Principal Cyber Engineer

Job ID: 2616764

Location: San Diego, CA, US

Date Posted: 2026-09-11

Category: Cyber

Subcategory: Cyber Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: Top_Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: TS/SCI

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE

Description

SAIC is seeking a Principal Cybersecurity Engineer to support critical Navy communication systems within the DoD. This role is ideal for a hands-on security professional with deep engineering expertise, offensive security experience, and a proven track record finding vulnerabilities, and securing classified and high-security environments. You will serve as a key technical expert collaborating with engineers, program managers, and government personnel to deliver secure, resilient strategic systems.

This role is fully ON-SITE in San Diego, CA. Must be local to area. Up to 10% travel involved.

JOB DUTIES:

• Plan and execute penetration test exercises against systems, networks, and applications simulating real world environment.
• Perform network traffic analysis and threat detection using Wireshark and other offensive/defensive security tools.
• Architect and harden IT systems, virtualized environments, and network security devices in classified settings.
• Conduct vulnerability assessments and develop mitigation strategies aligned with DISA STIGs and DoD standards.
• Documenting vulnerabilities, detailing risks, and provide recommendations and measures to improve security posture.
• Keep up to date and report to government the latest exploits, hacking techniques, and security tools.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Engineering and nine (9) years or more experience; Years of experience in lieu of degree to be considered.
• 5-7 Years relevant hands on experience with Cybersecurity Engineering or related discipline.
• 5+ years hands on designing, implementing, or supporting hardened IT systems in classified or high-security environments.
• Proven penetration testing and/or red team experience against DoD/IC systems.
• Demonstrated experience with air-gap architecture, data diodes, and secure offline transfer mechanisms.

Clearance:

• Must have an Active Top Secret clearance to start.
• Must be able to obtain a TS/SCI after start.

Technical Skills:

• Deep knowledge of DoD/IC security frameworks (NIST RMF, DISA STIG, DoD CC SRG).
• Proficiency with network security devices (firewalls, IDS/IPS, routers, switches) and secure protocols (IPSec, TLS/DTLS, SSH, S/MIME).
• Network traffic analysis using Wireshark.
• Strong scripting/programming skills (Python, Bash, PowerShell, C/C++).
• Experience with HSM, TPM, and PKI implementation.
• Familiarity with virtualization/containers (VMware ESXi, Hyper-V, Docker) in hardened, secure contexts.

DESIRED SKILLS:

• 10+ years supporting DoD/DoN Navy-focused programs.
• Experience with NIWC Pacific or Navy organizations.
• Familiarity with NIAP and Common Criteria technologies.
• Strong communication skills for senior leadership and multidisciplinary team engagement.
• Splunk Enterprise Security experience.
• Python, PowerShell, Bash, or other automation/programming experience.
• Experience with REST APIs and cybersecurity tool integrations.

Certifications:

• SecurityX or CISSP certification, including candidates actively pursuing either certification.
• Certifications such as OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), or CISSP are highly valued.
• Offensive security certifications (OSCP, GPEN, or GWAPT).

Target salary range: $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.


SAIC is a premier technology integrator providing full life cycle services and solutions in the technical, engineering, intelligence, and enterprise information technology markets. SAIC is Redefining Ingenuity through its deep customer and domain knowledge to enable the delivery of systems engineering and integration offerings for large, complex projects. SAIC's approximately 15,000 employees are driven by integrity and mission focus to serve customers in the U.S. federal government. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $4.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see .