Position Title: Principal Engineer
Position Type: Full-time, Remote
Location: Tampa, FL (Preferred)
Clearance: (At Minimum) Secret
Travel: Approximately 10%
Waypoint's client is seeking a Principal Engineer to support U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) initiatives focused on cybersecurity, platform engineering, automation, and AI-enabled capabilities. This senior-level role operates at the intersection of hands-on engineering, technical leadership, and program support, providing architectural guidance, engineering direction, and technical oversight across mission-critical environments.
The selected candidate will lead key technical efforts involving cybersecurity engineering, cloud and hybrid infrastructure, automation, data analytics, and emerging AI capabilities. This role requires a strong background in secure enterprise environments and experience supporting highly regulated federal, defense, or intelligence community programs.
Responsibilities:
Cybersecurity Engineering & Architecture
โขDesign and implement cybersecurity solutions across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments.
โขProvide subject matter expertise in Zero Trust Architecture, Identity and Access Management (IAM), and system hardening.
โขSupport incident response, vulnerability management, and security operations activities.
โขEnsure engineering solutions align with NIST 800-53, RMF, STIGs, FedRAMP principles, and contractual requirements.
Platform Engineering & Automation
โขDevelop and maintain automation tools and scripts supporting security operations and infrastructure management.
โขImplement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions and scalable platform architectures.
โขIntegrate security controls into CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps workflows.
โขSupport cloud platform optimization and operational automation initiatives.
AI, Data Engineering & Analytics
โขDevelop and support data pipelines for security and operational analytics.
โขContribute to anomaly detection, reporting, and advanced analytics capabilities.
โขSupport integration of AI/ML-enabled features into cybersecurity and operational workflows.
โขLeverage data-driven approaches to improve system performance and operational visibility.
Program Support & Technical Leadership
โขServe as a senior technical advisor supporting architecture and engineering decisions.
โขTranslate program requirements into actionable engineering tasks and technical solutions.
โขMentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across project teams.
โขCollaborate with program managers, stakeholders, and technical teams to drive successful delivery execution.
Operational Support & Continuous Improvement
โขAnalyze system performance, security metrics, and operational data to identify risks and improvement opportunities.
โขMaintain technical documentation and support compliance audits and assessments.
โขIdentify operational inefficiencies and contribute to corrective actions and process improvements.
Required:
โขU.S. Citizenship
โขBachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field (or equivalent experience)
โข10+ years of experience in cybersecurity, information security, or systems engineering
โข3-5 years of experience in a senior, lead, principal, or technical leadership role
โขStrong experience securing enterprise systems in DoD, Federal Civilian, or Intelligence Community environments
โขExperience implementing and supporting NIST 800-53, RMF, STIGs, FedRAMP controls, and compliance frameworks
โขExperience supporting Authority to Operate (ATO), system accreditation, and audit activities
โขExperience with Identity and Access Management (IAM), Zero Trust Architecture, and enterprise security controls
โขExperience with cloud security architectures and cloud-native security services
โขExperience supporting automation, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and DevSecOps initiatives
โขFamiliarity with FAR/DFARS requirements and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) handling requirements
โขAWS Security Specialty, Azure SC-100, or equivalent cloud security certification
โขOne or more of the following certifications: CISSP, CISM, GCIH, OSCP, GIAC, or equivalent
Desired:
โขMaster's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
โขExperience supporting DoD, DHS, Intelligence Community (IC), Special Operations Forces (SOF), or Combatant Command programs
โขExperience with DevSecOps pipelines, CI/CD automation, and Infrastructure as Code technologies
โขExperience supporting continuous monitoring and audit readiness programs within RMF environments
โขExperience with AI/ML integration, security analytics, and data engineering initiatives
โขFamiliarity with Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) environments
โขExperience coordinating technical efforts across multiple programs and organizations
โขExperience supporting cloud platforms such as AWS and Azure in highly regulated environments
โขExperience influencing enterprise architecture decisions and technical modernization efforts within large-scale federal programs