About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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What You’ll Do

This is an entry-level Cyber Systems Engineer role supporting secure, classified training systems. You will work on a cross-functional team that integrates and operates enterprise compute environments used for tactical training.

• Configure, maintain, and assess system security baselines in classified lab environments
• Run vulnerability scans (e.g., ACAS / Nessus) and triage findings
• Apply operating system hardening and DISA STIG or benchmark guidance
• Support Assessment & Authorization (A&A) artifact generation and continuous monitoring to maintain Authority to Operate (ATO)
• Assist senior cyber engineers, system administrators, and integration leads with system builds and deployments
• Create clear technical documentation and summarize findings for teammates and auditors
• Use basic scripting and virtualization to automate routine tasks and build test environments
• Travel up to 10% to support site installations, surveys, or test events

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Qualifications (Required / Strongly Preferred)

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline
• U.S. citizenship required
• Department of Defense Secret security clearance required at time of hire (or ability to obtain)
• Foundational knowledge of cybersecurity fundamentals, TCP/IP, ports, and protocol concepts
• Practical exposure to Linux and/or Windows administration (academic, lab, internship, or personal projects)
• Basic scripting familiarity (Bash, PowerShell, or Python)
• Good written and verbal communication skills; ability to document technical steps clearly
• Demonstrated teamwork, initiative, and eagerness to learn DoD frameworks and enterprise tooling

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Certifications & Tools (Preferred)

• Current DoD 8570 / 8140 IAT Level II baseline cert (e.g., CompTIA Security+ CE, CySA+, or CCNA Security) or active progress toward one
• Hands-on experience with vulnerability scanners (ACAS, Nessus), SCAP tooling, or SIEM platforms (e.g., Splunk)
• Familiarity with NIST SP 800-53 controls, RMF, or DISA STIGs
• Exposure to virtualization platforms (KVM, VMware, VirtualBox)
• Participation in collegiate cyber defense competitions (CCDC), CTFs, or homelab projects is a plus

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What We Offer

• USD $77,843 - $86,358 per year (estimated range)
• Competitive benefits including 401(k) matching, paid parental leave, healthcare, and wellness programs
• Flexible scheduling options (9/80 schedule available)
• Hands-on learning, mentorship from senior engineers, and clear career progression in cyber engineering
• Collaborative, research-oriented work supporting mission-critical training systems

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Workplace & Logistics

• Worksite: Fully on-site at the Manassas, VA facility (VAMS03)
• Travel: Up to 10% required
• Employment type: Full-time / Contractor (as posted)
• This opportunity requires U.S. citizenship and a DoD Secret security clearance at hire

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.