Cyber Architect

About the Role

NR Labs is seeking a Cyber Architect to lead secure systems design and engineering efforts in support of a federal program. This role is essential to advancing situational awareness, data fusion, and operational continuity across specific federal environments. The architect will actively participate in daily engineering and planning sessions, collaborating with mission, program, and technology teams to drive secure implementation strategies. Core responsibilities include leading cybersecurity architecture, designing and implementing secure network and cloud architectures, and applying systems engineering principles across the full system lifecycle. The role also involves performing system hardening aligned with FIPS 199 and STIGs, supporting secure DevSecOps pipelines and CI/CD workflows, and ensuring compliance with specific agency and federal cybersecurity frameworks.

The architect will deliver high-impact outputs such as capability analysis studies that define operational requirements for AI, ML, and analytics, and assess agency network architecture, security protocols, and system interfaces. These findings will be translated into stakeholder-friendly reports that include comprehensive data source inventories. Additional deliverables include technology transition reports that support full situational awareness, detailing configuration, operational planning, and budget alignment, as well as recommended architecture and infrastructure reports that ensure scalability, redundancy, and future capability enhancements.

Role Responsibilities:

• Provide cybersecurity and systems engineering expertise or identify gaps and engage NR Labs SMEs

• Actively participate in team discussions and technical planning

• Learn and adapt quickly to unfamiliar concepts

• Take initiative in driving deliverables forward, ensuring alignment with agency priorities

Required Qualifications & Education:

•     Bachelor’s Degree

•     8–12 years of experience in cybersecurity architecture or engineering

• CISSP certification or equivalent

• Expertise in network architecture and security

• Proficiency in cloud security (AWS, Azure)

• Strong background in systems engineering and secure design

• Experience with FIPS 199 classification and STIG-based hardening

• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and tooling

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior work with DHS, CBP, or federal law enforcement agencies

• Experience with mission-critical systems

• Cybersecurity and cloud system architecture experience and/or certifications

• Knowledge of Zero Trust architectures and NIST 800-53 / 800-207 frameworks

Clearance and Location Requirements

• Hold an Active TS (Top Secret) clearance

• This position is a hybrid role with some onsite work required in Washington D.C. or surrounding area locations.

‍