Assessment and Authorization (A&A) Lead

NTT DATA strives to hire exceptional, innovative and passionate individuals who want to grow with us. If you want to be part of an inclusive, adaptable, and forward-thinking organization, apply now.

We are currently seeking a Assessment and Authorization (A&A) Lead to join our team in Rockville, Maryland (US-MD), United States (US).

Job Summary: 

NTT DATA is seeking an experienced Assessment and Authorization (A&A) Lead to oversee cybersecurity assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring activities for federal information systems. The successful candidate will possess strong knowledge of the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF), federal security requirements, and the complete Authorization to Operate (ATO) lifecycle. This position will lead and manage a team of approximately five to eight Security Control Assessors, Information System Security Officers (ISSOs), and other cybersecurity professionals. The A&A Lead will be responsible for ensuring that security authorization packages are accurate, complete, compliant, and delivered according to established schedules. The A&A Lead must be a hands-on leader who can establish priorities, assign responsibilities, remove obstacles, coach team members, and maintain high-quality deliverables. The individual must be comfortable engaging directly with senior government stakeholders, presenting authorization risks, and recommending practical solutions that balance mission requirements with cybersecurity compliance.

Job Duties:

• Lead the end-to-end A&A and ATO process for federal information systems.
• Manage and mentor a team of five to eight Security Control Assessors and ISSOs.
• Develop and maintain integrated ATO schedules, milestones, priorities, and resource assignments.
• Coordinate security authorization activities with system owners, technical teams, ISSOs, assessors, authorizing officials, and other stakeholders.
• Apply the NIST Risk Management Framework throughout the system development and authorization lifecycle.
• Review and validate security authorization documentation, including:
  • System Security Plans
  • Security Assessment Plans
  • Security Assessment Reports
  • Plans of Action and Milestones
  • Risk assessments
  • Contingency plans
  • Continuous monitoring plans
  • Security control implementation evidence
• Oversee security control assessments and ensure findings are clearly documented, supported by evidence, and assigned appropriate risk ratings.
• Evaluate system vulnerabilities, control deficiencies, and residual risks to support authorization decisions.
• Monitor remediation activities and ensure POA&M items are properly documented, tracked, updated, and closed.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews of A&A packages before submission to the Authorizing Official.
• Identify risks, schedule delays, documentation gaps, and resource constraints and communicate them to program leadership.
• Establish standardized A&A procedures, templates, checklists, and quality-control processes.
• Facilitate status meetings, risk-review sessions, and authorization-readiness reviews.
• Support continuous monitoring, annual assessments, significant-change reviews, and authorization renewals.
• Prepare executive-level dashboards, metrics, and reports describing ATO status, risks, findings, and remediation progress.
• Provide guidance to system teams on federal cybersecurity policies, control implementation, and compliance expectations.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, and consistent performance across the A&A team.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, information technology, computer science, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of cybersecurity, information assurance, or information system security experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience supporting federal A&A, ATO, or NIST RMF activities.
• MInimum 5 years of experience managing or leading teams of Security Control Assessors, ISSOs, or cybersecurity analysts.
• Minimum 5 years of experience to include:
  • NIST Risk Management Framework
  • NIST SP 800-37
  • NIST SP 800-53
  • NIST SP 800-53A
  • NIST SP 800-30
  • FISMA requirements
  • Federal continuous monitoring practices
• Minimum 5 years of experience reviewing complex security authorization packages and evaluating security control evidence.
• Minimum 5 years of experience of security risk management, vulnerability management, POA&M management, and continuous monitoring.
• Candidates must hold at least one of the following active certifications:
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Ability to obtain a Public Trust

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting cybersecurity programs within NIH, HHS, or another federal civilian agency.
• Experience with federal governance, risk, and compliance platforms such as CSAM, JCAM, ServiceNow GRC, or similar tools.
• Experience managing a portfolio of systems with concurrent ATO deadlines.
• Familiarity with cloud security requirements, including FedRAMP and NIST controls for AWS, Microsoft Azure, or other cloud environments.
• Experience developing A&A standard operating procedures, playbooks, templates, and performance metrics.
• Additional certifications such as CAP/CGRC, CRISC, CCSP, PMP, or Security+.
• Experience supporting high-impact or mission-critical federal information systems.
• Strong leadership, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical risks to executive and nontechnical stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively with government leadership, system owners, engineers, cybersecurity teams, and third-party assessors

NTT DATA provides a reasonable range of compensation for specific roles. The starting pay range for this role is $110,179 - $183,631. Actual compensation will depend on a number of factors, including the candidate’s relevant experience, technical skills, and other qualifications. This position may also be eligible for incentive compensation based on individual and/or company performance. If the position offered in temporary, the position will not be eligible for incentive compensation. This position is eligible for company benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance with an employer contribution, flexible spending or health savings account, life and AD&D insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off, employee assistance, participation in a 401k program with company match, and additional voluntary or legally-required benefits.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30 billion business and technology services leader, serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100. We are committed to accelerating client success and positively impacting society through responsible innovation. We are one of the world's leading AI and digital infrastructure providers, with unmatched capabilities in enterprise-scale AI, cloud, security, connectivity, data centers and application services. our consulting and Industry solutions help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 50 countries. We also offer clients access to a robust ecosystem of innovation centers as well as established and start-up partners. NTT DATA is a part of NTT Group, which invests over $3 billion each year in R&D.

Whenever possible, we hire locally to NTT DATA offices or client sites. This ensures we can provide timely and effective support tailored to each client’s needs. While many positions offer remote or hybrid work options, these arrangements are subject to change based on client requirements. For employees near an NTT DATA office or client site, in-office attendance may be required for meetings or events, depending on business needs. At NTT DATA, we are committed to staying flexible and meeting the evolving needs of both our clients and employees. NTT DATA recruiters will never ask for payment or banking information and will only use @nttdata.com, @nttdatafed.com and @talent.nttdataservices.com email addresses. If you are requested to provide payment or disclose banking information, please submit a contact us form, https://us.nttdata.com/en/contact-us.

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