Information Systems Security Engineer, TS//SCI with Counterintelligence Polygraph Required

Location: Alexandria, VA

Accrete is an agentic managed services company: an AI workforce that does high-stakes, judgement-heavy work for government and enterprise clients — at the economics of software, not labor.

At the core is Accrete’s Knowledge Engine, a dynamic context graph that captures an organization’s tacit knowledge, resolves data across silos, and builds a living, auditable ground truth. Expert agents reason against that ground truth to act on complex, high-stakes decisions — not just answer questions about them.

From national security to commercial operations, Accrete delivers the work on one platform, with unlimited expert agents and expert judgement.

The Role

As an Information Systems Security Engineer (ISSE) Mid, you will work at the intersection of software engineering, cybersecurity, systems architecture, and government security requirements. You will help ensure that Accrete's AI and data systems are designed, deployed, and operated securely in mission-critical environments.

You will work closely with software engineers, DevOps, security teams, data scientists, product teams, and government stakeholders to identify security requirements, assess technical risks, implement security controls, and support authorization and accreditation activities.

The ideal candidate is technically hands-on, understands modern software and cloud environments, and can translate security requirements into practical engineering solutions.

What You'll Do

Security Engineering

• Apply security engineering principles throughout the system development lifecycle
• Define and document system security requirements and technical security controls
• Analyze system architectures and identify security risks, vulnerabilities, and potential attack vectors
• Develop Authority to Operate (ATO)-ready security architectures for AI, data, cloud, and enterprise systems
• Work with engineering teams to incorporate security controls into system designs and implementations
• Support security assessments, risk assessments, vulnerability remediation, and continuous monitoring
• Develop and maintain system security documentation, diagrams, control implementations, and technical artifacts
• Evaluate proposed system changes for security impact
• Support security reviews of new technologies, integrations, APIs, infrastructure, and software components
• Ensure systems are designed according to applicable government security requirements and best practices

RMF & Authorization

• Support Risk Management Framework (RMF) activities throughout the system lifecycle
• Assist with the end-to-end ATO preparation, vulnerability remediation, approval processes, and maintenance
• Develop and regularly update documentation supporting security authorization packages
• Support implementation and assessment of NIST 800-53 security controls
• Work with ISSOs, ISSMs, system owners, security teams, and government Authorizing Officials
• Track security findings and coordinate remediation with engineering teams
• Support Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) development and remediation
• Maintain evidence demonstrating security control implementation
• Support continuous monitoring and ongoing authorization activities

Technical Security

• Assess application, infrastructure, network, cloud, and data security risks
• Work with engineering teams to implement secure configuration and deployment practices
• Support vulnerability management and remediation activities
• Evaluate authentication, authorization, identity, access control, encryption, logging, and monitoring mechanisms
• Review system and application configurations for security weaknesses
• Support secure software development and DevSecOps practices
• Help establish security requirements for APIs, integrations, data pipelines, and AI systems
• Analyze security implications of new AI/ML technologies and architectures
• Support security hardening of systems operating in classified or restricted environments

Engineering & Automation

• Partner with software engineers, DevOps engineers, and platform teams to implement security solutions
• Automate security checks, compliance validation, configuration management, and reporting where possible
• Develop scripts and tooling to improve security operations and compliance workflows
• Integrate security requirements into CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code processes
• Help develop repeatable patterns for securely deploying Accrete capabilities across government security fabrics
• Execute CVE scans, identify code fixes, configuration changes, and exception documentation needs to comply with a continuous ATO cycle
• Troubleshoot complex technical and security issues across application and infrastructure layers

Mission & Customer Support

• Work directly with government customers and technical stakeholders
• Translate government security requirements into actionable engineering requirements
• Support technical discussions, security reviews, demonstrations, and customer meetings
• Communicate security risks and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Help customers understand the security architecture and controls supporting Accrete systems
• Support deployment and accreditation of systems in customer-specific environments

