Cyber Operations Lead

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L564 is seeking a Cyber Operations Lead to lead advanced offensive and defensive cyber capabilities and mission-focused analysis for U.S. Government weapon systems, space systems, cyber-physical systems, and mission-critical infrastructure. The role connects cyber operations and resilience with radio frequency (RF), electronic warfare (EW), satellite communications (SATCOM), and other physical-layer mission systems.

As a lead engineer within MITRE Technology and Engineering, the individual will translate sponsor questions into executable analysis, integrate modeling and simulation with engineering and operational evidence, and deliver technically defensible recommendations. The role includes multidisciplinary technical leadership, staff development and placement, department initiatives, and work-program growth. Sponsor and national-security priorities will shape the mission focus.

Preferred location is Colorado Springs; other locations may be considered. Recurring in-person sponsor engagement and access to secure facilities and classified information are required.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Lead multidisciplinary sponsor efforts in partnership with FFRDC leadership, serving as a lead engineer, Project Lead, Deputy Project Lead, or Task Lead. Integrate offensive and defensive cyber capabilities with analysis of cyber-physical systems, EW, communications, space, and mission-critical systems.
• Analyze emerging cyber threats and adversary capabilities and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to assess implications for cyber operations and mission resilience.
• Lead target-system analysis using intelligence-informed, engineering, and operational evidence to characterize system interfaces, constraints, failure modes, critical dependencies, vulnerabilities, and exploitable pathways; develop mission-relevant courses of action for collection, defense, exploitation, and cyber effects.
• Translate sponsor questions into repeatable modeling, simulation, and analysis workflows. Define scenarios, assumptions, and measures of effectiveness; adapt specialized tools; and validate conclusions against physical principles, test evidence, uncertainty, sensitivity, and operational context.
• Lead mission-based risk assessments that map critical functions to supporting systems and dependencies, assess disruption across mission threads, and prioritize mitigation, resilience, continuity, and recovery.
• Engage sponsors and operational stakeholders to shape actionable recommendations and reusable capabilities. Align workforce development with sponsor priorities, mentor staff, grow local technical capability, and maintain continuity across geographically distributed teams.
• Produce clear, defensible briefings, reports, playbooks, concepts of operations (CONOPS), recommendations, and reusable analytical products that support sponsor planning and capability development.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, physics, applied mathematics, information systems, intelligence studies, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience analyzing complex systems in one or more mission domains, including cyber-physical systems, weapon systems, space systems, RF systems, SATCOM, EW, communications systems, embedded systems, operational technology, mission command and control, or mission-critical infrastructure; experience supporting cyber operations, exploitation, threat analysis, cyber-physical security, or mission assurance.
• Ability to conduct target-system, vulnerability, exploitability, or mission-impact analysis, including assessment of system composition, interfaces, dependencies, failure modes, operational constraints, and attack surfaces.
• Ability to apply physics, mathematics, systems engineering, or engineering judgment to assess assumptions and edge cases, and connect model behavior, test evidence, validation, sensitivity, and operational context to develop technically defensible conclusions.
• Technical foundation in RF, SATCOM, EW, electromagnetics, communications, sensing, spectrum, cyber-physical systems, or related physical-layer mission systems sufficient to assess analytical plausibility and mission relevance.
• Ability to translate ambiguous sponsor questions into repeatable modeling, simulation, analysis, or engineering workflows, including scenarios, assumptions, and measures of effectiveness; learn, debug, or adapt specialized tool chains; and deliver validated, documented results.
• Experience leading complex technical efforts across multidisciplinary teams, stakeholders, and concurrent work programs; strong understanding of defense and Intelligence Community missions and operations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including producing rigorous, reusable technical products, explaining findings to technical and non-technical audiences through briefings and whiteboard discussions, and supporting adoption across teams and sponsor organizations.
• Ability to work on-site at MITRE or government facilities and support classified engagements in secure facilities, including recurring in-person sponsor support as mission needs require.
• Must have an active Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 3 days per week on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience modeling, testing, prototyping, or analyzing SATCOM, EW, sensing, terrestrial communications, space, or embedded systems, including hands-on hardware, laboratory, or RF work.
• Experience developing and validating reproducible analysis workflows connecting physical assumptions, test data, and durable technical products, using Python, MATLAB, C/C++, C#, Simulink, STK, RF modeling tools, or similar environments.
• Advanced experience in offensive or defensive cyber operations, vulnerability research, exploit development, cyber-physical assessment, mission-based risk, test and evaluation, or resilience; familiarity with MITRE’s cyber portfolios or Intelligence Community methods and products.
• Experience leading national-security efforts, engaging local sponsors and operational stakeholders, and maintaining technical continuity across geographically distributed teams.
• Ability to mentor, train, or grow local technical capability in emerging mission areas.
• Experience applying artificial intelligence or machine learning to cybersecurity, cyber operations, or cyber mission planning.
• Advanced degree in engineering physics, physics, electrical engineering, systems engineering, applied mathematics, computer science, cybersecurity, or a related technical discipline.
• Active TS/SCI clearance

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Top Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$158,800 - $198,500 - $238,200 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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