Cybersecurity Chief Engineer

Mercer Engineering Research Center (MERC), a research institute of Mercer University, provides high quality engineering, scientific, and technical support services to both government and private industry customers. Responsible for the execution of all contractual efforts, including design, development, prototyping, production, operation, etc., as applicable. Sets the example for and advises/mentors all technical leads and contract personnel. Performs all duties and responsibilities under the supervision of the respective technical director.

Responsibilities

Responsible for the execution of all contractual efforts, including design, development, prototyping, production, operation, etc., as applicable; Sets the example for and advises/mentors all technical leads and contract personnel; For all contracts in the technical directorate, tracks technical status and reports issues with recommended solutions to technical director; May serve as a technical lead on contracts; Responsible for identifying all technical resources required for the respective technical area and works to hire, train, and equip the technical area; Responsible for the accuracy and sufficiency of all engineering artifacts required to comply with MERC Standard Processes, reviews quality and effectiveness of finished product, documents Lessons Learned, and is the release authority of all deliverables; Responsible for business development with new customers and new capabilities, both DoD-wide and commercial; Communicates with the Technical Director, the Director of Acquisition Strategy, the Sr. Director of Engineering and Programs, and the Executive Director and keeps them informed of all aspects of their programs; Primary focal point to current customers within the respective technical area and across MERC; Serves as the capture manager on contract opportunities and leads the proposal team; Recommends training for new employees in the technical area; Justifies all budget and resource allocation recommendations to senior management for the technical area; Provides capital investment requirements for the technical area to the technical director; Protects MERC competition-sensitive, proprietary information and intellectual property from those without a need-to-know

Requirements

US Citizenship is required; Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance; A Ph.D. in a relevant engineering field (e.g., Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science etc.) from an ABET accredited institution and 10 years of directly related technical experience, or a Master's degree in same and 12 years of directly related technical experience, or an undergraduate degree in same and 13 years of directly related technical experience; Experience leading technical teams: 11 years with an advanced degree or 13 years with an undergraduate degree; Extensive experience in the designated industry including, but not limited to, aerospace, electrical, software, environmental, biomedical, mechanical, and systems engineering; Experience leading teams of individuals from a variety of different backgrounds and disciplines; Knowledge of the principles of engineering, analysis, test, and design; Exceptional organizational and time management skills with an obsessive attention to detail; Able to collaborate and bridge the communication gap between the engineering team, service technicians, business development, operations staff, and clients; Superior budgeting and cost management abilities, assessing estimated costs early in the program and bringing the actual costs within budget; Able to draft clear and comprehensive reports on assigned contracts, the use and allocation of resources, and the quality of each finished program; Possess technical acumen and the ability to troubleshoot on a variety of programs; Able to perform business development activities to include customer interface, estimating and scheduling, technical proposal development, and follow-through

Nice to have

Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a long-term strategic vision for software and cybersecurity capabilities that aligns technical investments with organizational growth objectives; Recognized technical leader in one or more advanced cyber disciplines including cyber operations, secure software engineering, DevSecOps, Zero Trust architectures, artificial intelligence/machine learning, cloud security, digital engineering, systems security engineering, or emerging technology integration; Proven track record of identifying, developing, and maturing new technical capabilities that resulted in measurable business growth, market expansion, or competitive advantage; Demonstrated success challenging conventional approaches and introducing innovative solutions that improve mission effectiveness, technical performance, operational efficiency, or customer outcomes; Strong understanding of Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, Federal, and commercial cybersecurity markets, including emerging technology trends, threats, acquisition strategies, and customer priorities; Experience translating market opportunities, customer challenges, and emerging technologies into actionable research, development, investment, and capture strategies; Demonstrated history of identifying opportunities where existing processes, technologies, or organizational assumptions were limiting growth, and successfully leading transformational change despite institutional resistance

Benefits

Health and dental insurance; Retirement; Tuition reimbursement; Vacation/sick leave accrual; Holiday pay; Comprehensive health insurance for self and dependents; Generous retirement contributions; Tuition waivers; Paid vacation and sick leave; Technology discounts; Schedules that allow for work-life balance