Cleared Distinguished R&D Cybersecurity - Operational Technology, Hybrid

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

Are you passionate about research dedicated to securing Operational Technology (OT) systems and thwarting cyber intrusions? Are you dreaming of a chance to develop protective technologies, help organizations improve their OT cyber security posture, develop new tools and processes, conduct threat assessments, and analyze government, military, and civilian OT systems? If so, you will want to apply for this opportunity to join Sandia's outstanding multidisciplinary team committed to solving the OT cyber security challenges facing our nation. As part of our team, you will engage in work to protect our nation from the world's most sophisticated threats to critical OT systems.

To support Sandia's national security missions, our cybersecurity scientists and engineers engage in a variety of research areas including:

• Improving the cyber security posture of OT systems and promoting further advancements via tools, training, and advocacy
• Manual and automated reverse engineering, vulnerability assessment, and malware analysis
• Network protection architectures for OT systems
• Threat intelligence
• Hardware and software trust and assurance
• Security of all types of OT, including life safety systems, mission critical testers, and industrial control systems

*The selected applicant can work a combination of onsite and offsite work. The selected applicant must live within a reasonable distance for commuting to the assigned work location when necessary. If applicable, relocation timing is flexible but must occur within one year of the start date, or sooner if possible.

* Candidates must provide a list of five (5) relevant references who can specifically speak to their work and contributions within their company and beyond. These references should be able to address the skills, knowledge, and abilities (SKA) demonstrated at a Distinguished level, which is defined as exceptional performance that significantly exceeds standard expectations. Candidates being considered for Distinguished level at Sandia exhibit wake in overall impact to their company/organization, influence as the authority in the field, and reach within individuals across their company/organization, fostering connections beyond their immediate group/team. Additionally, wake includes the candidate's reputation, feedback from references, the quality of interactions with interviewers, and the overall perception of their skills and professionalism. Wake is used to look beyond short-term performance metrics, recognizing a candidate's broader influence within the organization and their field

$157,100 - $267,000

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, or related field, plus 12 or more years of relevant experience; or a PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, or related field plus 8 years of relevant experience.
• Proven expertise in OT cyber security, including lower-level (i.e., device-level) vulnerability research, red teaming, solution development, and/or OT assurance assessments, as well as higher-level strategy development.
• Established authority in the field with experience conducting research and development resulting in creative technical solutions to significant and complex problems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary research and development teams, providing technical leadership and performing as a Principal Investigator.
• Significant experience mentoring early- or mid-career staff/team members.
• Active DOE Q security clearance is required to start with ability to obtain a SCI.

• At least 10 years of hands-on OT vulnerability research expertise with OT systems, with emphasis on discovering vulnerabilities and developing mitigation options for addressing vulnerabilities.
• Experience using the NNSA Operational Technology Assurance Guidebook to perform OT assurance assessments.
• Engagement with strategic initiatives, working with both staff and management, to identify emerging threats and challenges, and solutions and opportunities to address them.
• Ability to conduct independent technical research and development, working under consultative direction rather than formal review.
• Well-developed leadership skills with the ability to prioritize and execute in a disciplined and focused manner.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex ideas clearly and concisely.
• Ability to build trusting, long lasting relationships with partners, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Work experience and demonstrated impact across multiple divisions within Sandia or across the Nuclear Security Enterprise, other government agencies, commercial partners, and/or international scientific and technical communities.
• Active TS//SCI security clearance.

The Computer Systems Security Analysis R&D department carries out work to support various missions across Sandia and the federal government. The department focuses on computer system security surety and assessment of new technologies relating to IT and OT including software systems, computing systems, networks, and architectures of such systems. Topical areas include information assurance, digital forensics, cryptography, cognitive systems, control systems analysis, vulnerability analysis, reverse engineering, secure architecture design, network analysis and operational technology and industrial control systems. Some members of the team spend most days on-site doing classified work, some telecommute and come on-site once or twice a week, and others work virtually/remotely from other states with occasional travel to New Mexico.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q security clearance to start, or equivalent active security clearance with another U.S. government agency (e.g., DOD). Sandia is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.