ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Defense Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

WilmerHale

Senior AI Defense Engineer

Miamisburg, OH

$102K - $140K/yr

About the Role The Senior AI Defense Engineer is a technical leader responsible for securing AI in a global law firm environment. This role is responsible for setting technical direction, driving ...

WilmerHale

Senior AI Defense Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$129K - $177K/yr

About the Role The Senior AI Defense Engineer is a technical leader responsible for securing AI in a global law firm environment. This role is responsible for setting technical direction, driving ...

Parsons

Missile Defense Engineer

Fort Belvoir, VA

$134K - $241K/yr

Parsons is looking for a talented Missile Defense Engineer (TS/SCI) to join our team! In this role you will get to explore the performance implications of missile defense architecture variations ...

Wilmerhale

Senior AI Defense Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$124K - $170K/yr

About the Role The Senior AI Defense Engineer is a technical leader responsible for securing AI in a global law firm environment. This role is responsible for setting technical direction, driving ...

WilmerHale

Senior AI Defense Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$124K - $170K/yr

About the Role The Senior AI Defense Engineer is a technical leader responsible for securing AI in a global law firm environment. This role is responsible for setting technical direction, driving ...

Wilmerhale

Senior AI Defense Engineer

Washington, DC

$129K - $177K/yr

About the Role The Senior AI Defense Engineer is a technical leader responsible for securing AI in a global law firm environment. This role is responsible for setting technical direction, driving ...

Wilmerhale

Senior AI Defense Engineer

Miamisburg, OH · On-site

$102K - $140K/yr

About the Role The Senior AI Defense Engineer is a technical leader responsible for securing AI in a global law firm environment. This role is responsible for setting technical direction, driving ...

WilmerHale

Senior AI Defense Engineer

Miamisburg, OH · On-site

$102K - $140K/yr

About the Role The Senior AI Defense Engineer is a technical leader responsible for securing AI in a global law firm environment. This role is responsible for setting technical direction, driving ...

WilmerHale

Senior AI Defense Engineer

Washington, DC

$129K - $177K/yr

About the Role The Senior AI Defense Engineer is a technical leader responsible for securing AI in a global law firm environment. This role is responsible for setting technical direction, driving ...

Wilmerhale

Senior AI Defense Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$124K - $170K/yr

About the Role The Senior AI Defense Engineer is a technical leader responsible for securing AI in a global law firm environment. This role is responsible for setting technical direction, driving ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsDefense Engineer Jobs

Defense Engineer information

See salary details

$36.5K

$105.2K

$163K

How much do defense engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for defense engineer in the United States is $105,223.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,500.00 and $130,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do Defense Engineers typically collaborate with multidisciplinary teams during project development?

Defense Engineers frequently work alongside professionals from various disciplines, including software developers, systems analysts, project managers, and manufacturing specialists. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as complex defense projects require integrating multiple technologies and adhering to strict security protocols. Regular meetings, technical reviews, and cross-functional design sessions are common, ensuring that engineering solutions meet both technical requirements and regulatory standards. Being adaptable and open to feedback from different perspectives is key to success in this collaborative environment.

What is the difference between Defense Engineer vs Systems Engineer?

AspectDefense EngineerSystems Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Security Clearances often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, Systems or related fields
Work EnvironmentDefense contractors, government agencies, military projectsVarious industries including aerospace, IT, manufacturing
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily defense and military sectorsBroad industry use, including defense, tech, and aerospace
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for technical and security aspectsCompared for project management and system integration skills

Defense Engineers focus on designing and developing military and defense systems, often requiring security clearances and working within defense sectors. Systems Engineers have a broader role in integrating complex systems across various industries, including defense, but with less emphasis on security clearances. Both roles require engineering backgrounds but differ in industry focus and project scope.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Defense Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Defense Engineer, you need a strong background in engineering principles, problem-solving, and systems design, typically supported by a degree in engineering or a related field and security clearance. Familiarity with CAD software, modeling tools, and knowledge of defense industry standards or certifications like ITAR compliance is often required. Critical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills for success in this role. These skills and qualities ensure the development of reliable, secure, and innovative defense systems that meet stringent safety and regulatory requirements.

What are Defense Engineers?

Defense Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain technologies and systems used for national defense and security. Their work may include developing weapons, surveillance equipment, communications systems, and protective gear for military use. They often collaborate with government agencies and defense contractors to ensure that products meet stringent safety and performance standards. Defense Engineers apply principles from fields such as mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering to solve complex challenges related to defense technology.
More about Defense Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Defense Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Defense Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Defense Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Defense Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Defense Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Defense Engineer jobs are:
Defense Engineer jobs near you
Lead Cybersecurity Defense Engineer

