Senior Cybersecurity Engineer
- Top Secret clearance
How this pay compares
This posting states $149k–$187k a year. Open cybersecurity expert jobs in California post a median of $171k a year, the middle half $156k–$202k, across 60 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.
Cybersecurity experts in California: pay by town and employer
About the job
## Title Senior Cybersecurity Engineer ## Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR!
KBR is seeking a highly motivated Senior Cybersecurity Engineer to support modernization and integration of the Protected Key Management Architecture (PKMA) capability within the Enterprise SATCOM System.The successful candidate will provide systems engineering, acquisition, cryptographic key management, requirements, integration planning, and stakeholder coordination support across government, contractor, and national-level crypto stakeholders.
This role supports ongoing PKMA modernization activities, FOPR/SOW documentation, COMSEC/TRANSEC risk mitigation, dependency planning, testing, certification, and ESS integration milestones. ## Why Join Us? - Innovative Projects: KBR’s work is at the forefront of engineering, logistics, operations, science, program management, mission IT and cybersecurity solutions. - Collaborative Environment: Be part of a dynamic team that thrives on collaboration and innovation, fostering a supportive and intellectually stimulating workplace. - Impactful Work: Your contributions will be pivotal in designing and optimizing defense systems that ensure national security and shape the future of space defense. ## Key Responsibilities - Lead systems engineering activities supporting PKMA modernization and integration into ESS. - Develop and review technical requirements, Statements of Work, Technical Requirements Documents, Interface Control Documents, and acquisition documentation. - Support Fair Opportunity Proposal Request, Request for Information, and other acquisition package activities for the PKMA modernization contract. - Analyze vendor or contractor inputs and provide clear technical recommendations to government and program leadership. - Develop technical roadmaps and dependency analyses supporting PKMA development, integration, testing, certification, and deployment. - Coordinate cryptographic key management requirements across ground, terminal, payload, and space segment stakeholders. - Support COMSEC/TRANSEC planning, test strategy, certification planning, and integration activities. - Develop PKMA-related risk assessments, mitigation plans, and executive-ready briefings. - Participate in key management, cyber engineering, SATCOM, and security working groups. - Coordinate with NSA, Space Systems Command, mission partners, contractors, and system developers. - Support technical baseline reviews including SRR, SFR, PDR, CDR, and integration readiness activities. - Prepare concise status updates, program briefings, and decision-support materials for leadership. ## Work Environment - Location: On-site - Travel Requirements: Minimal - Working Hours: Standard ## Required - Active Top Secret clearance required for this position - Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or related technical discipline - 7+ years of systems engineering experience supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, or national security space programs - Experience with cryptographic systems, key management infrastructure, COMSEC, or TRANSEC operations - Experience developing technical requirements, SOWs, acquisition packages, and engineering documentation - Experience supporting large-scale system integration efforts - Strong technical writing and briefing skills - Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) ## Preferred - Master's degree in engineering or related discipline - Experience with SATCOM, AEHF, ESS, EHF, or strategic communications systems - Knowledge of PKI, KMI, PKMA, or enterprise key management architectures - Experience supporting NSA-certified cryptographic systems - Familiarity with MBSE/CAMEO, DOORS, Jira, or engineering toolsets - Experience supporting acquisition strategy, source selection, and contract execution - Certification in systems engineering, such as INCOSE CSEP or ESEP - Certification such as CISSP, CEH - Requirements management - Technical baseline management - Interface development and ICD adjudication - Risk management - Digital engineering - Cybersecurity engineering - Executive communications - Cross-functional team leadership The PKMA modernization effort is a critical dependency for future ESS cryptographic capabilities, including key delivery, ECU integration, COMSEC/TRANSEC operations, and enterprise SATCOM resilience.
The selected candidate will directly influence technical direction, acquisition execution, integration success, and risk posture for this modernization effort. Basic Compensation: $149,400 - $186,700 in El Segundo CA The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity. Ready to Make a Difference?
If you’re excited about making a significant impact in the field of space defense and working on projects that matter, we encourage you to apply and join our team. ## KBR Benefits KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule.
We support career advancement through professional training and development. Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company.
That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together. KBR is an equal opportunity employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
From KBR's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
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About KBR
KBR's space work: NASA human spaceflight support at Johnson Space Center, Stennis Space Center operations and space systems engineering for the Space Force.
Pay on its listings: 70.4% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on KBR's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
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