Zero Trust SME

Position Overview Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Location: Huntsville, AL / Colorado Springs, CO
Travel: Some travel may be expected, < 10%
Clearance: Active Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance
Work Authorization: U.S. Citizenship required

Summary/Objective
Five Stones Research Corporation (5SRC) is seeking a highly motivated Zero Trust Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support a Department of Defense (DoD) customer in advancing Zero Trust strategy, implementation coordination, and executive-level communication.

The selected candidate will serve as a trusted advisor and liaison between government leadership, technical implementation teams, and Zero Trust Program Management Office (ZT PfMO) stakeholders. This role focuses on policy alignment, governance, technical integration awareness, and mission-focused execution of DoD Zero Trust initiatives.

Essential Functions

Zero Trust Strategy & Governance

• Provide subject matter expertise on DoD Zero Trust principles, architecture, and implementation guidance aligned with DoD Zero Trust Strategy, Reference Architecture, and emerging policy.


• Support development, refinement, and execution tracking of Zero Trust roadmaps, transition plans, and implementation milestones.


• Assist government leadership in prioritizing Zero Trust activities across identity, device, network, application, data, and visibility/analytics pillars.


• Ensure alignment with RMF, cybersecurity resiliency, and enterprise architecture considerations.

Government Engagement & Program Integration

• Serve as an interface between government leadership, ZT PfMO offices, and technical implementation teams.


• Coordinate and manage communications, briefings, and documentation provided to DoD Zero Trust governance bodies.


• Facilitate working groups, technical exchanges, and decision forums supporting Zero Trust execution.


• Translate technical findings and implementation status into clear executive-level messaging.

Technical Coordination & Implementation Awareness

• Collaborate with engineering and cybersecurity teams responsible for Zero Trust capability deployment and integration.


• Track progress of capability adoption, control implementation, and risk reduction activities.


• Identify gaps, dependencies, and risks impacting Zero Trust execution and recommend mitigation strategies.


• Maintain awareness of ICAM, network security, endpoint security, cloud security, data protection, and monitoring solutions supporting Zero Trust.

Documentation, Reporting, and Communications

• Develop and maintain:




• Executive briefings


• Technical summaries


• Meeting artifacts and decision records


• Status reports to DoD ZT PfMO stakeholders




• Ensure documentation aligns with DoD cybersecurity policy, governance expectations, and reporting standards.

Required Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Engineering, or related STEM field with 5+ years of DoD cyber experience




• Acceptable alternative: Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 8+ years of DoD cyber experience supporting complex defense systems or enterprise environments.




• Must meet DoD 8570 IAM Level I or IAM Level II requirements prior to start (intermediate to advanced level role depending on experience).

 Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred certifications:




• CISSP


• CISM


• CCSP


• Zero Trust or cloud security–related certifications




• Experience supporting Zero Trust implementation within DoD environments.


• Familiarity with:




• ICAM / identity federation


• Network segmentation / SDP / SASE


• Endpoint detection and response


• Data security and tagging


• Security analytics and continuous monitoring




• Understanding of cyber resiliency, DevSecOps, and cloud security within defense programs.


• Strong communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

What We Offer:

• 401(k) Matching


• Company Events


• Dental Insurance


• Employee Recognition Programs


• Health Insurance


• Life Insurance


• Paid Time Off


• Parental Leave


• Performance Incentives


• Student Loan Repayment


• Tuition Reimbursement


• Vision Insurance

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.