Information Systems Security Engineer - SME

Agile Defense is seeking an Information Systems Security Engineer (ISSE) – SME based in Washington, DC (onsite) to serve as a senior technical authority for the Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Assessment and Authorization (SAA) Program. In this role, you will lead risk-informed implementation of the DOJ policy and NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) requirements across complex DOJ IT environments, advising Government leadership while driving consistent, high-quality security engineering outcomes.

The ISSE – SME will oversee end-to-end RMF lifecycle execution, ensuring systems are categorized correctly, security controls are selected and tailored appropriately, and control assessment and authorization activities are completed with clear documentation. You will also direct continuous monitoring efforts and provide senior expertise across cybersecurity risk analysis, incident response support, vulnerability remediation, and audit readiness.

RMF & SAA Program Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and supervise security professionals responsible for end-to-end RMF lifecycle execution for DOJ information systems.
• Direct and coordinate activities within the Prepare step of RMF, ensuring roles, responsibilities, governance structures, and risk management strategies are clearly defined and maintained.
• Guide system categorization efforts to ensure information systems are properly classified based on mission impact, data sensitivity, and regulatory requirements.

Security Engineering & Control Implementation

• Direct the selection, tailoring, and documentation of security controls aligned with system categorizations, DOJ risk tolerance, and compliance requirements.
• Oversee implementation of technical, operational, and management controls across system and application lifecycles, ensuring quality, completeness, and consistency of deliverables.
• Serve as the senior technical authority for security architecture decisions, secure configurations, and remediation strategies.

Assessment, Authorization & Continuous Monitoring

• Ensure comprehensive security control assessments are planned, executed, and documented to validate control effectiveness.
• Prepare and review risk management documentation to support system authorization decisions and executive-level risk acceptance.
• Direct continuous monitoring and ongoing assessment activities, collecting metrics and trends to inform risk posture and adjust security strategies.

Risk, Incident & Audit Support

• Provide subject-matter expertise for cybersecurity risk analysis, incident response, vulnerability remediation, and audit support.
• Support OIG, FISMA, and internal review activities, ensuring systems remain audit-ready and defensible.

Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting

• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to DOJ leadership, system owners, ISSOs, and mission stakeholders.
• Track, report, and communicate security engineering status, risks, and improvement opportunities to Government and contractor leadership.
• Foster collaboration across divisions to ensure consistent application of security best practices.

Training & Continuous Improvement

• Promote a culture of security awareness through technical guidance, mentoring, and training.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of RMF, NIST guidance, DOJ policies, and industry best practices.
• Identify opportunities to improve RMF execution efficiency, consistency, and effectiveness through process refinement and approved tooling.

Required Qualifications

• Senior-level experience providing security engineering leadership in federal or IC environments.
• Deep expertise in NIST RMF, FISMA, and federal authorization processes.
• Demonstrated experience supporting complex, enterprise-scale IT systems across multiple lifecycle stages.
• Proven ability to advise leadership on risk-based security decisions.
• Required Certification: CISSP.

Highly Desired

• Prior experience supporting DOJ, or Intelligence Community customers.
• Experience working alongside ISSOs, AOs, and assessment teams in high-tempo environments.
• Familiarity with network, infrastructure, application, and SaaS security architectures.
• Experience supporting audit remediation and continuous monitoring programs.

Compensation & Tools

• Salary: USD 175,000 - 190,000 per yearly.
• Technologies: CISSP, NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF), FISMA, DOJ Security Assessment and Authorization (SAA) Program.

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Pay
• Short-term and long-term Disability
• Retirement
• Learning and Development opportunities
• Other optional benefit elections