{"id":2578794,"url":"https://alion.io/job/nightwing-engineering-lead","title":"Engineering Lead","company":{"id":3852631,"name":"Nightwing","domain":"nightwing.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/nightwing-2","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":92,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-15T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"Management","role_family":"Management","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Sterling, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":176000,"max":353000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":353000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Agile","optional":false},{"name":"AWS","optional":false},{"name":"Azure","optional":false},{"name":"Docker","optional":false},{"name":"GCP","optional":false},{"name":"Kubernetes","optional":false},{"name":"PowerShell","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Scrum","optional":false},{"name":"SIEM","optional":false},{"name":"Splunk","optional":false},{"name":"YARA","optional":false},{"name":"YARA","optional":false},{"name":"Anomaly Detection","optional":true},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":true},{"name":"ISO 27001","optional":true},{"name":"ITIL","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-14T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-14","last_verified_at":"2026-10-15T06:09:16Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers’ most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets.\nNightwing is seeking an exceptional Engineering Lead to serve as the senior technical authority responsible for overall system architecture, technical strategy, engineering standards, and integration across all engineering efforts. This role requires a proven senior-level technical leader who ensures engineering rigor and maintains technical integrity throughout the system lifecycle while managing complex, large-scale operations supporting critical national security missions.\nNightwing delivers end-to-end secure IT services leveraging deep experience in Offensive Cyber Operations (OCO), Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO), Cyber Vulnerability Assessments (CVAs), and systems integration. As Engineering Lead, you will translate this operational expertise into robust technical architectures, drive engineering excellence across detection and automation platforms, and ensure our solutions remain operationally relevant in dynamic threat environments.\nYou will be responsible for maintaining the technical integrity of systems operating within accredited environments, ensuring compliance with DoD Information Assurance (IA) requirements, and supporting Authority to Operate (ATO) processes for mission-critical systems. This includes architecting solutions that meet NIST SP 800-171 standards, implementing security-by-design principles, and maintaining system accreditation postures throughout the lifecycle.\nThis is a high-visibility, technically demanding leadership position requiring an individual who can lead engineering teams supporting programs with 100+ FTEs, navigate complex technical environments in mission settings, and drive organizational success through architectural excellence, technical innovation, and engineering discipline. You will be accountable for the technical health and performance of systems supporting critical Intelligence Community operations.\nKey Responsibilities\nTechnical Leadership & Architecture\nServe as the senior technical authority for all engineering activities across the program portfolio\nDefine and maintain system architecture and technical strategy for cybersecurity operations, detection engineering, and automation platforms\nEstablish and enforce engineering standards, best practices, and design patterns across all development and integration efforts\nEnsure technical integrity across all system development, integration, and operational activities\nProvide technical direction and mentorship to engineering teams of 50+ engineers across multiple disciplines\nDrive architectural decisions that balance mission requirements, technical feasibility, cost, and schedule\nInformation Assurance & System Accreditation\nMaintain technical authority over systems requiring Authority to Operate (ATO) within DoD and Intelligence Community environments\nEnsure all engineering activities comply with customer Information Assurance requirements and Standards\nSupport system accreditation processes including documentation, testing, and continuous monitoring requirements\nCoordinate with IA/IT personnel to ensure engineering teams maintain required certifications\nSupport development of system security documentation for ATO packages\n\nSystems Integration & Development\nOversee integration of cybersecurity tools, SIEM platforms, detection frameworks, and automation capabilities\nGuide software and hardware development efforts supporting SOC operations, threat detection, and incident response\nEnsure interoperability across complex technical environments including on-premise, cloud, and hybrid architectures\nSupport prototype validation, operational testing, and system acceptance activities\nLead DevSecOps transformation and CI/CD pipeline development for security operations\nOversee development and deployment of custom detection content, automation playbooks, and orchestration workflows\nTechnical Program Support & Stakeholder Engagement\nTranslate operational requirements from Intelligence Community customers into technical solutions and architectures\nProvide technical expertise to program management, customers, and senior leadership\nInterface directly with Customer, mission partners, and other Intelligence Community stakeholders on technical matters\nSupport technical risk assessment and mitigation strategies across the program\nReview and approve technical deliverables, design documents, and system documentation\nPresent technical strategies, architectures, and solutions to C-suite and senior government leadership\nInnovation & Continuous Improvement\nDrive adoption of emerging technologies including AI/ML for threat detection, cloud-native security, and automation\nSupport continuous improvement of technical processes, development methodologies, and engineering practices\nEvaluate and recommend new tools, techniques, platforms, and approaches\nLead technical assessments of vendor solutions and COTS/GOTS products\nChampion security-by-design principles across all engineering activities\nFoster culture of technical excellence, innovation, and knowledge sharing\nEngineering Team Leadership\nLead, mentor, and develop cross-functional engineering teams including software engineers, detection engineers, security engineers, and automation specialists\nEnsure team maintains readiness to support dynamic mission environments and rapid capability development\nConduct technical performance management, career development planning, and succession planning\nDrive technical hiring to build organizational capability and address skill gaps\nFoster collaborative, mission-focused engineering culture emphasizing quality, innovation, and accountability\nTechnical Risk Management & Quality Assurance\nIdentify, assess, and aggressively mitigate technical risks in mission environments\nDevelop and implement technical contingency