The Cornerstone Defense culture is based upon the concept that our employees are the foundation of our business. We support our Customers’ needs of providing mission focused individuals by engaging our employees in meaningful positions, training, social events, and both civic and philanthropic event participation. We reach the best mission outcome for our Customers by prioritizing our well-balanced and motivated workforce and their values. Every person at Cornerstone Defense is a valued member of our team and at the heart of our culture is the belief that when you are happy, empowered, and encouraged to grow, everyone benefits.
Everyone at Cornerstone Defense realizes the importance of giving back to their community. Our company began as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small business and in light of that, we support several Veteran based charitable organizations. As we continue to grow as a company, we are always looking for ways to give back to the community by participating in various annual events, raising money and awareness for these worthy causes.
Cornerstone Defense is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment for all employees and to upholding diversity in our recruiting and hiring processes. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, age, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
A quick overview into some of our great benefits at Cornerstone Defense:
Cornerstone Defense’s self-paced and self-study online courses are helpful in not only gaining knowledge, but many are also geared towards specific industry certifications and degrees. These zero-cost to employee offerings are comprised of over 7,000 hours of technical, IT related courses, covering all aspects and career paths from Security to Engineering. In the event you can’t find a certification or education training track within our SkillSets online portal, Cornerstone Defense also offers reimbursement for many other types of professional certifications, continuing education, and training programs.
We are happy to share about the meaning of our Culture at Cornerstone Defense, but we are thrilled when an employee can share the same sentiment. Here’s a recent review from our Cornerstone Defense Glassdoor page that we hope gives insight into working at Cornerstone:
“Working at Cornerstone Defense has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the way this company treats its employees. From the moment I joined, it was evident that employee well-being is a top priority here. One of the standout features of working at Cornerstone is the emphasis on creating a positive work environment through various employee events and initiatives. Whether it’s team-building activities, wellness programs, or celebratory events, there’s always something happening to foster camaraderie and boost morale among the staff. These events not only create a sense of belonging but also contribute to a happier and more cohesive workplace. Moreover, I am truly impressed by Cornerstone’s commitment to giving back to the community through its charitable contributions. It’s heartwarming to see the company actively involved in supporting meaningful causes, and it instills a sense of pride in being part of an organization that values social responsibility. What sets Cornerstone apart is the accessibility and approachability of top management. Unlike some companies where senior leadership feels distant or unapproachable, here, the top managers are not only accessible but also genuinely interested in hearing from employees at all levels. They actively solicit feedback, listen to our ideas, and take proactive steps to implement positive changes based on employee input. Furthermore, Cornerstone is committed to fostering a culture of fairness and transparency. I appreciate how decisions are made with fairness and equity in mind, and everyone’s contributions are recognized and valued. This creates a sense of trust and mutual respect among colleagues, which ultimately leads to a more harmonious and productive work environment. In summary, working at Cornerstone has been an enriching journey characterized by a supportive work culture, meaningful employee engagement initiatives, and a genuine commitment to making a positive impact both within the organization and in the broader community. I feel fortunate to be part of such a forward-thinking and employee-centric company.”
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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
Intern series, part 2! 🌟 Our other two interns, Rachel and Grier, are making the most of their summer experience.
Here is what they are looking forward to:
Rachel: Applying her school knowledge to real business scenarios across accounting, finance, and contracts. 📈
Grier: Networking with highly qualified government contracting candidates and discovering how a business operates behind the scenes. 🤝
👉 Scroll through the photo slides to learn more about them and what brought them here! Don’t forget to drop a 👏 in the comments to give them some intern appreciation!
Summer is heating up, and so are our amazing internship projects! ☀️💼 We are absolutely thrilled to spotlight two of our fantastic summer interns, Zach and Katherine.
From day one, their fresh perspectives and drive to learn have brought so much energy to the team. 🚀 We can’t wait to see the impact they’ll continue to make!
Curious about what they are working on, their favorite coffee orders, and what brought them here? 👇
👉 Swipe through the pictures to get to know Zach and Katherine better, and drop a 👏 in the comments to give them some intern appreciation!
We work hard, but we know how to celebrate our mission! 🥂✨ So grateful for this incredible crew at our recent team dinner. We are expanding our amazing team and looking for a new rockstar to join us!
Are you a cyber mastermind with an active TS/SCI w/ Poly? If you want to tackle the nation’s toughest security challenges with Cornerstone Defense, we need to talk! 🚀🛡️
🕵️♂️ The Role: Lead Cyber Systems Engineer | Linthicum Heights, MD
💸 The Pay: $230K - $250K
Here’s what you’ll be doing:
• 🛡️ Defensive Magic: Use an offensive cyber mindset to assess DOD systems, hunt vulnerabilities, and secure architectures.
• 🤝 Lead & Inspire: Mentor and lead senior systems engineers, helping them crush their goals!
• 🏗️ Architect the Future: Build zero-trust frameworks, evaluate contractor proposals, and shape acquisition documents.
• 🌟 Mission Champion: Build strong relationships with our customers to drive mission success.
What you need to bring to the table:
• 📜 The Badge: Active TS/SCI w/ Polygraph (Required)
• 🧠 The Brains: Relevant STEM BS/MS + 15 years of systems engineering experience (including 6 years in a lead role).
• 🔒 The Skills: Zero Trust experience (INCOSE and NIST knowledge are huge pluses)!
In return, you get an epic benefits package including generous PTO, top-tier medical/dental/vision, 401(k), tuition reimbursement, and so much more! 🌟
Ready to take your career to the next level with an Employer of Choice? Send me a message, or apply directly through Cornerstone Defense Careers to join our growing family! 📥👇
