Internship Security Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Employment Type: Full-time, W2 position with Cogent People Inc. This is a direct hire position with full benefits.

Location: Hybrid Columbia MD 3 times a week OR Remote (as applicable to role)

Work Authorization Requirements

To comply with government contracting requirements, candidates must meet all of the following:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or valid EAD holder
• Must have lived in the United States for at least 3 of the past 5 years
• Must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship

Sponsorship (H-1B) is not available for this position (now or in the future).

Candidates who do not meet these requirements will not be considered.

Clearance Requirement

Public Trust required or ability to obtain, depending on assignment.

About Cogent People Inc.

Cogent People Inc. is a government consulting and technology services firm supporting mission-critical federal and commercial programs. We deliver secure, scalable, and modern digital solutions across complex IT environments.

Our teams thrive at the intersection of engineering excellence and mission impact, building systems that matter.

Job Overview

Cogent People Inc. is seeking a Security Engineer to implement and validate security controls across applications and environments in support of CMS and federal security requirements.

This role is responsible for supporting secure system configurations, vulnerability management, and compliance activities aligned with FISMA, FedRAMP, and CMS standards. The Security Engineer works closely with the ISSO and other security stakeholders to ensure continuous monitoring and compliance readiness.

The ideal candidate will bring strong hands-on security engineering experience in enterprise or regulated environments, with familiarity in DevSecOps practices and federal security frameworks.

This position may be contingent upon contract award.

What You'll Do

Security Controls Implementation & Validation

• Implement and validate security controls across applications and environments.
• Ensure alignment with CMS, FISMA, FedRAMP, and federal security standards.
• Support secure configuration practices across systems and infrastructure.

Vulnerability Management & Remediation

• Identify, track, and support remediation of security vulnerabilities.
• Participate in vulnerability assessments and security reviews.
• Support risk reduction efforts through timely remediation coordination.

DevSecOps & Continuous Monitoring

• Integrate security practices into DevSecOps pipelines and delivery workflows.
• Support continuous monitoring and compliance readiness activities.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to embed security into development processes.

Collaboration & Compliance Support

• Work closely with the ISSO and security stakeholders on compliance activities.
• Support security documentation and reporting requirements.
• Contribute to maintaining system authorization and audit readiness.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 8+ years of experience in information security, cybersecurity engineering, or related roles.
• Experience implementing security controls in enterprise or regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of FISMA, FedRAMP, and federal security standards.
• Experience with vulnerability management and remediation processes.
• Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collaborate across technical and security-focused teams.

What Will Set You Apart

• Relevant certifications
• Experience supporting federal programs
• Knowledge of Agile and DevSecOps
• Experience with CMS or healthcare environments

Why Cogent People Inc.?

At Cogent People, we combine technical excellence with a mission-driven culture. Our teams work on meaningful, high-impact projects that support government and enterprise transformation initiatives.

We offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Career growth and professional development opportunities
• Exposure to complex, mission-critical systems
• A collaborative and supportive team environment
• Long-term client engagements with stability and continuity

We are a Certified Great Place to Work, committed to building an inclusive and high-performance culture.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (comprehensive coverage)
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Paid Time Off: 3 weeks annually + 10 paid holidays
• Employee assistance and wellness resources (as applicable)

Compliance Notice

Cogent People Inc. conducts employment verification for all candidates. Misrepresentation of work authorization, residency history, or professional experience will result in disqualification.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) and evaluate all applicants based on qualifications, experience, and role requirements.

We do not engage third-party recruiters for this role unless explicitly stated.