant funding
Identify grant/project follow-on work and persuade customers/grantors to fund; impact customer decisions and strategies
Initiate new project concepts and seek funding; develop technical proposals and make presentations to customers/grant sponsors
Mentor department staff in the development technical, project, and business development skills
Required skills/experience areas include:
Cyber Systems & Software Engineering, Cyber Intelligence and Malware Analysis, and Cyberspace Operations Planning
Cybersecurity penetration testing / cybersecurity Red Team testing / white hat hacking
Networking, IT security, Windows, and *NIX.
Software programming, programming languages, and development environments (to include at a minimum C++, Java, or Python)
Ability to express technical information clearly and concisely in documents and presentations for senior leaders to successfully comprehend and leverage for decision making.
Active government security clearance
Preferred skills/experience areas include:
Experience with military cyberspace operations or computer network operations, Offensive Cyber Operations and planning and/or the military planning process
Broad knowledge of cyberspace capabilities availability and understanding of available infrastructure or platforms
Use of cybersecurity testing frameworks (e.g. Kali Linux, Cobalt Strike)
Experience in cybersecurity exploit development
Experienced leadership in personnel and financial management
Demonstrated history of successful business development efforts
Automation of cybersecurity testing workflows (e.g. using Ansible playbooks)
Use of Agile software development methodology and tools
Experience working with Atlassian products (e.g., JIRA, Confluence)
Your work location can be hybrid on-site/work from home, based out of Reston, VA. This position will require periodic travel to remote locations in support of testing as part of a small team of researchers, engineers, and technologists.
ARL at Penn State is an integral part of one of the leading research universities in the nation and serves as a University center of excellence in defense science, systems, and technologies with a focus in naval missions and related areas.
You will be subject to a government security investigation, and you must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.
ARL is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion; we believe this is central to our success as a Department of Defense designated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). We are at our best when we draw on the talents of all parts of society, and our greatest accomplishments are achieved when diverse perspectives are part of our workforce.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site at www.arl.psu.edu.
The pay range for this position, including all possible grades is:
$109,300.00 - $191,000.00
Salary Structure (https://hr.psu.edu/current-employee/compensation/comp-modernization) - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here (https://police.psu.edu/annual-security-reports) .
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster (https://affirmativeaction.psu.edu/files/2022/01/Federal-Contractors-Labor-Law-Poster.pdf)
PA State Labor Law Poster
Affirmative Action (https://policy.psu.edu/policies/hr11)
Penn State Policies
Copyright Information (https://www.psu.edu/copyright-information)
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Reston, VA