Principal Cyber Security Engineer and Architect
Verizon
Listing collected from Verizon's career site. NextChapter is independent of Verizon.
Ashburn, VA · Posted November 6, 2026
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Where Ashburn, VA ranks
Where Ashburn, VA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #2Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Southeast68% · of 87
- #3Best cities for mid-career professionals68% · of 100
- #3Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Mid-Atlantic68% · of 85
- #14Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Southeast6% · of 77
- #21Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Southeast121 openings · of 63
- #21Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Mid-Atlantic6% · of 62
Rankings about security jobs
- Best cities for security jobs #1 San Francisco (316 openings)
- Best cities for security pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($241k)
- Most requested AI skills in security jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (10.8%)
- Employers with the most security jobs #1 Amazon (318 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
Among computer occupations, all other, AI is already used for a large share of the tasks. Measured exposure for computer occupations, all other: 31% (high).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Verizon has filed 6 layoff notices in the last twelve months, covering 813 workers, most recently July 2026. These are public filings with state labor departments, and an open role can sit alongside them. See the filings
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About the job
When you join Verizon
You want more out of a career. A place to share your ideas freely — even if they’re daring or different. Where the true you can learn, grow, and thrive. At Verizon, we power and empower how people live, work and play by connecting them to what brings them joy. We do what we love — driving innovation, creativity, and impact in the world. Our V Team is a community of people who anticipate, lead, and believe that listening is where learning begins. In crisis and in celebration, we come together — lifting our communities and building trust in how we show up, everywhere & always. Want in? Join the #VTeamLife.
What you’ll be doing...
The Corporate Security team is seeking an experienced, self-motivated System Architecture Engineer to join the National Security Program Office (NSPO). In this high-impact strategic role, you will be responsible for assessing, defining, and establishing core cybersecurity guidelines, guardrails, and technical standards across all sensitive and mission-critical programs.
Working as a core member of the NSPO, you will bridge organizational security requirements with technical execution. Beyond policy creation, you will directly lead the hands-on implementation and enforcement of these guardrails across critical enterprise infrastructures to ensure all program environments operate strictly according to guidelines published by CISA, CIS, NIST, and SANS.
Key Responsibilities
Guardrail & Baseline Creation: Assess program requirements and author technical security guidelines, policy baselines, and architectural guardrails for all sensitive and mission-critical program environments based on CISA, CIS Benchmarks, NIST (e.g., CSF, 800-53, 800-171), and SANS guidance.
Architecture & Hands-On Implementation: Translate abstract security guidelines into concrete engineering controls. Lead the technical implementation of hardened network architectures, microsegmentation, zero-trust patterns, and secure configurations across classified infrastructures.
Security Assessments & Compliance: Evaluate existing program systems against published CISA/CIS/NIST baselines to identify architectural gaps, drift, or vulnerabilities, driving remediation plans to enforce compliance.
Cross-Functional & Security Partnership: Partner directly with Corporate Security, Cybersecurity teams, the Network and Security Operations Center (NSOC), infrastructure groups, and program leadership to align program guardrails with enterprise security strategy, report on compliance posture, mitigate architectural risks, and embed mandatory controls into build patterns, deployment pipelines, and operational workflows.
Where you'll be working...
In this worksite-based role, you'll work onsite at a defined location which is Ashburn, VA.
What we’re looking for...
You’ll need to have:
Bachelor’s degree or four or more years of work experience.
Six or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training in system security engineering or network security architecture.
At least one of advanced architecture and security certifications such as CISSP, CISSP-ISSAP (Architecture), CCSP, CISM, or vendor networking/security certifications (e.g., CCNP Security, PCNSE).
Must be able to have or obtain Top Secret Security Clearance
Even better if you have one or more of the following:
Experience with Windows server operating environments and UNIX/Linux systems engineering (variety of variants).
Expertise in TCP/IP networking, 4G/5G call flows (SBI, Diameter, SIP), and virtualization technologies like OpenStack and OpenShift / Kubernetes.
Strong foundational knowledge of incident response lifecycles (NIST or SANS) with experience designing, testing, and maintaining automation playbooks using SOAR platforms.
Hands-on experience translating cybersecurity frameworks, such as NIST (800-53, 800-171, CSF), CIS Benchmarks, CISA directives, and SANS baselines, into enforceable engineering controls and technical guardrails.
Proven experience conducting security assessments against baseline standards to identify architectural gaps, drift, or vulnerabilities, driving remediation plans to enforce compliance.
Hands-on experience with virtualization, containerization, and cloud infrastructure security (e.g., Kubernetes, OpenShift, OpenStack, AWS/Azure government environments).
Expertise in cryptographic controls and data-in-transit / data-at-rest encryption standards (e.g., IPsec, TLS 1.3, MACsec, PKI).
Advanced architecture and security certifications such as CISSP, CISSP-ISSAP (Architecture), CCSP, CISM, or vendor networking/security certifications (e.g., CCNP Security, PCNSE).
Solid understanding of Identity and Access Management (IAM), Least Privilege access frameworks, and Network Access Control (NAC) integration.
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail with a proven track record of managing and delivering results.
Ability to work independently, keeping project teams aware of strategic technical challenges .Experience working within or supporting sensitive/restricted program environments.
If Verizon and this role sound like a fit for you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every “even better” qualification listed above.
Where you’ll be working
In this worksite-based role, you'll work onsite at a defined location(s).
Scheduled Weekly Hours 40
Equal Employment Opportunity
Verizon is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristics.
Benefits and Compensation
Our benefits are designed to help you move forward in your career, and in areas of your life outside of Verizon. From health and wellness benefit options including: medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, AD&D insurance, identity theft protection, pet insurance and group home & auto insurance. We also offer a matched 401(k) savings plan, up to 8 company paid holidays per year and up to 6 personal days per year, paid parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition assistance, plus other incentives, we’ve got you covered with our award-winning total rewards package. Depending on the role, employees have the opportunity to receive compensation in the form of premium pay such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, allowances, etc. Newly hired employees receive up to 15 days of vacation per year, which grows with additional service. For part-timers, your coverage will vary as you may be eligible for some of these benefits depending on your individual circumstances.
The salary will vary depending on your location and confirmed job-related skills and experience. This is an incentive based position with the potential to earn more. For part-time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.
The annual salary range for the location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $132,500.00 - $231,000.00.