Cryptographic Modernization Subject Matter Expert

Are you ready for a rewarding and inspiring career?

Leidos is a FORTUNE 500 company bringing a mix of innovative technology and sector expertise to customers in the national security, engineering, and the health industries. At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

Your greatest work is ahead!

Leidos seeks highly qualified and trained Cryptographic Modernization Subject Matter Expert to provide expert guidance and direction underpinning Leidos on-site support to research and development efforts on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

The Mission

The Digital Modernization Sector is focused on delivering performance-based IT services and repeatable solutions to include applying cloud-factory and aaS (as a Service) capabilities and integrating commercial products to provide a comprehensive digital engineering approach to IT transformation.

Are you ready to make an impact? Begin your journey of a flourishing and meaningful career, share your resume with us today!

Your Main Mission:

Individual will provide advanced technical expertise and leadership in the development, integration, and deployment of cutting-edge technologies, and will directly support range of services, to include research & development (R&D), proof of concepts, testing, integration and validation of secure communications and network technologies, Cryptographic Modernization, and development and employment of defensive cyberspace capabilities. Position requires free thinking and independent judgement to lead teams developing technical solutions to answer hard challenges, ensuring mission and customer success.

• Provide subject matter expertise in the field of Cryptographic Modernization with focus on ensuring cryptographic systems meet security, compliance, and performance standards to support enduring mission on Aberdeen Proving Grounds

• Contribute to customer strategic vision by identifying future technological trends and gaps and assist in defining priorities and aligning R&D efforts with higher echelon modernization goals

• Provide strategic leadership on complex policy issues involving technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Data Analytics, Autonomous Systems, and Cybersecurity

• Lead continual assessment of command cryptographic systems for vulnerabilities, inefficiencies, or obsolescence

• Guide gap analysis between current cryptographic capabilities and modern security requirements to ensure alignment with Department of Defense (DoD) and Industry standards

• Develop and implement strategic roadmap for modernizing cryptographic infrastructure

• Recommend and oversee transition from legacy to modern secure algorithms and ensure new algorithms and protocols are compatible with existing systems and external partners

• Ensure adherence to relevant DoD, Intelligence Community, or Industry cryptographic standards and regulations

• Design and implement robust key management practices, including secure key generation, distribution, storage, and rotation and maintain thorough documentation and support audits to demonstrate compliance and system integrity

• Collaborate with software and hardware teams to integrate modern cryptographic solutions seamlessly into existing systems and support rigorous testing to ensure reliability, performance, and security of updated cryptographic implementations

• Continuously assess emerging threats and advise the government on appropriate mitigation strategies

• Develop protocols for addressing cryptographic failures or breaches and lead post-incident analyses and implement redundancy and recovery mechanisms to ensure cryptographic services remain operational during disruptions.

• Provide training and resources to ensure proper implementation and maintenance of cryptographic systems

• Promote adoption of best practices and cutting-edge cryptographic solutions across organization

• Coordinate with external vendors to procure and deploy cryptographic tools and services

• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and guidance relevant to organization’s objectives

• Communicate complex information, concepts, or ideas in a confident and well-organized manner through verbal, written, and/or visual means

• Prepare and perform briefings appropriate for senior leadership (i.e., general officer or flag officer)

• Support development of standards, metrics and measures to support assessments, process improvements and operational efficiencies across customer organization

Basic Qualifications:

• Must be a US Citizen and possess Top Secret clearance eligible for access to SCI and a Counterintelligence (CI) polygraph or ability to obtain CI polygraph by contract start

• Bachelor's degree in field related to Cryptographic Modernization such as Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Mathematics, or more focused study within Quantum Computing and Quantum Cryptography, Secure Hardware Design, or Artificial Intelligence in Cryptography

• 12+ yrs. demonstrated work experience within field of Cryptographic Modernization

• Demonstrated high level of in-depth expertise in design and develop of new capabilities supporting complex system with exacting interface, performance, and security requirements

• 10 + years’ experience with development and implementation of DoD and Army plans, policies, standards, and methods aimed at the acquisition and support of military systems

• 10+ years’ experience in areas of Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (can be concurrent with work within Cryptographic Modernization)

• Demonstrated ability to provide guidance and recommendations for resolution of Information Security and Cryptographic Modernization technical problems

• Demonstrated experience with development architecture for the legacy KY100 crypto device KMI Aware to obtain key packages via iAPP/KMI

• Demonstrated experience with Firmware development using VHSIC Hardware Development Language (VHDL) targeted for a variety of Field Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) families and vendors

• Strong interpersonal, critical thinking, and communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex and technical data to non-technical consumer

• Able to work across DoD and IC agencies to support organizational goals

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters’ Degree in fields related to Cryptographic Modernization such as Cybersecurity, Computer Science with focus on Cryptography, Information Assurance, Applied Mathematics or Cryptography

• Active Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent

• Demonstrated experience with Agile delivery model and DevSecOps framework

• Demonstrated experience incorporating AI and ML into operations at any level to increase efficiency and effectiveness of operational outcomes

• Possess advanced technical certifications within field of Cryptographic Modernization such as Certified Cryptography Professional (CCP), GIAC Certified Crypto Analyst (GCCA), and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Certification, and related certifications, to include: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), GIAC Security Expert (GSE), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Clearance Required:

• Must possess a Top Secret clearance eligible for access to SCI and Counterintelligence (CI) polygraph or ability to obtain CI polygraph by contract start

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

June 24, 2025

Pay Range:

Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.