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Defense Engineer Salary Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Walmart

(USA) Staff, Dynamic Defense Engineer

Goshen, AR · On-site

$110K - $220K/yr

Join Walmart as a Staff Dynamic Defense Engineer, applying advanced expertise in cyber threat ... Walmart. The annual salary range for this position is $110,000.00 - $220,000.00 Additional ...

Walmart

(USA) Staff, Dynamic Defense Engineer

Rogers, AR · On-site

$110K - $220K/yr

Join Walmart as a Staff Dynamic Defense Engineer, applying advanced expertise in cyber threat ... Walmart. The annual salary range for this position is $110,000.00 - $220,000.00 Additional ...

Walmart

(USA) Staff, Dynamic Defense Engineer

Noel, MO · On-site

$110K - $220K/yr

Join Walmart as a Staff Dynamic Defense Engineer, applying advanced expertise in cyber threat ... Walmart. The annual salary range for this position is $110,000.00 - $220,000.00 Additional ...

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Defense Engineer Salary information

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$115.9K

$191.5K

How much do defense engineer salary jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for defense engineer salary in the United States is $115,864.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,000.00 and $151,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges defense engineers face when working on classified or sensitive projects?

Defense engineers frequently encounter the challenge of adhering to strict security protocols when working on classified projects. This often means limited access to information, restricted collaboration with external parties, and additional layers of approval for design changes or data sharing. Navigating these security requirements while meeting project deadlines and ensuring technical excellence requires strong attention to detail and adaptability. Teamwork and clear communication within secure environments are crucial for overcoming these challenges and successfully delivering on project goals.

What is the average salary of a defense engineer?

The average salary of a defense engineer in the United States typically ranges from $75,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on experience, education, location, and the specific employer. Entry-level positions may start around $70,000, while more experienced engineers or those in specialized roles can earn upwards of $130,000 or more. Defense engineers working in high-demand areas or with advanced security clearances may also receive additional compensation or bonuses.

How much does a defense engineer make?

A defense engineer's salary typically ranges from $70,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in systems design, cybersecurity, or missile technology can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000. Certifications and security clearances may also influence compensation levels.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Highly experienced defense engineers working in specialized roles, such as senior systems engineers or lead technical experts in defense contracting, can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially with bonuses and benefits. These positions often require advanced degrees, security clearances, and extensive industry experience.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior defense engineers, especially those with specialized skills in systems architecture, cybersecurity, or missile defense, can earn $200,000 or more annually. High salaries are often associated with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and working in high-demand defense sectors or with top-tier government contractors.

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 security protocols, typically supported by a degree in electrical, mechanical, or aerospace engineering. Familiarity with defense-specific software, CAD tools, and security clearance requirements is often necessary. Attention to detail, teamwork, and strong analytical skills help professionals excel in this high-stakes environment. These competencies are crucial for designing, testing, and maintaining systems that ensure national security and operational effectiveness.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior defense engineers, especially those with specialized skills in systems architecture, cybersecurity, or missile defense, can earn salaries of $300,000 or more annually. High compensation often reflects extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership roles within defense or aerospace industries.

What is the difference between Defense Engineer Salary vs Systems Engineer?

AspectDefense EngineerSystems Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Security ClearancesBachelor's in Engineering or related field, certifications like INCOSE
Work EnvironmentDefense contractors, government agenciesTechnology firms, aerospace, defense
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily defense and military projectsBroad industry use including defense, IT, aerospace

Defense Engineer salaries typically align with those of Systems Engineers due to overlapping credentials and work environments. However, Defense Engineers often require security clearances and work specifically on military projects, which can influence salary differences. Both roles are vital in defense and technology sectors, with salary variations based on experience, location, and security requirements.

More about Defense Engineer Salary jobs
What cities are hiring for Defense Engineer Salary jobs? Cities with the most Defense Engineer Salary job openings:
What states have the most Defense Engineer Salary jobs? States with the most job openings for Defense Engineer Salary jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Defense Engineer Salary jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Defense Engineer Salary jobs are:
Defense Engineer Salary jobs near you
Infographic showing various Defense Engineer Salary job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $115,864 per year, or $55.7 per hour.
Staff Perimeter Defense Engineer

Staff Perimeter Defense Engineer

State Street Global Advisors

Austin, TX • Hybrid

$120K - $202K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Who We are looking for

We are looking for a Staff Perimeter Defense Engineerreporting into the Defensive Engineering leadership team within Global Cyber Security (GCS). You will lead the strategy, architecture, and engineering of perimeter security capabilities, helping protect the organization from external threats targeting enterprise networks, internet-facing services, applications, and remote access environments.

