Job Description
Core4ce
Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Technical Integration and Migration SME
1441-383
The Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Technical Integration and Migration SME IV will provide senior-level cryptographic engineering, technical integration, and advisory expertise in support of Department of War post-quantum cryptography initiatives.
The position requires deep technical understanding of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, public key infrastructure (PKI), key management, and their integration across enterprise and mission systems, combined with the ability to translate that expertise into cryptographic inventory implementation, PQC policy, migration planning, technical assessments, and enterprise adoption strategies. The ideal candidate will advise senior Government leadership and DoW stakeholders on cryptographic dependencies, technical integration challenges, migration risks, solution viability, and practical implementation pathways across devices, applications, networks, cloud environments, embedded systems, and enterprise infrastructure.
Responsibilities:
- Provide senior-level cryptographic engineering and technical integration expertise across cryptographic algorithms, protocols, cipher suites, PKI, key management, encryption, authentication, and crypto-agile architectures.
- Assess the integration and migration of cryptographic capabilities across applications, devices, networks, cloud environments, embedded systems, and other mission and enterprise platforms, including compatibility, interoperability, performance, lifecycle, and operational constraints.
- Identify cryptographic migration challenges, system dependencies, interoperability concerns, technical gaps, and potential mission or functionality impacts.
- Develop migration scenarios, implementation-plan mappings, technical reports, and practical recommendations for transitioning cryptographic algorithms, protocols, PKI, authentication mechanisms, key-management capabilities, and encryption services.
- Conduct technical briefings, use-case reviews, solution assessments, architecture reviews, and implementation-plan evaluations to support DoW PQC planning and decision-making.
- Provide cryptographic technical consultation supporting research, engineering, architecture, policy, and enterprise transition activities.
- Develop a synchronized DoW-wide methodology for implementing and maintaining cryptographic inventories across devices, applications, networks, cloud environments, and embedded systems.
- Support cryptographic inventory timelines, milestones, tasking, reporting requirements, and deliverables in accordance with OMB guidance and Government direction.
- Collaborate with Combatant Commands, Services, Agencies, DISA, and other stakeholders to establish consistent inventory processes, technical requirements, data requirements, and outputs.
- Research, develop, and draft DoW PQC policies, governance frameworks, implementation guidance, and migration roadmaps aligned with NSM-10, NIST standards, and DoW mission requirements.
- Assess Government and commercial PQC solutions for security, technical maturity, scalability, interoperability, performance, operational suitability, and alignment with DoW use cases.
- Evaluate vendor claims and proposed cryptographic solutions to identify implementation limitations, integration requirements, technical tradeoffs, and viable migration approaches.
- Maintain visibility of industry capabilities, vendor solutions, implementation risks, emerging cryptographic technologies, and developments relevant to DoW PQC adoption.
- Advise Government leadership on enterprise cryptographic deployment, modernization, update, sequencing, and risk-management considerations.
- Develop executive briefings, technical reports, decision papers, roadmaps, and other documentation for technical and nontechnical audiences.
- Facilitate technical meetings and collaborate with organizations such as DIU, DISA, NSA, NIST, USCYBERCOM, DoW Components, cloud providers, and industry partners.
This position is designed to be flexible, with responsibilities evolving to meet business needs and enable individual growth.
Requirements:
- Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance required.
- Ph.D. in mathematics, computer science, cryptography, cybersecurity, electrical engineering, or a related field, with at least 20 years of related professional experience in cryptography, including significant experience in cryptographic engineering, technical integration, architecture, or
- implementation; OR Master’s degree in a related field, with at least 20 years of related professional experience in cryptography, including significant experience in cryptographic engineering, technical integration, architecture, or implementation.
- Extensive experience engineering, integrating, architecting, implementing, or modernizing cryptographic capabilities within complex production, enterprise, or mission environments.
- Expert knowledge of classical and post-quantum cryptography, cryptographic algorithms, protocols, cipher suites, key management, PKI, encryption, authentication, digital signatures, and cryptographic agility.
- Demonstrated experience integrating or migrating cryptographic algorithms, protocols, PKI, key-management capabilities, authentication mechanisms, encryption services, or related cryptographic technologies within operational systems.
- Experience assessing cryptographic integration and migration risks, including compatibility, interoperability, performance impacts, lifecycle dependencies, operational constraints, and mission impacts.
- Demonstrated experience providing senior-level technical leadership for enterprise cryptographic programs, cybersecurity initiatives, or large-scale technology modernization efforts.
- Experience identifying, documenting, and managing cryptographic dependencies across applications, devices, networks, cloud environments, and embedded systems.
- Ability to evaluate commercial, cloud-based, open-source, and Government cryptographic solutions and assess the technical validity of vendor claims, implementation approaches, and migration options.
- Experience developing technical policy, implementation frameworks, migration strategies, roadmaps, or governance documentation for federal or DoW organizations.
- Knowledge of NSM-10, OMB Memorandum M-23-02, NIST PQC standards, CNSS issuances, and related federal cryptographic guidance.
- Ability to translate deep cryptographic technical knowledge into clear policy, technical guidance, implementation plans, migration strategies, and executive recommendations.
- Strong technical writing, briefing, facilitation, analytical, and stakeholder-engagement skills.
Why Work for Us?
Core4ce is a team of innovators, self-starters, and critical thinkers—driven by a shared mission to strengthen national security and advance warfighting outcomes.
We offer:
- 401(k) with 100% company match on the first 6% deferred, with immediate vesting
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage—employee portion paid 100% by Core4ce
- Unlimited access to training and certifications, with no pre-set cap on eligible professional development
- Tuition assistance for job-related degrees and courses
- Paid parental leave, PTO that grows with tenure, and generous holiday schedules
- Got a big idea? At Core4ce, The Forge gives every employee the chance to propose bold innovations and help bring them to life with internal backing.
Join us to build a career that matters—supported by a company that invests in you.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, veteran status, age, genetic information, or other legally protected status.
*Core4ce provides the listed pay range for this position as a general guideline only and not as a guarantee of compensation or salary. Final offers may take into account a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, job responsibilities, education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, market data alignment, any applicable collective bargaining agreement, and other legal requirements.
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Full-Time/Regular
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status.
Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
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