Application Security (AppSec) Engineer

Job ID: 6734
Date Posted: March 5, 2026

Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) is seeking an experienced Application Security (AppSec) Engineer with 10+ years of hands-on cybersecurity experience to join our dynamic Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering team. This role spans mid-level to senior responsibilities, focusing on software (commercial, open-source, and internally developed) security, third-party risk management, and contributing to the enhancement of our overall security posture. The position involves a mix of high-level operational execution, independent analysis, and contributions to process improvements. The ideal candidate brings practical experience in enterprise security environments, strong analytical skills, and a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Influences secure API development standards and implementations across multiple platforms
• Adopts security standards for the API lifecycle and disseminates them across development and security teams
• Develops authentication and authorization security requirements to adhere to credential storage, privilege management and authenticity standards; supports role- and attribute-based access control
• Regularly monitors the security community for public-facing security issues as well as to learn new tactics for securing data transmissions and reducing attack exposure
• Attends and participates in application projects and change management committee meetings, including interacting with business units and technical teams to understand what is coming and how projects can be more secure from the beginning
• Focuses on application security that complies with NIST SP 800-171, NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF), and other applicable regulatory or industry standard requirements and privacy laws
• Supervises testing and validation in application security controls across projects
• Builds services and tools to enable developers and DevSecOps Engineers to easily use security components produced by application security team members
• Supports the ability to “shift left” and incorporates security early on and throughout the development lifecycle
• Leverages vulnerability database sources to understand the weakness, probability, and remediation options supplied by vendors as well as workarounds
• Enriches DevSecOps architecture with security standards and best practices
• Partners with teams to define key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics across business units
• Produces engineering artifacts, building blocks, and deliverables in compliance with SDL Information Systems Engineering Procedure

• Established experience with Agile and software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices
• Skillful in single sign-on (SSO), OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect and SAML
• Proven excellence in communicating business risk from cybersecurity topics
• Extensive understanding of software development (Python, C++, C#, Java, Ruby, etc.)
• Experienced with securing intra-company and third-party APIs
• Experienced with REST and SOAP development and security controls
• Experience with cryptography controls and measures to secure applications and data
• Understanding of containers (e.g., Docker) and container orchestration (e.g., Docker Swarm, Kubernetes)
• Experience with operations and security across Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Understanding of OWASP, CVSS, the MITRE ATT&CK framework, and the software development lifecycle (SLDC)
• Experience within a highly regulated industry (DoD/DoW, Healthcare, Finance)
• Experience with the Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) and NIST SP 800-218

• Bachelor's Degree in cybersecurity or a related field
• 10+ years of professional experience in Application/Software Security, DevSecOps, third-party risk management, or closely related cybersecurity discipline
• Must possess CISSP or equivalent certification   
• Understanding of NIST 800-171 and CMMC requirements, or strong understanding of security and compliance concepts related to another framework (RMF, CSF)
• Willingness to respond to incidents outside of regular business hours as needed
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to mentor junior-level engineers and analysts as needed
• Ability to anticipate and communicate technical risks to program or proposal managers
• Ability to analyze various cyber attacks and assess the impact to information systems
• Must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance

• CISSP-ISSAP or CISSP-ISSEP
• Strong understanding of networking architecture
• Knowledge of cloud security concepts, DevSecOps practices, or adversary emulation frameworks
• Prior experience mentoring team members or leading small cybersecurity projects
• Experience in enterprise environments, cloud platforms such as Azure or AWS
• Proficiency in scripting/automation and query languages (SQL, SPL, FQL, KQL)

• $120,000 - $175,000
  • Salary commensurate based on education and relevant experience

This range serves as a general guideline and may vary based on factors such as role, level, location, market conditions, and individual qualifications, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. The range displayed in the job advertisement reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries across all US locations. Specific salary details for a candidate’s preferred location can be provided by the recruiter or HR manager during the hiring process.

Why Join SDL?
*SDL offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package. Visit our Benefits Page to learn more about what we offer.

SDL delivers advanced multi-domain solutions to protect national security and enable scientific discovery. Our expertise in satellites, sensors and instruments, ground systems and data processing, and autonomous systems plays a critical role in missions supporting NASA and the Department of Defense. Join our team of engineers, scientists, technicians, and business professionals in our seventh decade of delivering mission success.

At SDL, we strive to uphold a culture of respect, collaboration, empowerment, and accountability. We listen with open minds, seek to understand diverse perspectives, and engage in thoughtful dialogue. We work together by sharing knowledge, involving others, and offering support. We trust and empower our team members to take ownership, act with integrity, and be accountable. Above all, we deliver on our commitments to each other and to our mission partners.

The application window for this position is expected to remain open for approximately 14 days; however, it may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications promptly.

For questions, assistance, or accommodation with the application process or the DoD SkillBridge program, please contact [email protected].