Cyber Blue Team Analyst

About the role

The Mission Concepts and Capabilities (MCC) Division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Cyber Blue Team Analyst to conduct cyber assessments of vulnerabilities of critical U.S. and Allied systems, networks, infrastructures, and assets. Our team supports the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Nuclear Enterprise Support Directorate (NE)’s Mission Assurance Department (MA) program.

Responsibilities

• Identify risks that may lead to mission loss or degradation and provide recommendations for risk reduction based on DoD Mission Assurance Assessment benchmarks.
• Assess the vulnerability and risk to assets, including examining telecommunications and cyber space operations.
• Develop recommendations to remediate system vulnerabilities, providing a balanced look at mission survivability of key DoD facilities.
• Perform assessments from an adversarial viewpoint to identify weaknesses, test and evaluate protection strategies, and demonstrate exploitation of identified vulnerabilities.
• Support up to 10 assessments per year that range from one to six weeks in duration, from start to submission.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, information technology, computer engineering, electrical engineering or related discipline and 4 years of experience. 10 years commensurate experience can serve as a substitute for degree requirements.
• Current DoD Top Secret clearance and the ability to obtain SCI access.
• