Cornerstone Defense LLC is a Small Business servicing the Intelligence, Defense, and Space communities of the U.S. Government. Cornerstone Defense specializes in cloud architecture, enterprise engineering, systems and network engineering, systems and network security, and application and software development. We use these foundational technology areas to deliver solutions for data analytics, cyber, and space/mission operations, customized to meet mission requirements. We are headquartered in Herndon, VA, with employees working across the U.S including DC, MD, CO, UT, NM, HI, and CA. At Cornerstone Defense, you’ll find a partner that values strong relationships, excellence, and teamwork. Our team is a network of professionals who are dedicated to providing agile, secure, and efficient solutions to support mission success. With Cornerstone Defense, you’re not just choosing a service provider, but a committed, steadfast team with a culture designed to excel.
To find out more information on where we can help you, services we provide,
joining or partnering with our team, please select one of the links below!
We bring together a unique blend of cutting-edge capabilities, specialized expertise, and a remarkable company culture that focuses on the recruitment and retention of highly-sought-after employees.
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The interns have flown the coop! 🎓✈️ Last week on their final day, our 4 amazing summer interns wrapped up their journey with us in the best way possible. 🌟 Each of them crushed a final presentation, highlighting their biggest projects, proudest moments, and all the valuable skills they learned along the way. 📊💡 We are so incredibly proud of the hard work, fresh energy, and dedication they brought to the team every single day. 💛 While we hate saying goodbye, we know they are going to absolute rockstars in whatever they do next. 🌍🚀 Thank you all for a phenomenal summer, and good luck in your next chapters! 👋✨
🌟 Meet Natascha Butler, a phenomenal member of our team at Cornerstone Defense and here featured on our current Employee Spotlight!
⚙️ Natascha supports one of our clients as a Systems Engineer lending her expertise as a Vulnerability Analyst and ISSO. She spends her time scanning systems, analyzing vulnerabilities that are found during the scans and working with the Developers and other Engineers to mitigate those vulnerabilities.
🤝 This role requires her to function as the liaison between those Engineers and the ISSEs, CISO and other leaders in the organization when it comes to responding to explanations for a vulnerability finding and other cybersecurity related data calls and inquiries.
🎓 Prior to joining Cornerstone Defense, Natascha obtained her B.S. degree in Information Sciences and Systems from Morgan State University, affectionately known as the National Treasure, and later earned her Master’s Degree in Management Information Systems from Bowie State University.
💼 Over the years, she has held various positions in both the private and public sector which have garnered her a plethora of experience with:
📝 Technical writing
🔐 Creating and administering accounts
🛠️ Troubleshooting hardware, applications, and profile related issues
🔌 Patching cables and hardware installs for new site stand-ups
📊 Preparing for system audits
🛡️ Researched and gathering artifacts to administer a Plan of Action and Mitigation (POAM) for severe and critical vulnerabilities found on the network along with getting systems to Authority to Operate (ATO)
❤️ Natascha is family-oriented and loves people. She has never met a stranger and wants everyone to feel welcomed in her presence. In her spare time, she attends and serves in church as well as enjoys various genres of music, dancing, and all things summer.☀️
Our latest edition of the “Around the Corner” Newsletter just dropped! 📰✨
And this month, we asked our leadership team one burning question:
👉 “What does AI actually mean to Cornerstone?”
The answers? Diverse and unfiltered! 💥
We aren’t just looking at AI as a buzzword. We are looking at it through the lens of human potential, ethics, operational scaling, and the future of work.
Here is a sneak peek into how 5 of our team members view the artificial intelligence revolution shaping our industry. 👇
A few examples of how you’ll feel when we help you score this job! 🔥 Are you an HPC Software Engineer, or do you know one who might be a good fit? Check out the highlights of the job description, below, and reach out to us ASAP to get interviewing! 👇
📍 The Details
• Role: HPC Software Engineer (Mid-Career) 💻
• Location: Colorado Springs, CO (On-site) 🏔️
• Clearance: Active TS/SCI with Polygraph 🔒
• Salary: $140,000 - $230,000 💰
🚀 The Mission: Technical User Support (TUS)
• Time to Science: Help HPC users port, optimize, and parallelize codes. ⏱️
• Solutions: Design workflows, modeling, and simulation tools. 🛠️
• Mentorship: Guide junior engineers and lead code-review sessions. 🌟
• Training: Deliver workshops and tutorials on coding standards. 🎓
📚 What You Need (Basic Qualifications)
• Degree: Bachelor’s in a STEM discipline. 🔬
• Experience: 10+ years professional, 5+ years in modeling & simulation. 📆
• Languages: Fortran, C, and/or C++. 🔤
• Scripting: BASH and Korn. 🐚
• OS: Deep Linux operating system proficiency. 🐧
🌟 Bonus Points (Desired Skills)
• Tools: Git, CMake, Makefile, and JIRA. ⚙️
• Languages: Python and Perl. 🐍
• Advanced Tech: GPU programming (CUDA/OpenCL) and AI/ML. 🤖
Ever scan the horizon looking for your next big opportunity… only to have it literally appear in front of you? ☁️⛅😂 We hope this caught your eye like it caught ours! 👀👀👀 If you’re searching, check out some info on one of our hob jobs, this week, below!
Hot Job Highlights – Systems Engineer (TS/SCI + Poly Required):
Location: Chantilly, VA
Why Cornerstone Defense:
• Employer of Choice across Intelligence, Defense, and Space
• Culture built around supporting you while you support the mission
• Work/life balance, real impact, real growth
Benefits Snapshot:
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision
• Generous PTO
• 401(k), HSA/FSA options
• Tuition Reimbursement + Training
• Fitness Reimbursement
• Referral & Leads Generation Programs
• Lifelock, Travel Assistance, Legal & Financial Planning perks
Role Overview — Systems Engineer:
• Modernize and redesign a week‑long Systems Engineering training program
• Lead technical refresh of outdated course content
• Partner with instructional designers, multimedia, graphics, and SMEs
• Convert complex engineering concepts into engaging adult‑learning materials
• Support exercises, case studies, scenarios, assessments, and practical examples
• Coordinate requirements across technical teams and stakeholders
• Refine instructor guides, student guides, slide decks, job aids, and supporting documentation
Required Experience:
• Active TS/SCI + Poly
• 10+ years Systems Engineering experience
• Intelligence Community background
• Strong systems engineering lifecycle & requirements coordination experience
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts clearly
• Communication, collaboration, and organization skills
Bonus Points:
• Experience developing or delivering SE training
• Adult learning / instructional design familiarity (ADDIE, SAM, etc.)
• Modernizing technical training content
• Scenario-based learning experience
• Background in model-based SE, architecture frameworks, or requirements tools
• Prior instructor, SME, or course developer experience
