Cryptographic Systems Engineer

About the role

MANTECH is seeking a motivated, career and customer-oriented Cryptographic Systems Engineer to join its team in Linthicum Heights, MD. The role protects secure systems by providing expert engineering support for the Cryptographic Solutions Program and MPO's network security products. It is a full-time, onsite position requiring an active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical direction for the development, engineering, interfacing, integration and testing of complex hardware and software systems with embedded cryptographic capabilities.
• Prepare and assess Systems Engineering Management Plans (SEMPs) and System Integration and Test Plans (SITPs).
• Support planning, execution and test analysis of DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Assessment and Authorization (A&A) processes.
• Develop and maintain lightweight utility scripts (e.g., Python, Bash) to run automated test harnesses, collect logs and support hardware-level integration with cryptographic devices.
• Derive and manage lower-level requirements from higher-level allocated requirements.
• Contribute to systems engineering documentation such as Systems Engineering Plans (SEPs), Initial Capabilities Documents (ICDs) and Interface Control Documents (ICDs) across red/black and secure enclave boundaries.
• Coordinate action item resolution for Configuration Control Boards (CCBs), design reviews, program reviews and test reviews.
• Establish baseline definitions for systems and components to align hardware, software and COMSEC/cyber engineering teams.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline plus 14 years of relevant systems engineering experience (or related cyber or software engineering fields); in lieu of a degree, 19 years of relevant experience is required.
• Active TS/SCI with polygraph clearance.
• Able to stay in a stationary position 50% of the time and to communicate accurately with colleagues, management and customers, including giving presentations.

Required skills

• Preferred: hands-on experience with network security protocols such as EAP-TLS, MACsec and IPsec.
• Familiarity with cryptographic systems, COMSEC integration, Key Management Infrastructure (KMI) and secure network architectures.
• Working knowledge of basic scripting (preferably Python) for test harness automation, log/data parsing and functional checks on cryptographic devices.

What we offer

• Projected compensation range of $165,900 to $295,300, depending on factors such as experience, skills, location and contract wage determination.
• Benefits that depend on position: health insurance, life insurance, paid time off, holiday pay, short- and long-term disability, retirement and savings, learning and development, wellness programs and optional benefit elections.