Lead Cybersecurity Defense Engineer

Burlington Stores

Beverly, NJ • On-site

$99K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago

Burlington rating

4.4

Company rating: 4.4 out of 10

Based on 913 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

19th of 21 rated department stores

Job description

Position Overview
The Lead Cybersecurity Defense Engineer serves as the organization's senior-most technical authority within the defensive security domain. This role is responsible for setting technical direction, architecting advanced defensive capabilities, and driving continuous improvement across detection engineering, incident response, and security operations engineering at an enterprise scale. The ideal candidate is a deeply experienced defensive security practitioner with extensive hands-on expertise in detection engineering, threat modeling, incident response, and security automation. This role leads the design of resilient, scalable, and threat-informed defensive controls aligned to real-world adversary behavior and organizational risk. The Defense Engineer IV partners closely with SOC leadership, security engineering, identity, cloud, infrastructure, and application teams to influence design decisions, close systemic gaps, and ensure defensive capabilities evolve alongside the threat landscape. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy and is expected to mentor senior engineers, set engineering standards, guide response strategy during complex incidents, and represent defensive security expertise in architecture reviews, risk discussions, and executive-facing initiatives. While not a people manager, the Lead Cybersecurity Defense Engineer functions as a principal technical leader, shaping how the organization prevents, detects, and responds to advanced threats.
A Day In The Life
Detection Strategy & Defensive Architecture Leadership
  • Define and drive the enterprise detection engineering strategy aligned to real-world adversary behavior.
  • Architect advanced detection capabilities across platforms to ensure comprehensive, scalable coverage.
  • Establish standards for detection quality, fidelity, testing, and lifecycle management.
  • Ensure consistent and meaningful mapping of detections to the MITRE ATT&CK framework across the organization.
  • Translate threat intelligence, emerging attack techniques, and incident learnings into systemic defensive improvements.
  • Lead development of advanced response playbooks and decision frameworks for complex attack scenarios.

Advanced Incident Response Leadership & MSSP Oversight
  • Act as the senior technical authority during high-impact or complex security incidents.
  • Guide response strategy, investigation approach, and containment decisions during major incidents.
  • Provide technical oversight of MSSP performance, detection coverage, and response effectiveness.
  • Influence SOC operating models, escalation criteria, and response workflows through technical leadership.
  • Represent defensive security expertise in cross-functional incident reviews and risk discussions.

Automation, Technical Mentorship & Program Maturity
  • Design and oversee advanced SOAR architectures and automation strategies at scale.
  • Define and report on program-level metrics such as MTTD, MTTR, and detection coverage maturity.
  • Mentor senior engineers and SOC leaders through technical coaching and design reviews.
  • Influence defensive tooling selection, architecture decisions, and long-term capability investments.
  • Ensure documentation, standards, and engineering practices support long-term scalability and resilience.

Scope & Impact
  • This position has enterprise-wide impact on the organization's cyber defense posture by setting technical direction and shaping the design of advanced detection and response capabilities.
  • The role requires deep, authoritative expertise in detection engineering, incident response, threat modeling, and security operations engineering, with the ability to make high-consequence technical decisions in complex and ambiguous environments.
  • The Defense Engineer IV is accountable for the effectiveness, scalability, and maturity of detection and response capabilities across the enterprise, directly influencing MTTD, MTTR, and overall defensive coverage.
  • This role serves as the senior-most technical escalation point during high-impact or complex security incidents, guiding response strategy and shaping executive-level outcomes.
  • The position has significant influence over SOC and MSSP operating models, performance expectations, and value delivery through technical leadership and oversight.
  • Decisions made in this role affect enterprise-wide security visibility, architectural resilience, and the organization's ability to detect and respond to emerging and advanced threats.
  • The role drives long-term continuous improvement by translating threat intelligence, incident trends, and systemic gaps into architectural and program-level defensive enhancements.
  • This position elevates organizational capability by mentoring senior engineers, setting engineering standards, and shaping defensive security culture without direct people management responsibility.
  • The role directly supports enterprise risk management by ensuring defensive capabilities evolve in alignment with business growth, technology changes, and the threat landscape.

You'll Come With
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or related field.
  • 10+ years of experience IT
  • 7+ technical cybersecurity experience (3+ years incident response and/or detection engineering and 3+ years in cybersecurity engineering)
  • Expert level knowledge of detection engineering and incident response
  • At least 1 expert level cybersecurity certification such as CISSP, CASP, CCSP, etc.

#LI-KG2
Come join our team. You're going to like it here!
You will enjoy competitive wages, flexible hours, and an associate discount. Burlington's benefits package includes medical, dental and vision coverage including life and disability insurance. Full-time associates are also eligible for paid time off, paid holidays and a 401(k) plan. We are a rapidly growing brand and provide a variety of training and development opportunities so our associates can grow with us. Our teams work hard and have fun together! Burlington associates make a difference in the lives of customers, colleagues, and the communities where we live and work every day. Burlington Stores, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity.
Individual pay decisions will be based on a variety of factors, such as but not limited to, qualifications, education, job-related skills, relevant experience, and geographic location.
Min-Mid $115,000.00 - $150,000.00
Posting Number R103418
Location New Jersey-Edgewater Park
Address 4287 Route 130 S
Zip Code 08010
Pay Rate Salaried
Career Site Category Corporate
Position Category Information Technology
Job Type Full-Time
Remote Type Hybrid
Evergreen No

What Burlington employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Burlington logo

About Burlington

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Burlington, we embrace the many facets of diversity that strengthen our communities where we live and work every day. If you want to grow your retail career with a caring and inclusive organization, come join the Burlington Stores team as a Customer Service Supervisor, Selling Floor Supervisor or Receiving Team Supervisor!

Industry

Retail

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Burlington, NJ, US

View All Burlington Jobs

Apply