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Defense Engineering Jobs in Alabama (NOW HIRING)

Starfish

AI/ML Engineer

Redstone Arsenal, AL

Our team provides superior research, development, and engineering services to the Federal Government and Department of War. As one of the nation's top 100 defense companies, the services we provide ...

Auria Space

Software Engineer - Sentinel

Huntsville, AL · On-site

Auria Space offers aerospace and defense engineering services. Founded in 2000, the company is headquartered in Colorado Springs, USA, with a team of 501-1000 employees. The company is currently Late ...

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Defense Engineering information

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$11

$28

$52

How much do defense engineering jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for defense engineering in Alabama is $28.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.32 and $34.42 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a defense engineer do?

A defense engineer designs, develops, and tests military systems, equipment, and technologies such as weapons, communication systems, and defense infrastructure. They often work with specialized tools, adhere to strict safety and security standards, and may require security clearances and knowledge of engineering principles, materials, and systems integration.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Defense Engineering, and how can they be managed?

Defense Engineering professionals often encounter challenges such as rapidly evolving technology requirements, strict regulatory compliance, and the need to maintain confidentiality on sensitive projects. Managing these challenges requires adaptability, strong communication skills for cross-functional collaboration, and a commitment to ongoing professional development. Building strong relationships with team members and staying current with industry best practices can help engineers effectively navigate these complexities and contribute to successful project outcomes.

What is defense engineering?

Defense engineering is a specialized field of engineering focused on designing, developing, and maintaining systems, equipment, and technologies used by the military and defense organizations. This includes everything from vehicles, weapons, and protective equipment to advanced communication and surveillance systems. Defense engineers work to ensure these technologies are reliable, effective, and meet strict safety and regulatory standards. They often collaborate with government agencies, private contractors, and multidisciplinary teams to address evolving security and defense challenges.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

In defense engineering, senior engineers such as aerospace, systems, or electrical engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills, and security clearances can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $300,000 annually, especially in high-demand sectors or with leadership roles. These positions often require specialized knowledge, advanced degrees, and certifications, and may involve working on complex projects or managing teams.

What is the difference between Defense Engineering vs Mechanical Engineering?

AspectDefense EngineeringMechanical Engineering
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in engineering, security clearances often requiredBachelor's or higher in mechanical engineering, professional licensure optional
Work EnvironmentDefense contractors, government agencies, secure facilitiesManufacturing plants, research labs, design firms
Industry UsageMilitary, defense technology, aerospaceAutomotive, aerospace, manufacturing, energy

Defense Engineering and Mechanical Engineering share foundational engineering principles, but Defense Engineering focuses on developing military and security systems within secure environments, often requiring security clearances. Mechanical Engineering has a broader application across industries like automotive and aerospace, with less emphasis on security. Both roles demand strong technical skills, but Defense Engineering emphasizes specialized knowledge related to defense technology and security protocols.

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, systems integration, and security protocols, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree and security clearance. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, project management systems, and compliance with defense industry standards such as ITAR or DoD regulations is essential. Problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are critical soft skills that distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and qualities are vital to ensure the safety, reliability, and effectiveness of defense systems while meeting strict regulatory and operational requirements.

What jobs pay $500,000 a year in the US?

In defense engineering, senior roles such as defense program managers, chief engineers, or high-level consultants can reach or exceed $500,000 annually, especially with experience, security clearances, and leadership responsibilities. These positions often require advanced degrees, specialized skills, and extensive industry experience, and may include bonuses, profit sharing, or other incentives.

What engineers make $500,000?

In defense engineering, senior roles such as systems engineers, program managers, and lead engineers with extensive experience, advanced degrees, and specialized skills can reach or exceed a $500,000 annual salary, especially with bonuses and profit sharing. These positions often require security clearances, leadership abilities, and expertise in areas like missile defense, cybersecurity, or aerospace systems.
What are popular job titles related to Defense Engineering jobs in Alabama? For Defense Engineering jobs in Alabama, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Defense Engineering jobs in Alabama look for? The top searched job categories for Defense Engineering jobs in Alabama are:
Defense Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Defense Engineering job openings in Alabama as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,481 per year, or $28.6 per hour.
Cyber Defense Engineering Manager

Cyber Defense Engineering Manager

Regions Financial Corporation

Birmingham, AL • On-site

$104K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago

Regions Bank rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 155 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