What We're Looking For

• Active TS//SCI clearance and Counterintelligence or Lifestyle Polygraph
• 3+ years of experience in information systems security engineering, cybersecurity, systems engineering, software engineering, or a related technical field
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or a related discipline
• Strong understanding of system and application security principles
• Experience with NIST security frameworks and NIST SP 800-53
• Experience supporting RMF and/or ATO processes
• Understanding of secure software development and DevSecOps practices
• Experience evaluating technical architectures for security risks
• Experience with identity and access management, authentication, authorization, encryption, logging, and monitoring
• Strong technical documentation and communication skills
• Ability to work directly with engineers and translate security requirements into technical solutions
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to operate independently in a fast-moving environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, or other federal customers
• Experience working in classified or air-gapped environments
• Experience with FedRAMP or other federal cloud authorization frameworks
• Experience with NIST SP 800-37, RMF, CNSSI, ICD, or DoD security requirements
• Experience with AWS, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, or cloud-native architectures
• Experience with infrastructure-as-code such as Terraform
• Experience with CI/CD and DevSecOps tooling
• Experience with vulnerability scanning and security tools
• Experience with Splunk, SIEM platforms, endpoint monitoring, or security logging
• Experience with zero trust architectures and least-privilege access models
• Experience securing AI/ML, LLM, data, or knowledge management systems
• Experience with Python, Bash, PowerShell, or other scripting languages
• Security certifications such as CISSP, Security+, or equivalent
• Ability to obtain and maintain additional security clearance accesses to Special Access Programs (SAP) or Access Compensatory Control Measures (ACCM)

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means Accrete systems can be deployed and operated securely in demanding government environments without slowing down engineering velocity.

You will serve as a bridge between security requirements and technical implementation, helping engineering teams understand what needs to be secured, why it matters, and how to implement the appropriate controls.

The strongest candidates will be technically credible with engineers, comfortable navigating federal security and authorization requirements, and able to identify practical solutions to complex security challenges.

Why Accrete Government

• Work on advanced AI systems supporting U.S. government and national security missions
• Solve challenging security and systems engineering problems
• Work alongside experienced software engineers, AI researchers, DevOps engineers, and security professionals
• Help deploy cutting-edge AI capabilities into secure and classified environments
• Have direct exposure to government customers and mission requirements
• Play a key role in building secure infrastructure for next-generation AI systems
• Have significant ownership and direct mission impact

Salary: $150k-$185k

The salary range provided reflects the estimated compensation for this role based on the expected qualifications and experience level. The final offer may vary depending on factors such as skills, experience, and alignment with role requirements.

Core Values & Expectations:

Impact

You take full ownership and accountability for your work, consistently seeing projects through from inception to completion with a strong bias for action. Proactively identifying challenges, you drive solutions rather than waiting for direction, and hold yourself and others to the highest standards for delivering results. With strategic thinking and a problem-solving mindset, you make informed decisions leveraging data and expertise, always looking for ways to improve processes, optimize workflows, and enhance outcomes beyond your immediate responsibilities. 

Collaboration

You work seamlessly across teams, prioritizing shared goals and team success over individual credit. Engaged listening and open, candid communication are at the heart of your approach, ensuring alignment and synergy throughout the organization. You value diverse perspectives, seeking input from others to drive better results. By treating colleagues with respect and professionalism, you help build a culture of trust, supporting each other through challenges, celebrating successes, and constructively addressing conflicts to strengthen relationships and improve outcomes.

Passion for AI & Innovation

You are deeply excited about the transformative potential of AI and committed to contributing to a company shaping the future of work. With curiosity and a growth mindset, you continuously seek to learn, adapt, and stay at the forefront of new developments. Your enthusiasm for innovation drives you to explore new ideas, challenge the status quo, and find creative solutions that deliver meaningful impact. You approach your work with energy and a desire to advance both technology and the way we work.

Company Benefits

• Competitive Salary: Aligned with experience and market standards
• Comprehensive Insurance: Health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family
• 401(k) Plan: Build your financial future with our retirement savings plan
• Growth & Development: Access professional learning opportunities and career advancement support
• Onsite Perks: Enjoy catered lunches, snacks, and a fully stocked kitchen
• Team Bonding: Company-sponsored happy hours and social events to connect and unwind

Accrete is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.