Senior CNO Systems Engineer

About the role

You will serve as a senior technical authority for the most complex Computer Network Operations initiatives within the portfolio, providing deep expertise that directly influences solution design and execution strategy. In this capacity, you will own the end-to-end technical architecture for mission-critical cyber infrastructure, ensuring alignment with stringent national security requirements and operational imperatives. You will translate ambiguous, high-stakes operational problems into robust, scalable technology solutions, acting as the primary bridge between customer intent and technical deliverables. You will lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts, coordinating with specialists in Vulnerability Research, Reverse Engineering, and Computer Network Exploitation to deliver integrated capabilities. Your work will focus on designing environments that enable sophisticated analysis and resilient infrastructure while anticipating future mission demands. You will establish and enforce technical standards that govern system performance, security posture, and operational reliability across diverse engagements. You will mentor junior engineers and technologists, elevating the team's collective capability to address complex challenges with innovative and pragmatic approaches. You will continuously evaluate emerging technologies and methodologies, ensuring that solutions remain at the cutting edge of cyber operations and national defense strategy.

Key facts

What you'll do

Conduct comprehensive technical investigations to deconstruct complex mission problems and identify viable architectural pathways.

Perform in-depth analysis of customer environments to uncover latent risks and opportunities for system optimization and enhanced security.

Design and implement resilient infrastructure solutions that support classified and sensitive mission workloads across distributed networks.

Evaluate emerging tools and frameworks, determining their applicability to classified mission sets and potential integration into operational workflows.

Collaborate with intelligence and operations stakeholders to refine system requirements, ensuring technical solutions directly address stated mission objectives.

Lead the development of system engineering documentation, including architecture diagrams, implementation plans, and operational runbooks.

Orchestrate the deployment of hardened system images, ensuring all configurations adhere to strict security policies and operational standards.

Conduct rigorous testing and validation of system changes, verifying performance, reliability, and security outcomes before operational acceptance.

Monitor solution performance in operational contexts, identifying bottlenecks and driving continuous improvement initiatives with the engineering team.

Serve as a principal technical consultant during customer engagements, providing authoritative guidance on complex system-level challenges.

Develop and maintain deep technical expertise across cyber weaponry, enabling the team to leverage tools for strategic advantage in sensitive environments.

Champion the adoption of analytical methods and structured approaches to problem-solving within the engineering organization.

Mentor and guide junior staff through technical challenges, fostering a culture of rigorous analysis and collaborative knowledge sharing.

Proactively identify evolving mission threats and infrastructure weaknesses, recommending preemptive measures to safeguard operational integrity.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is mandatory for this position due to the sensitive nature of the national security mission and the need for appropriate clearances.

You must possess a Top Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph.

You must be eligible for a Public Trust position or be able to obtain this eligibility upon hire.

You must have a current driver's license that is valid in the state of residence.

You must be fully vaccinated in accordance with federal contractor requirements, including any mandated boosters.

You must be able to pass a federal background investigation and meet all suitability requirements for national security positions.

You must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense Active Common Access Card (DoD CAC).

You must be able to obtain and maintain a Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) compliant profile.

Nice to have

There are no preferred items specified in the source material for this role.

Practical notes

This engagement requires U.S. citizenship due to the sensitive nature of the mission and the requirement for a Top Secret security clearance with TS/SCI eligibility. A valid driver's license is required for the state of residence, and full vaccination status must be maintained in compliance with federal contractor mandates. Travel requirements are not specified in the source material, and no specific hours or deadlines are provided for this role. The position necessitates adherence to DFARS compliance standards and the maintenance of a valid DoD Common Access Card for secure access to government systems and facilities.