plans to ensure system availability and mission continuity\nEnsure quality assurance through code reviews, testing strategies, and validation processes\nNavigate technical, schedule, and resource constraints while maintaining mission focus\nSupport crisis management during system outages, security incidents, or performance degradation\nBalance technical debt management with feature delivery and mission urgency\nRequired Qualifications\nEducation & Certification\nBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Engineering, IT, or related STEM field\nAt least one: CISSP, CISM, CCISO, GCDA, Security+ CE, CySA+, or equivalent certification\nExperience\nEngineering Leadership (One of the following):\n10+ years engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership of large-scale engineering teams\n8+ years leading engineering efforts for programs of similar size and scope (100+ FTEs, $50M+ budgets)\n10+ years architecting and engineering complex systems supporting national security missions\nDomain Experience (One of the following):\n5-8 years cybersecurity, SOC, or cyber incident response experience with engineering focus\n5-8 years detection engineering and automation experience\n5-8 years IT services engineering with Intelligence Community customers\nTechnical Knowledge\nDeep understanding of system architecture and engineering principles for enterprise-scale systems\nDemonstrated experience with programs of similar size and scope supporting Intelligence Community missions\nExtensive knowledge of cybersecurity operations, defensive cyber capabilities, and threat detection methodologies\nWorking knowledge of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and DevSecOps practices\nExperience with cloud architectures (AWS, Azure, GCP), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and infrastructure-as-code\nStrong understanding of SIEM platforms (Splunk, Elastic, Sentinel), detection frameworks (Sigma, YARA), and SOAR platforms\nKnowledge of programming/scripting languages (Python, PowerShell, Bash) and automation frameworks\nFamiliarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies and modern engineering practices\nLeadership & Stakeholder Management\nExceptional communication skills with proven ability to translate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders\nDemonstrated success in mission environments requiring rapid technical decision-making\nTrack record of technical innovation driving mission impact and customer satisfaction\nStrong technical presence with ability to brief senior military and civilian leadership\nExperience managing in matrixed organizations with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities\nProven ability to influence without authority and build technical consensus across organizational boundaries\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience within Intelligence Community (NRO, NSA, CIA, DIA, NGA) and Military mission partner environments\nAdvanced degrees (MS, PhD) in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical fields\nAdvanced degrees and certifications in IT process improvement and/or capability frameworks (e.g., ITIL, COBIT, ISO 27001, CISSP, Agile/SAFe)\nMultiple advanced certifications: CISSP, CISM, GIAC certifications (GCIA, GCIH, GREM, GCFA)\nExperience leading security operations centers (SOCs) or threat detection programs\nBackground in threat intelligence, malware analysis, or offensive security\nExperience with AI/ML for security, anomaly detection, and advanced analytics\nPrior military or intelligence community technical leadership experience\nExperience supporting classified programs at TS/SCI level with special access programs (SAP)\nTrack record of technical publications, speaking engagements, or open-source contributions\nSuccess Metrics\nTechnical systems delivered on schedule, within budget, and meeting performance requirements\nSystem availability and reliability meeting or exceeding SLAs (99.9999%+ uptime for critical systems)\nCustomer satisfaction with technical solutions, architecture decisions, and engineering support\nEngineering team performance including velocity, quality metrics, and technical debt management\nTechnical risk mitigation effectiveness with proactive identification and resolution before mission impact\nInnovation adoption with measurable improvement in capabilities through new technologies\nTechnical debt reduction while maintaining feature delivery velocity\nSecurity posture improvement through architectural enhancements and engineering practices\nWhy Nightwing\nLead mission-critical engineering efforts directly supporting Intelligence Community operations and national security objectives\nExercise full technical authority with meaningful impact on system architecture, capabilities, and mission effectiveness\nBuild and lead high-performing engineering teams of talented professionals in cutting-edge cyber and intelligence domains\nPartner directly with senior government customers in the Intelligence Community on programs of strategic importance\nOperate in environments where your technical leadership, decisions, and innovations truly matter to mission success\nCompetitive compensation with performance-based incentives tied to technical delivery and innovation\nAccess to cutting-edge technologies and opportunities to work on challenging technical problems\n\nAt Nightwing, we value collaboration and teamwork. You'll have the opportunity to work alongside talented individuals who are passionate about what they do. Together, we'll leverage our collective expertise to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and deliver exceptional results for our clients.\nThank you for considering joining us as we embark on this new journey and shape the future of cyber...","description_format":"text","description_chars":12839,"description_truncated":true,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan","Dental insurance","Insurance coverage"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["National Security","Information Security","Security Operations"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-15T01:03:53Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":70,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.695,"p_room":1,"age_days":1,"expected_fill_days":32,"reasons":["conf:4","stale_co","urgency","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-15T05:46:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":353000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/nightwing-engineering-lead","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/nightwing-engineering-lead.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-15T15:20:27Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":23423,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-16T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":3852631},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=3852631"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnightwing-engineering-lead"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnightwing-engineering-lead"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnightwing-engineering-lead"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/nightwing-engineering-lead\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnightwing-engineering-lead"}]}