Security Subject Matter Expert

Security Subject Matter Expert

The Security Subject Matter Expert (SME) is the program’s security lead for a large, hybrid enterprise (on-prem data centers and multi-cloud). You will architect, implement, and operate Zero Trust, RMF-aligned security solutions that keep systems reliable, data protected, and the program audit-ready at all times. You will own the end-to-end security operating model, identity and access (including PIV/FIDO and PAM), vulnerability and patch orchestration, logging and SIEM/SOAR, supply-chain integrity (SBOM/provenance), backup/DR resilience, and continuous monitoring.

HOW THE SECURITY SME WILL MAKE AN IMPACT:

You will convert compliance into a running capability rather than a paperwork cycle. By embedding controls in automation, policy-as-code in pipelines, signed artifacts with attestations, identity-centric access, and immutable backups, you will raise assurance while reducing toil and mean time to recover. You’ll drive continuous compliance with authoritative evidence from VA systems (ITSM/CMDB, SIEM/EDR, vulnerability tools), cut vulnerability aging against CISA KEV targets, and raise control pass rates without slowing delivery. During incidents, you will lead joint “swarm” response, contain issues quickly, and turn lessons into baseline changes, POA&Ms, and updated playbooks. For executives and non-technical stakeholders, you’ll translate risk into clear narratives - what happened, what changed, how we’re safer, and publish trend lines that connect security investments to fewer outages, cleaner audits, and lower total cost of ownership.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED:

• 10+ years in enterprise cybersecurity engineering/operations with direct ownership of hybrid (data center + AWS/Azure) environments; 3+ years in regulated or federal programs (VA/DoD/DHS/HHS or equivalent).
• Demonstrated delivery of Zero Trust architectures (per NIST SP 800-207/TIC 3.0), RMF/ATO sustainment (SP 800-53 Rev 5/53B baselines), and continuous monitoring at scale.
• Hands-on leadership standing up SIEM/SOAR, EDR, vulnerability management, identity platforms (SSO/PIV/FIDO, PAM/JIT), and audited disaster recovery programs (SP 800-184).
• Proven record improving outcomes: higher control pass, reduced critical vuln aging, faster MTTR, successful external assessments, and repeatable ATO renewals.
• Experience operating within multi-vendor/SIAM models with cross-vendor OLAs and shared KPIs.
• Education: Bachelor's Degree. In lieu of a degree, an additional four years of related experience required.
• Security clearance level: Public Trust.
• Timeline: This is a contingent posting, expected to start in August 2026.

Technical Proficiencies:

• Identity & Access (ICAM): SSO (SAML/OIDC), PIV/CAC and FIDO2, JIT/PAM, least-privilege for human and workload identities; directory hygiene and join/move/leave automation.
• Network & Platform Security: Segmentation and micro-segmentation, SASE/SD-WAN patterns aligned to TIC 3.0; hardened baselines (STIG/CIS) for OS, containers, and Kubernetes/OpenShift (admission control, policy engines).
• Logging, Detection, and Response: Event logging per OMB M-21-31, SIEM content engineering, SOAR playbooks, EDR tuning; run tabletop exercises and purple-team improvements.
• Vulnerability & Patch Orchestration: Toolchain proficiency (e.g., Tenable/Qualys, WSUS/Linux lifecycle), KEV-driven prioritization, SLAs by criticality, and automated compliance evidence (SCAP).
• Secure SDLC & Supply Chain: SSDF (SP 800-218) practices, artifact signing and provenance/attestations (SLSA/SBOM), trusted registries, policy-as-code gates in CI/CD; secrets management (KMS/Vault).
• Data & Storage Protection: Encryption in transit/at rest (FIPS-140 validated), key management, DLP patterns, immutable/object-lock backups, tested DR with objective pass/fail artifacts.
• Standards & Tooling Fluency: NIST CSF 2.0, SP 800-61 (IR), SP 800-53/53B, SP 800-207, SP 800-184, TIC 3.0, FIPS-140; OSCAL for machine-readable SSP/ConMon.

Skills & Abilities:

• Clear Communicator: Converts complex risk and telemetry into executive-ready, plain-language updates; writes crisp playbooks, runbooks, and policy one-pagers.
• Outcome-Driven: Ties security work to measurable results, control pass rate, vuln aging, incident frequency/MTTR, DR test pass, and audit findings, published on a shared scorecard.
• Builder’s Mindset: Designs controls that are easy to use and hard to bypass; prefers automation over manual checks; balances guardrails with delivery speed.
• Facilitation & Influence: Leads cross-domain incident “swarming,” champions secure patterns with engineers, and negotiates trade-offs that protect both security and uptime.
• Governance & Rigor: Runs change risk reviews, manages POA&Ms to closure, and keeps the ATO pipeline predictable with OSCAL-based evidence and scheduled assessments.
• Mission Focus: Aligns security investments with VA outcomes including fewer disruptions for clinicians and staff, stronger protection of Veteran data, and demonstrable stewardship of taxpayer funds.

Preferred Certifications:

• CISSP
• CCSP
• CISM
• CASP+
• GIAC (GCIH/GCIA/GMON/GCSA/GPCS/GCED)
• CEH
• AWS/Azure security specialty
• CAP or equivalent RMF credential

GDIT IS YOUR PLACE:

• Full-flex work week to own your priorities at work and at home.
• 401K with company match.
• Comprehensive health and wellness packages.
• Internal mobility team dedicated to helping you build your skills and own your career.
• Professional growth opportunities including paid education and certifications.
• Cutting-edge technology you can learn from.
• Rest and recharge with paid vacation and 10 company-paid holidays.

Total Rewards At GDIT:

Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. GDIT typically provides new employees with 15 days of paid leave per calendar year to be used for vacations, personal business, and illness and an additional 10 paid holidays per year. Paid leave and paid holidays are prorated based on the employee’s date of hire. The GDIT Paid Family Leave program provides a total of up to 160 hours of paid leave in a rolling 12 month period for eligible employees. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

Key skills/competency

• Zero Trust Architecture
• RMF (Risk Management Framework)
• Identity Access Management (IAM)
• Vulnerability Management
• SIEM/SOAR Engineering
• Hybrid Cloud Security (AWS/Azure)
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework
• Secure SDLC
• Incident Response Leadership
• Continuous Monitoring