Entry Level Controls Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Position Description: CGI Federal has an exciting opportunity for Cybersecurity Systems Engineers within our Intel sector advancing the national security mission through cutting edge technology. You must have a passion for keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology advancements and leveraging your knowledge on a highly collaborative team to deliver state-of-the-art capabilities. The Cybersecurity Systems Engineer supports senior staff in maintaining and securing an organization's IT infrastructure. They assist in configuring security controls, monitoring for threats, and documenting system policies, acting as a foundational builder of daily cyber defenses. CGI Federal is growing its high-performance team whose members share a passion for building high-quality, scalable, advanced IT solutions in a collaborative, fast-paced, outcome-driven mission. This position is located in our Arlington office; however, a hybrid working model is acceptable. Your future duties and responsibilities: Key Responsibilities (Entry Level)
• System Maintenance: Assist in maintaining and upgrading basic security software (e.g., antivirus, firewalls, endpoint protection).
• Monitoring: Help monitor networks and servers for unusual activity or policy violations.
• Vulnerability Management: Run routine vulnerability scans and help patch outdated software.
• Documentation: Write and organize technical reports, standard operating procedures, and security system documentation.
• Incident Support: Assist senior engineers during security investigations by gathering logs and basic data. Key Responsibilities (Junior Level)
• Security Administration: Assist in the operation, configuration, and maintenance of host-based, network-based, and cloud-based security systems.
• System Hardening: Implement and maintain hardware and software configuration management processes to ensure systems are secured per industry best practices (e.g., DISA STIGs if applicable).
• Monitoring & Triage: Monitor security logs, analyze event alerts, and manage ticket queues for system and security issues.
• Vulnerability Management: Perform vulnerability assessments and risk analyses to identify weaknesses and prioritize patches or remediation.
• Documentation & Compliance: Help maintain technical security documentation, support Assessment and Authorization (A&A) activities, and track compliance.
• Incident Response: Participate in the tactical execution of the Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) by investigating suspicious activity on servers and securing system boundaries. Key Responsibilities (Mid-Level)
Systems Engineering & Secure Architecture
• Design, implement, and maintain Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) and custom security products, including firewalls, SIEM tools, and identity management systems.
• Deploy and secure software applications within virtualized infrastructures and highly distributed cloud computing environments.
• Manage and secure endpoint baselines across operating systems like Linux (Red Hat, Ubuntu) and Windows.
• Participate in Agile/DevSecOps teams to automate security testing and integrate security controls into CI/CD pipelines.
Security Operations & Threat Management
• Conduct static and dynamic source code analysis (SAST/DAST) and manage application vulnerabilities as technical debt within backlogs.
• Perform root cause analysis on security incidents and proactively recommend mitigations to strengthen the overall security posture.
• Coordinate vulnerability scanning, patch management, and threat hunting across enterprise and operational environments.
Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) • Implement and audit technical controls against rigorous compliance frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53, NIST 800-171, or CMMC Level 2.
• Prepare and execute testing procedures for assessing conformance with DoD, Federal Civilian, or Intelligence Community requirements.
• Draft and maintain essential systems engineering documentation, including System Security Plans (SSPs), Plans of Action & Milestones (POA&Ms), and Interface Control Documents (ICDs). Key Responsibilities (Senior Level)
• Advanced Architecture: Architect, implement, and validate integrated hardware/software/firmware security solutions for highly complex environments (e.g., aerospace, cloud, or enterprise).
• Attack Surface Analysis (ASA): Perform attack surface analyses and decompose system-level security controls into technical performance requirements across disciplines like Anti-Tamper and cryptography.
• Cloud & DevOps Security: Design zero-trust environments, implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) via Terraform, and securely deploy Mission Unique Software (MUS) in highly virtualized clouds.
• Risk Management Framework (RMF): Lead the RMF process from system categorization to continuous monitoring (ConMon), ensuring compliance with strict federal or commercial controls.
• Vulnerability & Flaw Remediation: Triage findings from Static Code Analysis (SCA) and establish technical debt in the software backlog.
• Continuous Monitoring: Utilize tools like ACAS to conduct comprehensive vulnerability scanning, patch management, and assess deviation mitigations.
• Incident Response & Ethical Hacking: Design and deploy security systems like SIEM, EDR, and XDR. Support tactical execution during critical incidents or cyber test & evaluation.
• Automation: Automate repetitive security tasks and identity workflows. Experience with scripting in Python or PowerShell is strongly required. Key Responsibilities (SME Level)
• Security Architecture & Design: Architect enterprise-wide cyber systems and embed security into the design of hardware, software, and network components across OSI layers.
• Risk & Compliance: Manage Risk Management Framework (RMF) activities, including Attack Surface Analyses (ASA), Security Control Traceability Matrices (SCTM), and Plans of Action & Milestones (POA&Ms).
• Vulnerability & Threat Management: Conduct advanced risk assessments, threat modeling, static code analysis (SCA) triaging, and flaw remediation.
• Incident Response & Forensics: Lead tactical Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) operations, perform forensic preservation, and resolve non-standard vulnerabilities.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Act as the technical point of contact, lead design reviews with stakeholders, and mentor junior or mid-level engineering staff. Required qualifications to be successful in this role: All levels require an active TS/SCI with Poly Entry Level:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 4 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 2 years of relevant experience, o or Bachelor's Degree with 0 years of relevant experience
• Certifications: Foundational certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Network+, or similar vendor-specific badges.
• Skills: Basic understanding of networking protocols, operating systems (Windows/Linux), and fundamental security concepts. Junior Level/Moderate:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 6 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 4 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 2 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 0 years of relevant experience
• Technical Knowledge: Understanding of operating systems (Windows/Linux), network protocols (TCP/IP), and security platforms like SIEM, EDR, or firewalls.
• Certifications: Foundational certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Network+, or similar vendor-specific credentials (e.g., Cisco CCNA, AWS/Azure certifications) are highly valued. Mid-Level/Complex:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 8 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 6 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 4 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 2 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 0 years of relevant experience
• Technical Skills: Hands-on experience with configuration management tools, scripting or automation (e.g., Python, Bash, PowerShell), and cloud ecosystems (AWS, Azure).
• Compliance: Working knowledge of risk management frameworks (e.g., NIST, RMF, ISO 27001).
• Soft Skills: Strong technical writing, effective communication with non-technical stakeholders, and the ability to balance operational support with long-term architectural initiatives. Senior Level/Exceptionally Complex:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 10 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 8 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 6 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 4 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 2 years of relevant experience
• Certifications: DoD 8570.01-M compliance (IAM/IASAE Level III) or a CISSP. SME Level/Exceptionally Complex:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 12 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 10 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 8 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 6 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 4 years of relevant experience
• Certifications: Advanced DoD 8570/8140 baseline certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, CASP+ CE).
• Frameworks: Deep, practical command of regulatory frameworks like NIST SP 800-53, JSIG, CNSSI 1253, and NERC CIP.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in COTS/GOTS security products, OS hardening (Linux/Windows), hypervisors/cloud deployment, and industrial protocols (if applied to OT/ICS). CGI is required by law in some jurisdictions to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. The determination of this range includes various factors not limited to skill set, level, experience, relevant training, and licensure and certifications. To support the ability to reward for merit-based performance, CGI typically does not hire individuals at or near the top of the range for their role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range for this role in the U.S. is $