Senior Aerospace Cybersecurity Engineer – Hardware Security

Job Overview

We are seeking a hands-on Senior Aerospace Cybersecurity Engineer to support aerospace and defense programs from a cybersecurity lab in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience in aerospace cybersecurity, embedded systems, hardware security, threat modeling, cryptography, secure boot, and cybersecurity compliance. This position requires someone capable of independently leading security assessments, supporting secure product development, and participating in technical discussions with customers and engineering teams.

Required Qualifications

• At least 8 years of cybersecurity engineering experience.
• At least 3 years of direct aerospace, avionics, aircraft systems, or defense cybersecurity experience.
• Strong experience performing threat modeling and cybersecurity risk assessments.
• Hands-on knowledge of embedded systems and hardware security.
• Experience with hardware root of trust, secure boot, and secure firmware updates.
• Strong understanding of cryptography, key management, and code-signing processes.
• Experience with vulnerability management and penetration testing.
• Knowledge of Secure Development Lifecycle practices.
• Experience supporting ITAR-controlled, federal, DoD, FAA, defense, or aerospace programs.
• Ability to work onsite from the Pittsburgh cybersecurity lab.
• U.S. citizenship is required.

Required Standards and Frameworks

Candidates should have working knowledge of one or more of the following:

• DO-326A / ED-202A
• DO-356A
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework
• FIPS 140-3
• Aerospace or avionics cybersecurity certification processes
• Federal and defense cybersecurity requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cybersecurity engineering activities for aerospace, avionics, and defense programs.
• Conduct threat modeling, security risk assessments, and architecture reviews.
• Evaluate security risks affecting embedded systems, aircraft controllers, firmware, and hardware platforms.
• Define cybersecurity controls for aerospace hardware and embedded products.
• Support cryptography, code signing, secure boot, and secure firmware update implementation.
• Perform vulnerability assessments, cybersecurity testing, and penetration testing.
• Support secure software and hardware development throughout the product lifecycle.
• Review customer security requirements, technical specifications, RFIs, and RFQs.
• Contribute cybersecurity content to technical proposals and customer responses.
• Support compliance with applicable aerospace, ITAR, federal, and defense requirements.
• Lead technical discussions with customers, federal contractors, cybersecurity teams, and engineering stakeholders.
• Participate in lab testing and occasional assessments at customer or aircraft locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with aircraft control systems, avionics, or aerospace electronic systems.
• Understanding of aerospace hardware security architecture.
• Experience securing embedded controllers, firmware, or safety-critical systems.
• Previous customer-facing experience within aerospace or defense programs.
• Ability to clearly communicate cybersecurity risks and recommendations to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.