Application Security Engineer

Data Staff is in need of an Application Security Engineer for a long-term contract opportunity with one of our direct clients in Richmond, VA.

* This position is hybrid; occasional onsite required

Our client is seeking an Application Security Engineer (ASE) with 5+ years of experience to join the Office of Technology under Joint Security Operations. In this role, the ASE serves as a dedicated security partner to application teams, providing guidance on secure design, vulnerability management, and secure development practices. The ASE works collaboratively across the SDLC to ensure security is embedded into application design, development, testing, and deployment.

This includes supporting compliance requirements, delivering training and education, and assisting teams with vulnerability remediation efforts.

The successful candidate will identify and recommend improvements to improve the security of all the client’s applications, promote secure coding and development practices, and contribute to ongoing initiatives that reduce risk and strengthen the agency’s overall security posture.

• Provide security guidance, training, and best practices for development and operations teams.
• Support secure software development by applying knowledge of SDLC, Agile, and Scrum methodologies.
• Evaluate software architecture and design for security risks and alignment with Dev Sec Ops  principles.
• Promote and enforce secure coding standards and guidelines.
• Review source code to identify vulnerabilities and recommend remediation strategies.
• Analyze and secure modern web application architectures, including cloud, APIs, microservices, and client–server models.
• Identify and address common vulnerabilities, including those outlined in the OWASP Top 10.
• Support vulnerability remediation, patch management, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Utilize application security testing tools such as SAST, DAST, IAST, and platforms like Accunetix, Veracode, Jenkins, Splunk, Rapid7, and Tenable.
• Interpret and act on findings from SIEM systems, including Splunk.
• Apply knowledge of common security controls and frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with relevant security regulations and standards (e.g., NIST 800‑53, IRS Pub 1075, PCI‑DSS).
• Implement and evaluate AWS cloud security controls and best practices.
• Create, maintain, and review System Security Plans (SSPs).
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical and security-related issues.
• Stay current with evolving threats, technologies, and industry trends.
• Develop detailed plans and communicate risks, impacts, and recommendations effectively.
• Collaborate with application teams, QA engineers, and operations teams to integrate security into workflows.
• Provide constructive, actionable feedback to application teams.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Work closely with other security analysts and technology teams to support agency and enterprise security initiatives.
• Manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.
• Apply critical thinking to evaluate and mitigate security risks and vulnerabilities.

• Strong understanding of security concepts, network protocols, and threat vectors.
• Proficiency in SIEM, IDS/IPS, EDR, and other relevant security tools.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and documentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Splunk, Insight
  
  VM Rapid7, Tenable, Cyber Ark, Jenkins, Veracode

• CompTIA Security+
• ISC2 CC (Certified in Cybersecurity)
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
• CCSP
• CCLP

• AWS Solutions Architect (Associate/Professional)
• AWS Security Specialty
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA)

• 5 Years - Application Security
• 2 Years - Network or Firewall/AWS security Groups
• 2 Years - Infrastructure as Code (IaC):
  Advanced proficiency in Terraform for multi-account landing zones and automated provisioning.
• 4 Years - Experience with log collection, vulnerability scans and remediation, or…