ISSE jobs in Fort Meade, MD
Information Systems Security Engineer (ISSE)
Security architecture, system security design, risk assessment, and information assurance engineering for cleared mission systems.
Apply for this RoleGS Consulting Environment
Engineering Security into the System, Not Around It
At GS Consulting, security engineering is not a paperwork exercise. The point is to design systems that can operate under real mission pressure while still protecting sensitive data, satisfying customer requirements, and producing evidence leaders can trust.
This role is built for engineers who can connect architecture, controls, risk, and mission needs. You will define security requirements, shape system designs, support authorization evidence, and help customers make practical decisions about technical risk.
The Work
What the Role Looks Like Day to Day
ISSE work usually starts with a design question: what is the system supposed to do, what data does it touch, what controls are needed, and what risk remains? A typical day may include reviewing architecture, defining requirements, updating security documentation, assessing control effectiveness, and advising a customer on implementation choices.
The job rewards engineers who can be precise without getting buried in process. A strong ISSE knows how to turn security requirements into system decisions and how to explain the risk in plain language.
Mission and Responsibilities
Core Responsibilities
Our ISSEs connect system engineering and information assurance. Depending on your LCAT level, you will be expected to:
- Define information system security requirements by designing resilient system architectures and implementing security designs.
- Assess the effectiveness of security solutions against present and projected threats using systems security engineering principles.
- Produce and maintain System Security Plans, Risk Assessment Reports, System Requirements Traceability Matrices, and supporting authorization evidence.
- Support certification, accreditation, authorization packages, and risk assessments throughout the system life cycle.
- Monitor security relevant changes, advise customers on implementation choices, and support planning, configuration, and training activities.
Technical Domains
Required Technical Domains
Successful Information Systems Security Engineers at GS Consulting need practical experience across several of the following technical domains:
- Computer and information systems design and development
- Information security, cyber security, and network security
- Vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, and computer forensics
- Systems engineering and information assurance processes
- Security architecture, authorization evidence, and risk assessment
- System and network administration
Preferred Degree Fields
Preferred degree fields include Computer Science, General Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Forensics, Cyber Security, Information Technology, Information Assurance, Information Security, or Information Systems. The degree must be from an accredited institution.
Tools and Mission Context
Security Architecture Has To Match the System
Information Systems Security Engineers use requirements, control frameworks, architecture artifacts, system documentation, risk assessments, and authorization evidence to help customers make security decisions. But the documentation is not the point. The point is whether the system is designed and operated in a way that fits the mission and the risk.
This role sits close to system owners, ISSOs, security designers, engineers, administrators, and customer stakeholders. That coordination matters because security decisions only work when they are technically realistic and operationally understood.
Compensation
Estimated Compensation Range
Estimated compensation for Information Systems Security Engineer roles ranges from $110,000 to $220,000 per year. Final compensation depends on ISSE level, years of relevant experience, clearance status, customer requirements, contract fit, and location expectations.
The range is intentionally broad because this posting covers Levels 1 through 4. A Level 1 ISSE and a Level 4 ISSE may both support security engineering missions, but the senior role carries more independent architecture judgment, customer trust, and responsibility for shaping risk decisions.
Qualification Paths
LCAT Qualification Paths
We are actively staffing billets across all four Information Systems Security Engineer levels. Please review the experience and education paths below. Relevant experience should connect to security engineering, information assurance, systems engineering, risk assessment, authorization support, cyber security, or closely related mission work.
Level 1
- Associate Degree plus 4 years of experience
- Bachelor Degree plus 2 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 0 years of experience
Level 2
- Associate Degree plus 7 years of experience
- Bachelor Degree plus 5 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 3 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 0 years of experience
Level 3
- Associate Degree plus 10 years of experience
- Bachelor Degree plus 8 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 6 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 4 years of experience
Level 4
- Associate Degree plus 13 years of experience
- Bachelor Degree plus 11 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 9 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 7 years of experience
Career Growth
How ISSEs Grow Across Levels
Growth in this role comes from better architecture judgment, stronger evidence habits, deeper system context, and the ability to explain security risk without hiding behind process. Senior ISSEs are trusted because they can help customers make hard technical decisions with incomplete information.
At GS Consulting, we value engineers who want to get sharper. That can mean improving authorization evidence, building better security designs, mentoring junior engineers, or moving into roles that connect architecture, compliance, and mission operations.
Why GS Consulting
A Smaller Team Closer to the Security Mission
Large contractors can make security engineers feel far removed from the actual mission. GS Consulting takes a more direct approach. We care about whether the person in the seat can understand the system, design the right controls, and help the customer make better decisions.
ISSE work is not generic compliance work. It takes engineering judgment, security discipline, evidence quality, and the ability to explain why a design choice matters. If that is how you think, this is the right kind of work.
Role Questions
Information Systems Security Engineer FAQ
What does an Information Systems Security Engineer do?
An Information Systems Security Engineer designs secure system architectures, defines security requirements, evaluates security controls, supports authorization evidence, and helps customers manage risk across the system life cycle. The role combines systems engineering, information assurance, cyber security, architecture, documentation, and practical mission judgment.
What clearance is required for GS Consulting ISSE roles?
GS Consulting Information Systems Security Engineer roles require an active TS/SCI clearance. Candidates must also be able to meet customer, contract, and site access requirements for the specific billet. If additional customer screening is required, that will be handled during recruiting rather than posted as public qualification language.
What are the ISSE levels 1, 2, 3, and 4?
ISSE levels reflect increasing experience, technical independence, and security engineering judgment. Level 1 starts at 0 to 4 years of relevant experience depending on education path. Level 2 ranges from 0 to 7 years. Level 3 ranges from 4 to 10 years. Level 4 ranges from 7 to 13 years. Relevant experience should involve security engineering, information assurance, systems engineering, risk assessment, authorization support, cyber security, or related mission work.
How is an ISSE different from an ISSO?
An ISSE focuses on security engineering, architecture, requirements, design, and technical risk decisions. An Information Systems Security Officer focuses more on operational security management, compliance tracking, control implementation status, and day to day security oversight. The roles overlap, but ISSE work is more centered on engineering secure systems.
What skills make a strong Information Systems Security Engineer candidate?
Strong candidates understand security architecture, systems engineering, information assurance, cyber security, risk assessment, authorization evidence, vulnerability analysis, and system administration. The best ISSEs can connect requirements, controls, architecture, and mission needs without turning security into paperwork for its own sake.
What does an Information Systems Security Engineer earn?
Estimated compensation for GS Consulting Information Systems Security Engineer roles ranges from $110,000 to $220,000 per year. Final compensation depends on ISSE level, years of relevant experience, clearance status, customer requirements, contract fit, and location expectations.
Are these ISSE jobs onsite?
Yes. These Information Systems Security Engineer positions support work in the Fort Meade, MD and Annapolis Junction area. Because the work is tied to cleared government facilities, sensitive systems, and customer mission requirements, candidates should expect onsite work rather than a remote arrangement.
How do I apply for GS Consulting ISSE roles?
Use the Apply for this Role button on this page or email your resume directly to info@gsconsultingllc.com. Include your active clearance level, primary security engineering or information assurance experience, and the ISSE level you believe matches your background.
Ready to engineer the defense?
Send us your resume. Please include your active clearance level, primary security engineering or information assurance experience, and the specific ISSE level you are targeting based on your years of experience.