Cybersecurity Engineer / AI Accreditation Lead

The Mission

Pavati Solutions is at the forefront of ensuring that AI isn't just built, but is trusted, resilient, and mission ready. We are seeking a Senior AI Accreditation Lead to serve as a Team Lead embedded directly with our customer. This is a high visibility leadership role where you will be the primary bridge between algorithm developers across the IC/DoW and the accreditation authorities. Rather than building models or writing code, your job is to manage the customer's governance frameworks and navigate the complex, high stakes path to getting these advanced systems accredited for operational use.

What You’ll Do

• Drive AI Accreditation: Act as the technical lead navigating the customer’s AI risk management and evaluation frameworks to secure and maintain operational approvals (ATOs).
• Lead the Governance Team: Oversee the day to day operations of the evaluation and compliance team, ensuring technical excellence, proper risk documentation, and mission alignment.
• Algorithm Partnership: Work alongside algorithm developers from various agencies to guide them through security and governance gates early, providing a clear roadmap to successful deployment.
• Stakeholder Management: Translate complex system vulnerabilities and compliance risks into clear, actionable briefings for senior government decision-makers.

Who You Are

• Accreditation Authority (9–13+ years): You have a deep background in cybersecurity engineering, Information Assurance (IA), or Systems Engineering within the IC/DoW ecosystem. (Advanced degrees Masters/PhD count toward experience).
• Framework Master: You are an expert at breaking down complex, custom risk management policies and applying them to secure modern software networks. You know how to prove a system is safe, reliable, and ethical.
• Effective Leader: You have a proven track record of managing technical teams and handling high pressure interactions with government customers and external agency partners.

Technical & Leadership Pillars

• Governance & Risk Lifecycle: Deep, practical familiarity with the traditional RMF/ATO lifecycle, continuous monitoring, and security control assessment behind the fence.
• Custom Framework Translation: Exceptional ability to absorb, operationalize, and enforce agency specific compliance and validation standards.
• Foundational AI Awareness: A high-level conceptual understanding of software pipelines and data flow. You do not need to use specific ML frameworks (like PyTorch or TensorFlow), but you know how to assess system risk.
• Communication & Diplomacy: Superb ability to document security postures, manage body language in tough meetings, and present technical risks to non technical mission leaders.

Why Pavati

• Radical Autonomy: We hire seniors because we trust them. You lead the team; we provide the support and the high tier compensation.
• Direct Mission Impact: Your work is the "Go/No-Go" gate for AI capabilities used in national security.
• Academic Reach: You aren’t on an island. You have the unique advantage of being backed by technical experts from top tier academic AI labs, helping you bridge the gap between cutting edge theory and mission reality.
• No Corporate Red Tape: We focus on the mission and your growth, not on middle management bureaucracy.

Benefits

Pavati provides a premium rewards package that includes full employer paid premiums for healthcare, an automatic 6% 401(k) contribution, and a very friendly PTO policy. We further invest in your professional growth through a dedicated annual allowance for education and advanced certifications.

Location & Flexibility: This is a Hybrid role requiring high side access. It is not a fully Remote position. Your time will be split between remote work, client sites, and cleared office space based on the specific needs of the mission.

About Pavati

Pavati is focused on closing the gap between commercial innovation and government adoption. We don’t do business as usual. We help advanced technologies move quickly and securely into operational use by cutting through the noise and focusing on practical, high impact outcomes. If you want to spend more time building and less time navigating bureaucracy, we want to talk.