McCrary Research & Development Lab Manager

Position Details
Position Information

Requisition Number	S5042P
Home Org Name	Charles D. McCrary Institute at AU
Division Name	Samuel Ginn Col of Engineering
Position Title	McCrary Research & Development Lab Manager
Job Class Code	JA34
Appointment Status	Full-time
Part-time FTE
Limited Term	Yes
Limited Term Length
Job Summary	This position will be located on the campus at Auburn University. The Charles D. McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University seeks an accomplished technical leader to serve as McCrary Research & Development Lab Manager. Reporting to the Senior Technical & Lab Director, this position manages R & D personnel and tested operations in the McCrary’s Edge Lab, serving as the Institute’s national proving ground for cybersecurity assurance, independent, and real-world resilience testing. The Manager is responsible for designing, leading, and delivering complex research projects that test, measure, and strengthen the cybersecurity of America’s most critical systems. This role directly supports current and developing programs with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Department of War (DoW), Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Secret Service (USSS), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The position also collaborates with DOE national laboratories (ORNL, INL, and PNNL) and private-sector technology leaders in cybersecurity, operational technology (OT), and AI assurance and other innovation partners advancing the security of critical infrastructure systems. Why Join McCrary? The McCrary Institute is dedicated to defending the systems that power our national and economic security, our communities, and our way of life. Through its Edge Lab, McCrary integrates policy, research, and field operations to deliver trusted solutions that secure America’s critical infrastructure. By leading McCrary’s R &D, you will shape the national standard for how cybersecurity solutions are tested, validated, and deployed—driving measurable impact on resilience across sectors that matter most to our nation’s future.
Essential Functions	Manage the lab as McCrary’s center for independent cybersecurity testing, evaluation, and assurance across operational technology (OT), cyber security, hybrid cloud system, information technology (IT), and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Direct projects and use case testing under the Southeast Region Cybersecurity Collaboration Center (SERC3), focusing on energy, water, communications, transportation and critical infrastructure resilience. Design and execute adversary-informed testing, red/blue team exercises, zero-trust pilots, and continuity-under-compromise evaluations. Develop and maintain rigorous methodologies for OT/ICS, AI/ML development, RF/communications systems, and multi-domain cyber tools. Lead technical execution for programs including DOE/SERC3, USSS Forensics, DOT/FTA RF Toolkit, and USDA/State Program Hygiene Tools, ensuring deliverables meet sponsor expectations. Produce authoritative technical reports, playbooks, and findings that inform both operational sponsors and national policy discussions. Strengthen partnerships with national laboratories, AI and cybersecurity technology companies, and industry consortia to advance standards-based R&D operations. Represent McCrary as the R&D authority at technical working groups, industry forums, and federal program reviews. Mentor engineers, analysts, and student researchers engaged in R&D and testing programs. Support capture and proposal development by providing technical insight into test design, frameworks, and performance measurement. Performs other duties as assigned.
Why Work at Auburn?	Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world. Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education. We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance. Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches. A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged. Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications	Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or a closely related field and 7 years of in cloud systems, cybersecurity testing, software development and network systems.

Minimum Skills, License, and Certifications

Minimum Skills and Abilities	Deep technical expertise across multiple domains: cloud, dev-ops, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure tools, and software development. Strong command of R&D and test methodologies, frameworks, and compliance standards. Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, operating within agile frameworks, translate sponsor priorities into actionable plans, and produce defensible, high-quality outputs. Demonstrated experience coordinating across cybersecurity or resilience programs. Exceptional technical writing, customer facing presentations and briefing skills for both executive and technical audiences.
Minimum Technology Skills
Minimum License and Certifications

Desired Qualifications

Desired Qualifications	Experience working with DOE national laboratories, CISA regional offices, or DoD test and evaluation programs. Familiarity with ICS cyber range development, emulation environments, and AI-driven threat modeling. Certifications such as CISSP, GICSP, or PMP.

Posting Detail Information

Salary Range	$104,030 - $208,060
Job Category	Research
Working Hours if Non-Traditional
City position is located in:	Auburn
State position is located:	Alabama
List any hazardous conditions or physical demands required by this position
Posting Date	01/29/2026
Closing Date
Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement	It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit their website to learn more.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Quick Link for Internal Postings	https://www.auemployment.com/postings/58035