Back to jobs
New

Senior Cryptographic Security Advisor

Atlanta, Georgia, United States; Hybrid - Washington, DC

Empower, Innovate, Impact!  At Team A-TEK, we EMPOWER people to drive INNOVATION that IMPACTS mission!

A-TEK operates at the intersection of mission and innovation by applying our deep domain expertise across the federal markets. Embracing our digital-first strategy, A-TEK provides enhanced capabilities in application development, digital transformation, enterprise IT, and scientific services. Our solutions are designed to modernize, automate, secure, protect, and enhance the operations of our federal clients, ensuring they stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Our work is fueled by a passion to serve our clients’ needs and to protect the safety and welfare of Americans. That passion shapes how we nurture our most valuable asset – Our Employees. A-TEK actively cultivates the talent that drives our success and fosters a creative, challenging, and mission-driven work environment for current and future employees.

 

Position Overview

The Subject Matter Specialist – Senior Level III will provide advanced technical support in cryptography or applied mathematics to support cybersecurity strategy, risk assessment, cryptographic modernization, and secure systems design. This specialist will contribute to high-impact federal cybersecurity initiatives, including data protection, secure communications, and cryptographic compliance with federal standards (e.g., FIPS, NIST, NSA/CNSA).

This position is critical in supporting evolving cybersecurity requirements within the federal agency and aligns with national security guidance for cryptographic and mathematical expertise.

This is a remote-eligible position with occasional on-site requirements in Washington, DC or Atlanta, GA, subject to government approval. This position requires an active Secret – Level Clearance.

 

Key Responsibilities

  1. Cryptographic and Mathematical Analysis
  • Analyze and evaluate cryptographic algorithms, protocols, and architectures used across Agency systems.
  • Provide expert recommendations on the use, design, or migration of cryptographic solutions to comply with federal mandates, such as CNSA Suite or post-quantum cryptography readiness.
  • Assess the mathematical soundness and effectiveness of data protection measures and encryption methods.
  1. Strategic Guidance and Technical Consultation
  • Advise agency leadership and program teams on cryptographic security standards, data confidentiality risks, and mitigation strategies.
  • Support the development of secure systems architecture by integrating cryptographic best practices and threat modeling into the design lifecycle.
  • Participate in cryptographic key management policy development and technical reviews.
  1. Research and Innovation
  • Monitor developments in cryptographic technologies, quantum-safe algorithms, and industry advancements to support strategic planning.
  • Contribute to white papers, research studies, and policy briefs on secure communications and encryption modernization.
  1. Compliance and Documentation
  • Ensure cryptographic controls align with FIPS 140-3, NIST SP 800-53, SP 800-175B, and other relevant standards.
  • Prepare detailed documentation including algorithm evaluations, risk assessments, and compliance gap analyses.
  • Collaborate with system engineers and security analysts to implement findings and ensure accuracy and traceability of cryptographic use cases.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Cryptography, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • Master’s degree or Ph.D. preferred.

Experience

  • For Cryptographers: Minimum of 2 years of applied experience in cryptography, including algorithm development, cryptographic assessments, or secure system design.
  • For Mathematicians: Degree in Mathematics and at least 3 years of experience working in a role requiring applied mathematics (e.g., algorithm analysis, modeling, statistical security controls).

Required Security Clearance

  • Must currently hold a Secret clearance or meet reciprocity eligibility for Secret-level access.
  • Must undergo a Tier 3 Background Investigation for National Security Determination.
  • Must comply with all security requirements outlined in the PWS and the DD Form 254 provided by the Government.

Preferred Certifications

While not required, the following are desirable:

  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) – with focus in Cryptography
  • Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) – GCTY or GCCC
  • NIST or NSA-sponsored crypto/compliance training

Technical Skills

  • Familiarity with cryptographic libraries and tools (e.g., OpenSSL, BouncyCastle, Libsodium).
  • Understanding of cryptographic standards such as FIPS, NIST SP 800-series, and PKI infrastructures.
  • Basic proficiency in programming/scripting languages used for crypto research (e.g., Python, C/C++, MATLAB, SageMath).

Core Competencies

  • High proficiency in mathematical reasoning and statistical analysis.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication for technical and executive audiences.
  • Demonstrated ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world cybersecurity environments.
  • Self-driven, analytical, and capable of independently managing research tasks.

Compensation and Benefits

  • Salary Range: $180,000 to $220,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience.
  • Benefits: A-TEK offers a comprehensive benefits package including:
    • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
    • 401(k) retirement plan with company match
    • Paid time off and recognized federal holidays
    • Tuition reimbursement and professional development assistance

 

A-TEK, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or status as a qualified individual with a disability, or Vietnam era or other protected Veteran status.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf


Select...

This role requires a secret level clearance.

Select...

Candidates with inactive secret clearances will not be considered for this role.

Select...
Select...
Select...

Please do not include certifications that are in process or expired when selecting from this list.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in A-TEK Inc.’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.