JobsMotorola Solutions

Senior IT Systems Engineer – Cybersecurity & Networking

Motorola Solutions · Schaumburg, IL

Posted Apr 26, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you led an organization through a NIST 800-171 or CMMC audit. What broke down and how did you fix it before the assessor found it.

real hands-on compliance experience versus familiarity with the terminology only

Tell me about a vulnerability management program you built or improved. How did you prioritize remediation when everything seemed urgent.

whether they can build process and triage logic, not just run a scanner

Tell me about a time you had to explain a technical security decision to a non-technical customer or internal stakeholder who pushed back on it.

communication skill and ability to hold a technical position under pushback

Technical

Walk me through how you would architect a security reference design that covers EDR, DLP, MFA, and data-at-rest encryption for an environment handling controlled unclassified information.

whether the candidate can think in terms of layered architecture rather than just deploying individual tools

How do you decide what technical controls satisfy a written security policy, and what do you do when the policy and the practical reality of the network don't line up?

ability to translate policy into implementation and collaborate with a policy engineer rather than work in isolation

Describe your approach to segmenting a network with Palo Alto or Fortinet firewalls in an environment that mixes legacy embedded systems with modern IT infrastructure.

depth of hands-on firewall and segmentation experience specific to mixed old/new environments like a prototyping lab

What's your process for hardening a mixed fleet of Linux and Windows servers and then keeping that baseline from drifting over time?

knowledge of configuration monitoring and whether they think about ongoing maintenance, not just initial setup

Give an example of a script or automation you wrote in PowerShell, Python, or Bash that took a manual security task and made it repeatable.

actual scripting ability versus listing languages on a resume

How have you used tools like SCCM or Ansible to manage patching and configuration at scale, and what went wrong the first time you tried it?

honest depth of experience with orchestration tools versus surface familiarity

Situational

Say your SIEM starts flagging unusual outbound traffic from a server that holds CUI at 2am. Walk me through what you do in the first hour.

incident response instincts, prioritization under pressure, and whether containment comes before root-cause chasing

How would you handle a zero-day vulnerability disclosed on a system you can't immediately patch because it supports an active government contract or prototype?

risk-based decision making and comfort operating in a regulated, contract-driven environment

If you inherited an incident response plan that had never been tested, what would you do in the first month to know if it actually works?

whether they proactively validate readiness through tabletop exercises rather than waiting for a real incident

This role sits in a small applied technology group working on prototypes and low-volume specialty products, not a large steady-state enterprise. How do you adjust your security approach when systems change constantly and documentation lags behind?

adaptability to a fast-moving, less mature environment versus rigid enterprise-only thinking

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The full job description

As published by Motorola Solutions.

Company Overview At Motorola Solutions, we believe that everything starts with our people. We’re a global close-knit community, united by the relentless pursuit to help keep people safer everywhere. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our solutions foster the collaboration that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately, safer nations. Connect with a career that matters, and help us build a safer future. Department Overview Applied Technology is a rapid prototyping center within Motorola Solutions. We create proof-of-concept and lower-volume specialty communications products for government and private industry utilizing wireless technologies such as TETRA, LMR, GSM, UMTS, CDMA, WiFi, LTE and embedded systems. Our customer-centric, team based environment provides an excellent growth opportunity for engineers and developers in enterprise markets where innovation is the primary focus. Job Description As the Senior Cybersecurity Architect & Systems Engineer, you will provide comprehensive security and networking oversight for the Applied Technology Department's mission-critical systems. This role demands architectural expertise to design, deploy, and maintain security solutions that strictly adhere to NIST SP 800-171/53 CMMC requirements. You will serve as the principal security resource, merging deep technical execution with strategic vision to manage risk and advance our technical capabilities within a highly regulated government compliance framework. Responsibilities • Define and Architect enterprise-grade security reference architectures, overseeing the full lifecycle implementation of key solutions including, but not limited to, Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) systems, and Data-At-Rest Encryption. • Develop, optimize & maintain Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) platforms to enhance log collection, analysis, and threat detection capabilities. • Serve as the technical lead for NIST and CMMC compliance, spearheading audit preparations and technical controls.  • Work closely with IT Security Policy engineer to establish/verify technical controls meet policy • Act as the definitive Incident Response Lead, overseeing the strategic triage, containment, root-cause analysis, and recovery processes for all security breaches. • Design, deploy, and maintain security-focused network infrastructure, including Next-Generation Firewalls (Palo Alto, Fortinet, or similar), Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), and VPN/access control platforms, enforcing strict network segmentation policies. • Spearhead the Vulnerability Management Program, implementing automated scanning tools and aggressively driving high-priority remediation efforts across all infrastructure hardware and software, focusing on zero-day mitigation. • Provide expertise and architectural guidance for Linux and Windows server environments, ensuring secure baselines and continuous configuration monitoring. • Develop and enforce security policy standards through automation, utilizing advanced scripting (PowerShell, Python, Bash) to integrate security toolsets and streamline daily management. • Maintain continuous professional development to master emerging threats, technologies, and regulatory changes in the defense industrial base. • Oversee large-scale deployment, management, and orchestration of patch and configuration management systems (e.g., SCCM, Ansible) to maintain a hardened security posture. • Minimum 2+ years of hands-on experience designing and managing enterprise networking solutions (Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, Fortinet, etc.). • Expert-level knowledge of Linux and Windows server environments and security best practices. • Proficiency in scripting/automation (PowerShell, Python, Bash, or equivalent) for system management and security operations. • Proven experience implementing and maintaining regulatory compliance frameworks (NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, ISO 27001). • Demonstrated strategic, analytical, and advanced troubleshooting skills with ability to independently drive complex projects to completion. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience documenting technical systems. • Ability to interface with customers and internal teams effectively Preferred Qualifications • Professional Security certification such as Security+, CISSP, CISM, or Certified CMMC Professional (CCP). • Deep experience with virtualization and cloud security principles (e.g., AWS, Azure). • Familiarity with governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) platforms. • Direct experience with configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef). • Experience leading Incident Response tabletop exercises and formal documentation. #AppliedTech #LI-ONSITE #LI-JM2 Target Base Salary Range: $72,700  - $115,400  USD Consistent with Motorola Solutions values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Pay within this range varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate. Basic Requirements • Must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain necessary security clearances as required by government contracts. • Associates Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field • 3+ years of progressive experience in Information Security Engineering, focusing on enterprise-level system design and deployment. Travel Requirements None Relocation Provided None Position Type Experienced Referral Payment Plan Yes Our U.S. Benefits include: • Incentive Bonus Plans • Medical, Dental, Vision benefits • 401K with Company Match • 10 Paid Holidays • Generous Paid Time Off Packages • Employee Stock Purchase Plan • Paid Parental & Family Leave • and more! EEO Statement Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic.  We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world. If you’d like to join our team but feel that you don’t quite meet all of the preferred skills, we’d still love to hear why you think you’d be a great addition to our team. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience for candidates with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions. To request an accommodation, please complete this  Reasonable Accommodations Form  so we can assist you.

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