The Principal Consultant will serve as a subject matter expert in public sector compliance, providing technical expertise, mentoring team members, leading client engagements, and developing compliance frameworks and content.
About Coalfire
Coalfire is on a mission to make the world a safer place by solving our clients’ hardest cybersecurity challenges. We work at the cutting edge of technology to advise, assess, automate, and ultimately help companies navigate the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. We are headquartered in Chicago, Illinois with offices across the U.S. and U.K., and we support clients around the world.
But that’s not who we are – that’s just what we do.
We are thought leaders, consultants, and cybersecurity experts, but above all else, we are a team of passionate problem-solvers who are hungry to learn, grow, and make a difference.
Position Summary
The Principal Consultant (SME) is considered a Public Sector compliance (NIST, FedRAMP, CMMC, FISMA, DoD SRG, GovRAMP, etc.) subject matter expert (SME), with strong expertise in a focal technical area e.g., evaluating/assessing the security and compliance of client firms/services against regulatory, industry requirements and standards, or against security best practice frameworks, etc. but has subject matter knowledge and/or experience in the other areas that affect the practice.
The Principal Consultant (SME) is expected to leverage their technical and business experience across four (4) domains, including:
Evaluate and enhance the security of complex systems that may impact both risk and compliance for organizations, large and small.
Mentor and develop team members to help grow the team and its capabilities.
Perform research on topics and/or areas affecting client engagements or regulatory requirements to bring clarity to that area which may involve engaging the regulatory bodies to get the clarification. Communicate the information gathered to the entire practice through various mediums such as information repositories, meetings, trainings, etc. Update repositories that have outdated information with updated information.
Engage outwardly into the community through blog posts, technical white papers, forum participation and conference speaking engagements. Engage inwardly to support business and practice growth by developing Sales/Marketing collateral, delivery methodologies and SOPs, train/mentor colleagues as necessary and serve as the SME for all topics related to your technical or compliance area of expertise.
What You'll Do
- Work with industry and standards bodies to provide information security technical and non-technical expertise.
- Work with other teams within Coalfire to drive customer success.
- Scope and lead on-site engagements with clients. This includes leading pre-sales calls, onsite visits, understanding customer security and compliance requirements and environments, and proposing and delivering packaged offerings or custom solution engagements.
- Develop technical content, such as security plans, procedures, policies, and white papers that can be used by our clients to assist them in elevating/building out their security and compliance programs.
- Lead delivery engagements including on-site projects working with clients to build out compliance roadmaps, architecture guidance, gap assessments, etc.
- Manage delivery engagements by providing project status updates to applicable stakeholders, identifying showstoppers and roadblocks to project success, etc.
- Collaborate with Coalfire engineering, support, and business teams to convey partner and customer feedback.
- Serve as the practice subject matter expert (SME) for escalations, sales/marketing support, driving practice profitability and revenue.
- Provide Delivery Team Support, including identifying process improvements, training delivery personnel on methodologies/tools and quality topics, and mentoring delivery personnel.
- Development of industry-wide service line thought leadership through:
- Authoring methodologies, templates, white papers, work instructions, guidelines, forms, tools
- Developing and delivering industry specific training, including speaking/presenting at conferences, creating webinars
- Support management of client satisfaction at all phases of the client relationship.
- Ensure continuous professional development by maintaining industry specific certifications.
- Maintain strong depth of knowledge in the practice area.
- Collaborate with project managers, quality management, sales, and other delivery team members to drive customer satisfaction and meet project deliverables.
- Establish account relationships and identifies upsell and cross sell opportunities and escalates to sales.
- Travel 20%
What You'll Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems Management, Information Security, Business, or equivalent experience required.
- CISSP or CISM or CISA or CCSP or equivalent
- 7+ years of experience in an IT security audit, assessment, compliance, risk management, or data privacy role.
- Knowledge and awareness of the latest information risk, security and compliance innovations, trends, challenges, and solutions.
