Cyber Security SME

The Defense Sector at Leidos currently has an opening for a Cyber Security SME with an active SECRET clearance!

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Cyber Security Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support the U.S. Army Headquarters Installation Management Command (HQ IMCOM) Provost Marshal Higher Headquarters Assessment (HHA) Program, which enhances force protection readiness across U.S. Army installations.

As part of a multidisciplinary team of Subject Matter Experts, you will conduct 7–10 annual installation assessments that help Army garrisons align with Army Protection Program standards and strengthen their ability to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to, and recover from emerging threats.

Team members review installation documentation, interview personnel, inspect facilities, evaluate protection functions, and identify cross-domain trends that support both immediate improvements and enterprise-wide policy enhancements. Throughout each assessment, you will educate, guide, and advocate for installation personnel by providing clear, actionable recommendations that strengthen cybersecurity and force protection.

This position plays a critical role in shaping IMCOM's cyber readiness by informing policy, training, modernization initiatives, and enterprise-level recommendations while supporting the Program Manager in meeting all contract requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the Cyber Security SME supporting HQ IMCOM Higher Headquarters Assessments (HHA).

• Provide cybersecurity subject matter expertise during inspections of U.S. Army installations to evaluate Cyber and IT compliance.

• Review cyber threats, security plans, policies, and procedures to identify risks and recommend improvements in accordance with Army regulations and policy.

• Support the management team in reviewing and developing cyber policy while identifying emerging cyber threats, trends, and operational concerns.

• Develop informed recommendations for cybersecurity training and exercises based on operational experience and best practices.

• Communicate and coordinate regularly with IMCOM leadership and Program Management to ensure inspection schedules, planning timelines, and resources remain on track.

• Participate in initial planning meetings with the HHA Lead Inspector and key stakeholders to establish team relationships and confirm assessment schedules.

• Support planning meetings before, during, and after assessments.

• Provide subject matter expertise to improve internal planning processes, facilitation techniques, and inspection execution.

• Educate installation personnel on cybersecurity requirements and best practices while delivering practical, mission-focused recommendations.

• Support development of daily synchronization updates and contribute to the final Higher Headquarters Assessment report.

• Assist the Program Manager, as needed, to ensure successful contract execution.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (additional relevant military or professional experience may be substituted in lieu of a degree).

• Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance with the ability to achieve a TS/SCI clearance.

• Experience supporting Department of Defense or U.S. Government customers.

• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals, including:

  • TCP/IP

  • Network Traffic Analysis

  • Wireshark

  • Cisco Packet Tracer

• Knowledge of cybersecurity monitoring and security concepts, including:

  • Security Monitoring

  • Threat Detection

  • SIEM concepts

  • Risk Mitigation

  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework

• Strong understanding of enterprise networking, communication protocols, IDS/IPS technologies, firewalls, and other common security infrastructure.

• Excellent communication, presentation, organizational, and customer engagement skills.

Required Experience

• 19+ years of cybersecurity and IT infrastructure experience.

• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing cybersecurity policies, standards, operating procedures, and training programs supporting national security objectives.

• Extensive experience supporting Army cybersecurity programs and regulatory compliance.

• Strong knowledge of Army cyber policy, doctrine, regulations, and guidance.

• Demonstrated analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

• Experience developing realistic cyber exercise scenarios and training materials.

• Proven ability to lead meetings, facilitate inspections, and deliver customer-facing briefings.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines and contract milestones.

• Experience collaborating effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Retired military officer or retired GS civilian with experience serving in a senior cyber compliance leadership position (G6 or equivalent).

• Approximately 20 years supporting Army IT and cybersecurity operations.

• Former Theater Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Deputy CIO.

• Master's Degree in Homeland Security Management or related discipline.

• Experience supporting both CONUS and OCONUS Department of the Army installations.

• Familiarity with Army regulations, inspection methodologies, and cybersecurity compliance programs.

• Knowledge of adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).

• Experience monitoring and analyzing security tools such as Splunk, Elastic, or comparable platforms.

• Understanding of advanced persistent threats, software exploits, intrusion detection systems, and cyber defense technologies.

Clearance Requirement

• Ability to obtain a Secret Security Clearance

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance

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:

July 6, 2026

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.