Lead Consultant - Cybersecurity Commissioning, Verification & Validation

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Lead Consultant - Cybersecurity Commissioning, Verification & Validation based in the United States.

The Lead Consultant will lead technical cybersecurity commissioning, verification, and validation activities across industrial and cyber-physical environments. This hands-on role focuses on ensuring that security requirements are correctly implemented, technically effective, and ready for operational acceptance. You will work closely with engineering, operations, commissioning, construction, and security teams to assess industrial control systems and critical infrastructure. Combining deep operational technology expertise with structured testing and technical assurance, you will translate cybersecurity requirements into practical procedures, objective evidence, and actionable recommendations. You will also guide technical teams, strengthen validation methodologies, and help clients improve their cybersecurity readiness while protecting operational safety and reliability. The position offers remote flexibility alongside regular domestic and international travel to client sites.

Accountabilities:

• Lead cybersecurity commissioning activities for new and existing industrial and cyber-physical environments.

• Translate cybersecurity requirements, specifications, standards, and design documentation into executable commissioning and verification procedures.

• Develop commissioning plans, test scripts, verification checklists, evidence requirements, and acceptance criteria.

• Coordinate cybersecurity activities with engineering, construction, systems integration, and operational readiness teams.

• Verify that cybersecurity controls have been implemented as intended before operational acceptance, identifying gaps and documenting technical risks.

• Lead verification and validation (V&V) activities across operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS).

• Review system architectures, network diagrams, configurations, engineering documentation, and implementation evidence against approved requirements and applicable standards.

• Validate cybersecurity controls covering network segmentation, firewalls, remote access, identity and access management, system hardening, vulnerability management, logging, monitoring, endpoint security, backup and recovery, and other critical areas.

• Develop structured test procedures with clear objectives, prerequisites, test steps, expected results, evidence requirements, and acceptance criteria.

• Conduct on-site and remote validation activities, ensuring that testing does not unnecessarily disrupt production, system availability, or safety-critical operations.

• Coordinate technical execution with client representatives, engineering teams, system integrators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and other stakeholders.

• Track findings, outstanding evidence, dependencies, remediation activities, and retesting requirements throughout each engagement.

• Produce technically rigorous commissioning records, validation reports, findings, and final deliverables supported by objective evidence.

• Translate validation failures into practical remediation recommendations and verify corrective actions through targeted retesting.

• Escalate unresolved technical risks and residual issues that may affect cybersecurity readiness or operational acceptance.

• Apply relevant standards and guidance, including ISA/IEC 62443, NIST SP 800-82, ISA84.00.09 v3 (2024), PLC Top 20 Secure Programming Practices, and cyber-informed engineering principles.

• Contribute to repeatable commissioning and V&V methodologies, technical procedures, templates, checklists, and internal guidance.

• Support the development and evaluation of laboratory environments and technical tools for testing cybersecurity procedures before deployment in sensitive operational systems.

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to consultants and engineers, reviewing their test procedures, evidence, findings, and deliverables.

• Support effort estimation, resource planning, scheduling, and coordination across assigned engagements.

Requirements:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in operational technology, industrial automation, control systems engineering, industrial cybersecurity, commissioning, systems integration, systems validation, engineering assurance, or related cyber-physical environments.

• Practical experience working with industrial control systems and associated infrastructure, including PLCs, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), SCADA, Building Management Systems (BMS), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), industrial networks, and field devices.

• Strong understanding of industrial network architectures, segmentation, zones and conduits, firewalls, remote access, communications paths, and security boundaries.

• Experience executing technical testing, commissioning, verification, validation, assurance, or system acceptance activities.

• Experience working directly with technical teams in industrial facilities, critical infrastructure, data centers, manufacturing, utilities, oil and gas, or comparable operational environments.

• Ability to review engineering documentation, architecture diagrams, system configurations, technical requirements, and implementation evidence.

• Proven ability to develop structured test procedures and objectively assess whether cybersecurity requirements have been implemented successfully.

• Experience documenting technical findings, identifying implementation gaps, and developing practical remediation recommendations.

• Understanding of industrial cybersecurity architecture and the implementation of security controls across operational environments.

• Familiarity with relevant cybersecurity standards and practices, including ISA/IEC 62443 (2-1, 3-3, 3-2, 4-2), NIST SP 800-82, ISA84.00.09 v3 (2024), and PLC Top 20 Secure Programming Practices.

• Understanding of how cybersecurity activities interact with engineering, construction, integration, commissioning, operations, and system lifecycle processes.

• Practical experience with cybersecurity control validation, including network segmentation, access control, secure remote access, identity management, system hardening, patch and vulnerability management, logging, monitoring, and endpoint security.

• Experience with industrial or OT commissioning, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), integrated systems testing, systems integration, or systems validation is beneficial.

• Additional experience in control-system engineering, OT network engineering, security architecture, technical cybersecurity assessments, OT penetration testing, control-system modernization, or greenfield and brownfield projects is an advantage.

• Familiarity with technical tools and laboratory environments used for cybersecurity verification and validation.

• Relevant certifications are beneficial but not required, including ISA/IEC 62443, GIAC Industrial Cybersecurity (GICSP), CISSP, industrial automation or control-system vendor certifications, commissioning or networking credentials, and safety certifications such as OSHA or ISA84.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical findings and remediation recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring abilities, including reviewing technical work and promoting engineering discipline, evidence-based validation, and safe testing practices.

• Strong troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, structured problem-solving, and attention to technical detail.

• A safety-first mindset and understanding of the relationship between cybersecurity, process safety, functional safety, operational reliability, and safety-critical systems.

• Ability to manage multiple technical workstreams, dependencies, schedules, and project requirements.

• Willingness and ability to travel regularly, both domestically and internationally, including to offshore, remote, and industrial client locations.

• Ability to work in varied industrial environments, including potentially noisy, dusty, or temperature-extreme facilities, and to follow site safety procedures and use required personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Ability to walk, stand, and move around for extended periods, climb stairs or ladders when required, and lift or carry equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.

• Flexibility to work across time zones and adapt to client schedules.

Benefits:

• Permanent, full-time employment.

• Remote work arrangement, with on-site client visits and fieldwork as required.

• Attractive salary and benefits package; specific compensation figures are not provided in the job description.

• Opportunity to work on cybersecurity commissioning and assurance projects across industrial and critical infrastructure environments.

• Exposure to diverse technologies and sectors, including utilities, manufacturing, data centers, and oil and gas.

• Opportunity to contribute to technical methodologies, laboratory capabilities, and the development of cybersecurity validation practices.

• Professional development through collaboration with experienced engineering, cybersecurity, and technical assurance professionals.

How Jobgether works: We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!  Why Apply Through Jobgether?    Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.     #LI-CL1