- Knowledge of strategy, privacy and risk standards/frameworks and professional practices (e.g., NIST, ISO, CIS Top 20, ISSA, CSA CMM, Privacy by Design and FAIR, etc.).
- Knowledge of the typical enterprise risk and security operational practices.
- Knowledge of information security related solutions, tools, and utilities.
- Experience in strategy development, setting direction for team members, influencing both internally and externally.
- Experience building common compliance frameworks as well as mapping between different compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated breadth of security expertise in various sub domains such as encryption, identity, incident response, etc.
- Hands-on technical expertise is nice to have due to the technical components of the frameworks that are worked with.
- Experience with risk assessment methodologies and risk reporting for executive leadership.
- Proven background in clearly writing complex technical documents that can be presented across a varied enterprise corporate audience.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) frameworks (800 series)
- CMMC
- FedRAMP
- DoD CC SRG and/or RMF
- FISMA
- GovRAMP (StateRAMP)
7+ years of experience working with one, more, or a combination of the following:
Bonus Points
- Big Four Advisory/Consulting Experience
- DevSec Ops Experience
- CMMC CCP or CCA certification
- AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform certification(s).
- OpenFair or related certification, CCBP
- Vendor certifications for applicable product solution sets
Why You’ll Want to Join Us
At Coalfire, you’ll find the support you need to thrive personally and professionally. In many cases, we provide a flexible work model that empowers you to choose when and where you’ll work most effectively – whether you’re at home or an office.
Regardless of location, you’ll experience a company that prioritizes connection and wellbeing and be part of a team where people care about each other and our communities. You’ll have opportunities to join employee resource groups, participate in in-person and virtual events, and more. And you’ll enjoy competitive perks and benefits to support you and your family, like paid parental leave, flexible time off, certification and training reimbursement, digital mental health and wellbeing support membership, and comprehensive insurance options.
At Coalfire, equal opportunity and pay equity is integral to the way we do business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Coalfire is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact our Human Resources team at [email protected].
Top Skills
AWS
Azure
Cmmc
Cybersecurity
Fedramp
Fisma
Google Cloud Platform
Govramp
Nist
Similar Jobs
Cloud • Computer Vision • Information Technology • Sales • Security • Cybersecurity
The role involves designing scalable Kubernetes platforms, optimizing infrastructure reliability, mentoring engineers, and integrating open-source technologies.
Top Skills:
AlertmanagerAWSGCPGoKubernetesOciPrometheusThanos
Cloud • Computer Vision • Information Technology • Sales • Security • Cybersecurity
The Patent Attorney will manage patent portfolios, assist with patent prosecution, conduct invention mining, and utilize AI-driven workflows to enhance team efficiency.
Top Skills:
AILegal TechnologyPatent ProsecutionSpreadsheets
Cloud • Computer Vision • Information Technology • Sales • Security • Cybersecurity
The Director of HR Compliance & Immigration leads global HR compliance and immigration strategy, ensuring adherence to labor laws, pay equity, and global mobility programs, while partnering with various departments to support a compliant workforce strategy.
Top Skills:
Case Management SystemsCompensation Analytics ToolsGlobal Hris
What you need to know about the NYC Tech Scene
As the undisputed financial capital of the world, New York City is an epicenter of startup funding activity. The city has a thriving fintech scene and is a major player in verticals ranging from AI to biotech, cybersecurity and digital media. It also has universities like NYU, Columbia and Cornell Tech attracting students and researchers from across the globe, providing the ecosystem with a constant influx of world-class talent. And its East Coast location and three international airports make it a perfect spot for European companies establishing a foothold in the United States.
Key Facts About NYC Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 549,200; 6% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Capgemini, Bloomberg, IBM, Spotify
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, Fintech
- Funding Landscape: $25.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Greycroft, Thrive Capital, Union Square Ventures, FirstMark Capital, Tiger Global Management, Tribeca Venture Partners, Insight Partners, Two Sigma Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: Columbia University, New York University, Fordham University, CUNY, AI Now Institute, Flatiron Institute, C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics, NASA Space Radiation Laboratory
