Subject Matter Expert (SME) - Cybersecurity

Lafayette Group Inc.
$75-$85 per hour - LGI carefully considers various factors when determining salary, including but not limited to education and training, professional experience, knowledge, skills and competencies, licensure and certifications, contract-specific affordabi
United States, Virginia, Arlington
Oct 22, 2025
Subject Matter Expert (SME) - Cybersecurity Job Summary:? Lafayette Group is seeking qualified and team-oriented individuals to work with federal government organizations in support of national cybersecurity programs. Cybersecurity Subject Matter Experts work on projects to enhance national operational readiness, deliver tailored cybersecurity guidance, and inject real-time technical expertise into cyber crisis response, planning, and collaboration efforts. This position works directly with Project Managers and cleared Program Analysts on advanced cyber planning capabilities (e.g., Secure by Design, Security at Scale, Threat Hunting). Subject Matter Experts are involved daily in work like researching and developing recommendations on cybersecurity plans, reports, and presentations, preparing for and leading meetings with senior personnel, conducting assessments, developing and delivering trainings and exercises, and providing technical expertise regarding cyber incident response, cyber threat analysis, cyber defense planning, and cyber risk reduction. The ideal candidate for this role is an experienced, collaborative team member with deep expertise in cybersecurity and defense operations, has an innate curiosity to learn, and the drive to excel with a team of like-minded colleagues in a high-profile, fast paced environment. Job Responsibilities: Work closely with Project Managers and Program Analysts to help clients solve nationally significant cybersecurity challenges. Collaborate with other team members to develop and deliver high-quality products that meet client requirements on schedule and within budget. Analyze operational information and perform qualitative and quantitative research and analysis in support of projects to identify key themes and trends from complicated data sets (e.g., analysis during active cyber incidents, dynamic triage of threat information). Advise on strategic issues including edge device technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), remote monitoring and management (RMM), etc. Assist with client engagement and support including preparing for and leading meetings, facilitating planning and data gathering sessions, and developing recommendations for plans, documents, and reports to support client needs. Support the development of written work products within and across areas of responsibility including strategic plans, assessments and reports, presentations, talking points, fact sheets, and white papers. Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders; demonstrate that client needs are heard and understood and their feedback valued. Continue to deepen personal expertise in the field through ongoing engagement and continuous learning. Required Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree 10+ years experience in cybersecurity (e.g., threat detection, analysis, and response, penetration testing, network architecture and defense, SOC operations/monitoring, etc.) Possession of excellent oral and written communication skills; diplomatic and an excellent listener Possession of excellent analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to remain open-minded, flexible and curious in problem-solving approach Ability to think conceptually and strategically and learn quickly Ability to manage time effectively to meet deadlines, adhere to project plans, and work on several projects simultaneously Ability to interact and network effectively with all levels of staff, including senior leadership, both internal and on the client site Ability to obtain a security clearance Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite Desired Qualifications: Master's degree Discipline specific advanced training (e.g., CISSP, CISM, CISA) Experience with Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) and detection methods Experience in threat hunting, cyber intelligence, Red/Blue/Purple Team, or other deeply technical computer science domains Experience handling (safely receiving/processing) malware samples Experience implementing AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Perplexity.ai) and Python Existing TS-SCI or Secret clearance or DHS Suitability Location: Arlington, VA Federal Contracts: This position involves working on federal contracts that require all workers on the contract to be U.S. Citizens. Additionally, some contracts may require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Salary Range: $75-$85 per hour Hours: Part-Time, approx. 20 hours per week Contingent Hire: This position will be hired contingent upon winning the Federal contract work. LGI is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact?talent@lafayettegroup.com. This email address is for accommodation requests only. Non-related messages will be disregarded.