55th of 142 rated banks

Job description

Thank you for your interest in a career at Regions. At Regions, we believe associates deserve more than just a job. We believe in offering performance-driven individuals a place where they can build a career --- a place to expect more opportunities. If you are focused on results, dedicated to quality, strength and integrity, and possess the drive to succeed, then we are your employer of choice.
Regions is dedicated to taking appropriate steps to safeguard and protect private and personally identifiable information you submit. The information that you submit will be collected and reviewed by associates, consultants, and vendors of Regions in order to evaluate your qualifications and experience for job opportunities and will not be used for marketing purposes, sold, or shared outside of Regions unless required by law. Such information will be stored in accordance with regulatory requirements and in conjunction with Regions' Retention Schedule for a minimum of three years. You may review, modify, or update your information by visiting and logging into the careers section of the system.
Job Description:
At Regions, the Cyber Security Manager is responsible for leading a diverse team of engineers and analysts charged with the daily operations of enforcing, monitoring, and managing cyber security controls to protect the assets of the bank, customers, and associates. This role monitors the domains of security controls including, but not limited to, malware defense, network security, Internet security, security analytics, threat intelligence and defense, cybercrime, data protection, vulnerability management, and customer authentication.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Develops cyber security architecture/designs, controls, processes, standards, and strategies to ensure alignment with Information Security standards, emerging threats, and overall Information Security strategy
  • Develops and implements incident response protocols for ongoing threats and attacks
  • Communicates status of current threat environment, incidents, and projected threats to senior management and executives
  • Manages the evaluation and testing of hardware, firmware, and software for possible impact on systems security
  • Coordinates with other managers to integrate Information Security project components with other projects including application development, network, server, and mainframe
  • Partners across Technology, Operations, Digital, and Data (TODD) to ensure controls are designed, implemented, and monitored to strengthen risk management, compliance, and cyber security, effectively mitigating risk to levels within the company's risk appetite
  • Ensures disciplined change management by evaluating risk and control impacts when designing or implementing changes to processes, systems, products, and/or services

This position is exempt from timekeeping requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.
This position is incentive eligible.
Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in a related field and six (6) years of related experience
  • Or High School Diploma or GED and ten (10) years of related experience

Preferences
  • Two (2) years of lead or supervisory/managerial experience
  • Experience managing Information Technology and/or Information Security projects
  • Experience with security operations and incident response/handling

Skills and Competencies
  • Ability to prioritize assignments while working on multiple projects
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively engage project teams and leadership within a corporate setting
  • Excellent writing and oral communication skills
  • Strong ability to predict and plan for unknown threats
  • Strong ability to work well with others and place a premium on the group's success
  • Strong technical aptitude skills
  • Understanding of and ability to interpret applicable rules, regulations, and industry guidance

Preferred qualifications for this opportunity:
  • Cybersecurity leadership experience within a financial institution or other highly regulated industry.
  • Proven expertise in regulatory compliance, audit response, and issue remediation management.
  • Strong working knowledge of financial services cybersecurity regulations and supervisory expectations.
  • Demonstrated ability to author, update, and enforce cybersecurity policies, standards, and control frameworks.
  • Experience managing complex, cross-functional remediation efforts with executive and regulator visibility.
  • Prior experience with EDR tools and deployment, Application Allow-listing, and experience working with and supporting multiple operations systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, Containers)
  • Familiarity with AWS/Azure
  • Experience with Incident Response, Malware Analysis, Custom EDR Rule Development
  • Strong knowledge of MITRE ATT&CK framework
  • Experience leading platform resilience, change, and incident communications, including outage response, change approvals, rollback strategies, and coordination with network, identity, and endpoint teams.
  • Experience owning and operating a cloud-based secure access / network security platform, including responsibility for architecture decisions, policy governance, vendor engagement, and service lifecycle management
  • Strong understanding of Zero Trust networking principles, including secure internet access, private application access, identity-aware routing, and integration with IAM, EDR, and endpoint posture signals.
  • Proven ability to translate network and endpoint security telemetry into risk-based insights, supporting threat hunting, incident response, regulatory reporting, and executive-level decision making.
  • Experience with Purple Team Engagements and/or Atomic Testing a plus

This position is intended to be onsite, now or in the near future. Associates will have regular work hours, including full days in the office three or more days a week. The manager will set the work schedule for this position, including in-office expectations. Regions will not provide relocation assistance for this position, and relocation would be at your expense. The locations available for this role are Birmingham, AL, Nashville, TN, Charlotte, NC, or Atlanta, GA.
Regions will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position at this time. Applicants for this position must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Position Type
Full time
Compensation Details
Pay ranges are job specific and are provided as a point-of-market reference for compensation decisions. Other factors which directly impact pay for individual associates include: experience, skills, knowledge, contribution, job location and, most importantly, performance in the job role. As these factors vary by individuals, pay will also vary among individual associates within the same job.
The target information listed below is based on the Metropolitan Statistical Area Market Range for where the position is located and level of the position.
Job Range Target:
Minimum:
$140,670.75 USD
Median:
$184,390.00 USD
Incentive Pay Plans:
This role is eligible to participate in the annual discretionary incentive plan. Employees are eligible to receive a discretionary award based on individual, business, and/or company performance.Opportunity to participate in the Long Term Incentive Plan.
Benefits Information
Regions offers a benefits package that is flexible, comprehensive and recognizes that "one size does not fit all" for benefits-eligible associates. Listed below is a synopsis of the benefits offered by Regions for informational purposes, which is not intended to be a complete summary of plan terms and conditions.
  • Paid Vacation/Sick Time
  • 401K with Company Match
  • Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits
  • Disability Benefits
  • Health Savings Account
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Life Insurance
  • Parental Leave
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Associate Volunteer Program

Please note, benefits and plans may be changed, amended, or terminated with respect to all or any class of associate at any time. To learn more about Regions' benefits, please click or copy the link below to your browser.
https://www.regions.com/about-regions/welcome-portal/benefits
Location Details
Riverchase Operations Center
Location:
Hoover, Alabama
Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans
Job applications at Regions are accepted electronically through our career site for a minimum of five business days from the date of posting. Job postings for higher-volume positions may remain active for longer than the minimum period due to business need and may be closed at any time thereafter at the discretion of the company.

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