Senior Information Security Specialist

Location: Ashburn, VA (Hybrid)

Department: PSPD

Information Security Specialist Officer, Technical Lead, #1117

AWS Security • RMF & ATO • NIST 800-53 • Cloud Application Security

Clearance: Active CBP, DHS, or Top Secret Clearance required
Work Arrangement: Hybrid – onsite 3 days/week during standard business hours in Ashburn, VA

About the Role

Dev Technology Group is seeking a Senior Information Security Specialist to lead and develop a mid-sized team of ISSOs supporting the security, compliance, and authorization of mission-critical federal applications and information systems hosted in AWS.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role combining people leadership, federal cybersecurity expertise, and direct collaboration with government and technical stakeholders. You will mentor junior and mid-level ISSOs while partnering with system owners, developers, architects, cloud/infrastructure engineers, security professionals, and government stakeholders throughout the system development lifecycle.

You will provide practical security guidance for AWS-hosted applications, lead Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Authority to Operate (ATO) activities, oversee vulnerability management and continuous monitoring, and translate federal cybersecurity requirements into actionable guidance for technical teams.

What You'll Do

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of ISSOs by establishing priorities, providing technical direction and coaching, and promoting accountability and consistent security practices.
• Lead and oversee RMF, ATO, security authorization, compliance, vulnerability management, and continuous monitoring activities across a portfolio of federal systems and applications.
• Partner with ISSMs, system owners, assessors, developers, architects, engineers, and government stakeholders to maintain authorizations, identify risks, and address security requirements.
• Lead vulnerability management efforts, prioritizing remediation, developing mitigation strategies, and tracking corrective actions through resolution.
• Develop, assess, document, and support implementation of security controls aligned with FISMA, NIST 800-53, DHS, and client requirements.
• Prepare and maintain security and authorization documentation, including SSPs, ISAs, audit artifacts, and RMF documentation.
• Provide cybersecurity guidance for applications and systems deployed in AWS and integrate security throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Validate security implementation through technical reviews, discussions, interviews, assessments, and tabletop exercises.
• Support security audits, assessments, compliance reviews, and reviews of information systems and network connections.
• Interpret federal and client security policies and translate requirements into practical guidance for technical and development teams.
• Identify and escalate security risks, communicate priorities and remediation status, and provide clear visibility to Dev Technology leadership and government stakeholders.
• Develop and present security metrics, status reports, risk assessments, and executive briefings.
• Establish and improve security processes, procedures, templates, dashboards, and workflows to improve consistency, accountability, and efficiency across the ISSO team.
• Build trusted relationships with government clients through proactive communication, collaboration, and face-to-face engagement.

Required Education, Experience & Skills

• Bachelor's degree and 7+ years of experience securing federal information systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading and mentoring information security professionals, including junior and mid-level ISSOs.
• Experience leading cybersecurity activities in a federal government client environment and working directly with government stakeholders.'
• Strong working knowledge of NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) and experience supporting federal systems through security authorization and ATO activities.
• Experience developing, implementing, assessing, or documenting security controls aligned with FISMA and NIST 800-53.
• Experience with vulnerability management, continuous monitoring, security assessments, audits, or compliance reviews for federal systems.
• Experience providing cybersecurity guidance for AWS-hosted applications and systems.
• Strong understanding of modern information systems and their technical security considerations.
• Ability to work effectively with developers, architects, engineers, government stakeholders, and technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate security risks and technical findings and develop/present security documentation and executive briefings.
• Ability to establish priorities, manage competing demands, independently manage security activities, and escalate issues appropriately.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented approach to identifying risks and improving security practices.
• Current CBP, DHS, or Top Secret Clearance.
• Ability to work onsite 3 days per week in Ashburn, VA during standard business hours.
• Cybersecurity certification such as CISSP, CISM, GIAC, Security+, or another recognized cybersecurity certification.

Preferred Education, Experience & Skills

• Experience developing or supporting RMF and authorization artifacts, including SSPs, ISAs, PTAs, ATTs, POA&Ms, and related documentation.
• Experience partnering with application development, cloud engineering, and DevSecOps teams to integrate security throughout the SDLC.
• Experience working in an Agile software development environment using Jira or similar platforms.
• Experience with GRC tools such as CSAM or similar platforms supporting authorization, compliance, vulnerability management, and security activities.
• Understanding of AI concepts and practical applications of AI for cybersecurity operations, risk analysis, compliance, or security program management.

 

Our estimated salary range for this position is $88,000 - $ 150,000. This presented salary range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Offered salary is based on experience, geographic location, and possibly contractual requirements as appropriate to the role. *Salary could fall outside of this range.