Security Engineer (Pipeline)

Security Engineer

(*Note: This position is a pipeline opportunity*)

We’re hiring a Security Engineer / Information System Security Engineer (ISSE) to own the security engineering and Risk Management Framework (RMF) execution for secure enterprise applications delivered to federal customers on Azure Government. You will implement and document security controls, produce the authorization artifacts, and drive the assessment-and-authorization activities that earn and sustain a system's Authority to Operate — while the Government Authorizing Official retains all authorization authority. 

This is a critical-path role. Systems are configured, assessed, and separately authorized per environment, so you will carry the control implementation, the System Security Plan and POA&M, the hardening, and the continuous-monitoring posture — coordinating closely with cloud engineers, developers, and the Government. When accreditation is on the critical path, your work is what keeps delivery on schedule.

Location: Candidate must be located in the Washington, DC, metro region and must be available onsite in Maryland as needed. This role supports secure Government environments; Candidates must have and maintain an active TS/SCI clearance with the Department of Defense. All personnel shall meet DoD 8140/8570 (DoDM 8140 / DCWF) baseline requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Own RMF execution — categorize, select, implement, assess, and support authorization under NIST 800-37 / 800-53 and DoDI 8510.01.
• Author and maintain the System Security Plan (SSP), POA&M, and full control-implementation evidence; manage the authorization package in eMASS (or the Government's system of record).
• Serve as the security engineering interface to the Government ISSM/AO and assessors; prepare for and support all assessment-and-authorization activities.
• Implement and validate hardening against applicable DISA STIGs (application/ASD, container, database, OS) and track remediation to closure.
• Design and operate the continuous-monitoring posture — audit logging, SIEM integration (Microsoft Sentinel / Log Analytics), and control-assessment cadence — and maintain POA&M currency.
• Engineer and verify the data-protection posture: encryption in transit and at rest, key management (Key Vault / managed identity, customer-managed keys, FIPS-validated cryptography), and no secrets in source or image.
• Own the CAC/PIV / DoD PKI validation design (OCSP/CRL) with the cloud and application engineers.
• Enforce CUI handling and, where applicable, cross-domain and classified-data controls and spillage prevention.
• Implement least-privilege access, zero-trust controls, and privileged-access administration (Bastion / JIT / MFA / privileged access workstations).
• Produce and maintain the security documentation and as-built records required for accreditation and customer handoff.

Requirements

• 7+ years in information system security engineering/cybersecurity for federal or DoD systems, with direct, hands-on RMF experience.
• Demonstrated ownership of at least two systems through a full RMF authorization to an ATO/cATO — SSP, control implementation, POA&M, and package management.
• Hands-on experience with eMASS (or equivalent) and NIST 800-53 control implementation and assessment.
• Experience hardening systems to DISA STIGs and validating compliance.
• Working knowledge of cloud security architecture — identity, network isolation (private endpoints), key management, and SIEM/continuous monitoring.
• Understanding of CUI handling (DoDI 5200.48) and the DoD Cloud Computing SRG impact levels.
• DoD 8140/8570-compliant certification for the ISSE role (e.g., CISSP, CASP+, or equivalent).
• Strong technical writing and the ability to produce assessor-ready evidence.
• Ability to carry security engineering and authorization across multiple environments on a lean, senior team.
• Candidates must have and maintain an active TS/SCI clearance with the Department of Defense.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience accrediting workloads in Azure Government or classified Azure environments.
• Experience with cross-domain solutions (CDS) and the SABI/TSABI process, or supporting a data-transfer accreditation.
• Experience standing up continuous monitoring with Microsoft Sentinel and integrating with a designated CSSP.
• Familiarity with securing containerized workloads (AKS, hardened images, image signing/scanning).
• Experience with AI/LLM security controls (data-residency, scope-bound retrieval, prompt-injection defense) in a governed environment.
• ISSM or RMF assessor experience; CISSP-ISSEP.

About Total Force Alliance:

Total Force Alliance, LLC is an SBA-certified Service-Disabled Veteran (SDVOSB) and Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) founded in 2023 and headquartered in Miami, Florida. We provide top-notch talent recruitment and retention for niche skillsets and in-demand talent for Enterprise IT Services: Operations, Engineering, Cybersecurity, ServiceNow Development, and Cloud Services. Our corporate culture and industry partnerships enable us to offer unrivaled salary, benefits, training and professional development to select IT professionals that can innovate and deliver technical solutions targeted to Federal Civilian, Health, Defense, Intelligence and Cyber strategic priorities.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental & Vision
• Mental Health Resources
• Paid Time Off & Holidays
• 401(k) with Company Matching
• Life, Accident & Injury Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Certification Preparation & Exam Reimbursement
• Virtual Personal & Professional Development Classes

Target Salary Range

$145,000 - $155,000

The anticipated salary range for this position is provided as a general guideline and is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. The final offer may vary based on several factors, including job responsibilities, education, certifications, relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, market data, contractual requirements, and other applicable considerations. Accordingly, the final salary may fall outside the stated range, where permitted by applicable law.

Total Force Alliance, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristics.