Who We Are

The SEI is a non-profit, DoD-sponsored federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) at Carnegie Mellon University. Originally created in response to one of the first computer viruses in 1988, the SEI's CERT division remains a leader in cybersecurity research and engineering. The SEI has two other divisions focused on improving the robustness of software systems and advancing artificial intelligence engineering.

What We Do

CERT's Cyber Mission Readiness (CMR) directorate is driven to ensure America's cyber defenders and operators are ready to thwart and counter adversarial aggression in cyberspace. As such, we create highly immersive training, competition, and exercise programs, platforms, and tools to enable our mission partners to train as they fight under realistic conditions. We also extend the boundaries of cyberspace to directly impact the kinetic battlefield and defend our nation's critical infrastructure. To achieve our mission, we research the latest problems, threats, and technologies and produce methods and solutions that address capability gaps and unresolved challenges.

Are you creative, organized, collaborative, security-focused, and hard-working? Are you driven by opportunities to make a difference by improving the cybersecurity posture of government organizations and beyond? Are you excited about pioneering new research areas that will impact academia, industry, and national security? If so, apply to join our team.

Position Summary

As the technical manager of the operational readiness and evaluation (ORE) team, you will lead an experienced team of cybersecurity engineers focused on assessing and enhancing the readiness of cyber operators and teams in government and industry. You will acquire and align people and resources to achieve project objectives as agreed to with our mission partners. You will work with your team leads and engineers to plan and execute multiple technical projects across a broad portfolio of customer work. You will lead customer relations and engagements and perform non-profit business development efforts in partnership with division business managers. You will work with fellow technical managers and directorate and division leadership to set direction, goals, and objectives that align with strategic priorities.

What you will do

You will be responsible for directing the planning and execution of cybersecurity projects supporting multiple customer work plans. You will oversee a team of diverse technical staff, research projects, and customer deliverables in support of our US government stakeholders. Your team's deliverables will include experimentation, exercises, courseware, software, hardware, technical publications, conference presentations, direct customer engagements, prototypes and methodologies.

Who you are

• Proven Leader: You know how to motivate and inspire team members and peers. You lead by example and have the wisdom to listen, direct, coach, guide, and delegate effectively.

• People-focused: You are a team player and easy to get along with. You have the ability and desire to identify, recruit, retain, mentor, and develop a high-caliber, engineering team developing advanced methodologies and technical solutions.

• Strategic Thinker: You have experience in leading the creation and execution of strategic planning activities. You develop and pursue new opportunities with current and new customers, including drafting new work plans and managing funding and budgeting through the plan lifecycle.

• Innovative and Impactful: You have a deep interest in cybersecurity, intellectual curiosity and a desire to make an impact beyond your organization.

• Knowledgeable and Methodical: You have a strong understanding of research methods in cybersecurity, information technology, computer science, engineering, and related fields. Additionally, you have an in-depth understanding of internet fundamentals, modern computer networking and enterprise IT management, DevOps, cloud computing, virtualization, and cybersecurity operations.

• Communicator and Collaborator: You have excellent written and oral communication skills and you can relate collaboratively and diplomatically with customers and colleagues inside and outside the organization. You can present complex ideas to people who may not have a deep understanding of the subject area.

Our Desired Expertise and Experience

• US government experience: you have worked within or in direct support of the US government and military services; you are comfortable presenting to technical experts and high-ranking officials.

• Deep technical knowledge: You have advanced knowledge, skills, and experience working with enterprise IT and cybersecurity technologies. You have experience using agile/scrum methodologies to organize and achieve technical objectives.

• Project Management and Technical Leadership: You have experience organizing and planning complex projects and communicating complex system designs, technical approaches and road maps to sponsors, project managers and technical staff. You also have the ability to evaluate and distill emerging threats and technologies and apply these to produce cutting edge solutions to government operations.

• Knowledge and Learning: You are capable of applying your cybersecurity knowledge to position the team to pursue new opportunities in research areas such as the AI/ML domain, zero-trust, open-source software etc.

• Dedication: You are committed to accomplishing the mission. You can meet deadlines while multi-tasking, at times under pressure and with shifting priorities.

Other Requirements:

• You have a BS in cybersecurity, computer science, information science, or related analytical discipline with ten (10) years of experience; OR MS in the same fields with eight (8) years of experience; OR PhD in the same fields with five (5) years of experience.

• Travel to various locations to support the SEI's overall mission. This includes within the SEI and CMU community, as well as external sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings on occasion. Travel estimated to be up to 20%.

• You will be subject to a background investigation and must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense security clearance.

Why work here?

• Join a world-class organization that continues to have a significant impact on national security.

• Work with cutting-edge technologies and dedicated experts to solve tough problems for the government and the nation.

• Be surrounded by knowledgeable staff with broad expertise across AI/ML, cybersecurity, software engineering, risk management, and policy creation.

• Get tuition benefits to CMU and other institutions for you andyour dependent children.

• Competitive salary and benefits plus get 8% monthly contribution for your retirement, without having to contribute yourself.

• Enjoy a healthy work/life balance withflexible work arrangements and paid parental and military leave.

• Get access to university resources including mindfulness programs, childcare and back-up care benefits, and free transportation on the Pittsburgh Regional Transit System.

• Enjoy annual professional development opportunities; attend conferences and training or obtain a certification and get reimbursed for membership in professional societies.

• Qualify for relocation assistance and so much more.