Senior Engineer, Cybersecurity (R5972)
Washington, DC, USA
Posted on Sep 23, 2026
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
We are seeking a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer to lead cybersecurity activities for an airborne aerospace and defense platform. This role will integrate cybersecurity across avionics, mission systems, aircraft networks, communications, embedded software, and ground-support systems.
What you'll do:
- Develop the platform’s cybersecurity architecture, requirements, and protection strategy.
- Perform threat modeling, vulnerability assessments, attack-surface analysis, and cyber risk assessments.
- Define protections for secure boot, authentication, access control, encryption, key management, software updates, and data communications.
- Apply defense-in-depth across aircraft systems, networks, radios, data links, and external interfaces.
- Lead DoD Risk Management Framework activities and develop required authorization evidence.
- Evaluate hardware, software, firmware, and supplier designs for cybersecurity risks.
- Develop cybersecurity verification plans and support vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and cyber-resiliency testing.
- Coordinate risk mitigation and corrective actions with engineering teams, suppliers, customers, and program leadership.
- Ensure cybersecurity solutions support aircraft safety, availability, and mission effectiveness.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer engineering, electrical engineering, software engineering, systems engineering, or a related field.
- Typically seven or more years of relevant cybersecurity or systems security experience.
- Experience with aircraft, aerospace, defense, or other mission-critical embedded systems.
- Knowledge of avionics, mission systems, platform networks, communications, or data links.
- Experience with threat modeling, secure system architecture, vulnerability analysis, and security testing.
- Familiarity with DoD RMF, NIST security guidance, cryptography, and key management.
- Strong technical leadership, writing, and customer communication skills.
- Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.
Preferred qualifications:
- Cybersecurity experience on military aircraft, unmanned aircraft, or airborne mission systems.
- Familiarity with NIST SP 800-53, NIST SP 800-160, DO-326A, DO-355, and DO-356A.
- Experience with anti-tamper, program protection, supply-chain risk management, or cross-domain solutions.
- Experience supporting cyber testing, penetration testing, or adversarial assessments.
- Relevant certification such as CISSP, Security+, CEH, or GIAC.
- Active U.S. security clearance.
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Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
110000 - 170000 USD a year