Why this role is important to us

The team you will be joining is part of Defensive Engineering within Global Cyber Security, a function that is critical to the company's cybersecurity strategy. As cyber threats continue to evolve, strong perimeter defenses remain essential to protecting the firm's critical systems, applications, and data. This role will drive the technologies, controls, and security capabilities needed to strengthen the organization's defensive posture and reduce risk.

What you will be responsible for

As a Staff Perimeter Security Defense Engineer, you will:

  • Define and drive the enterprise perimeter security strategy, architecture, and roadmap.
  • Lead the evaluation, implementation, and continuous improvement of perimeter security controls and technologies.
  • Partner with Network Engineering, Infrastructure, Cloud, and Application teams to design and deploy secure network and internet-facing architectures.
  • Collaborate with theCyber Defense Center (CDC)to enhance detection, investigation, threat hunting, and response capabilities for network and perimeter-based attacks.
  • Lead security initiatives involving next-generation firewalls, web application firewalls (WAF), DDoS protection, secure web gateways, remote access security, API protection, and Zero Trust technologies.
  • Drive integration of perimeter security platforms with SIEM, SOAR, threat intelligence, and security analytics solutions.
  • Develop security standards, architecture patterns, and implementation guidance for perimeter security technologies.
  • Lead proof-of-concepts, product evaluations, and vendor assessments for network and perimeter security solutions.
  • Track and report key metrics related to threat prevention, attack surface reduction, control effectiveness, and risk reduction.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert for perimeter security and defensive engineering initiatives.
What we value

These skills will help you succeed in this role:

  • Experience with perimeter security technologies such asZscaler, Palo Alto Networks, Cloudflare, F5, or similar platforms.
  • Strong understanding of network security, perimeter defense, segmentation, secure access, and Zero Trust architectures.
  • Experience securing internet-facing applications, APIs, and remote access services.
  • Familiarity with technologies such asWAF, DDoS protection, ZTNA, SSE, SASE, VPN, and network access controls.
  • Experience integrating security platforms with SIEM, SOAR, and threat intelligence solutions.
  • Strong analytical, troubleshooting, automation, and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Education & Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 8+ years of experience in cybersecurity, network security, security engineering, or security architecture.
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience designing and implementing perimeter security technologies and controls.
  • Experience working in financial services or other regulated industries preferred.
  • Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, PCNSE, CCNP Security, or equivalent preferred.
Additional Requirements
  • Experience developing security strategies, roadmaps, and architecture standards.
  • Experience assessing emerging threats and translating risks into security controls and engineering priorities.
  • Familiarity with cloud and hybrid network security architectures.
  • Strong collaboration skills and ability to work across Cyber Security, Infrastructure, Cloud, and Engineering organizations.
Work Requirement
  • Hybrid work model in accordance with company policy.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with global teams across multiple time zones.
  • Standard business hours with flexibility to support critical security incidents and initiatives when required.

Salary Range:

$120,000 - $202,500 Annual

The range quoted above applies to the role in the primary location specified. If the candidate would ultimately work outside of the primary location above, the applicable range could differ.

Employees are eligible to participate in State Street's comprehensive benefits program, which includes: our retirement savings plan (401K) with company match; insurance coverage including basic life, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and other optional additional coverages; paid-time off including vacation, sick leave, short term disability, and family care responsibilities; access to our Employee Assistance Program; incentive compensation including eligibility for annual performance-based awards (excluding certain sales roles subject to sales incentive plans); and, eligibility for certain tax advantaged savings plans.

For a full overview, visit https://hrportal.ehr.com/statestreet/Home.

About State Street

Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.

We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you'll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work-life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, military and veteran status, and other characteristics protected by applicable law.

Discover more information on jobs at StateStreet.com/careers

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Job Application Disclosure:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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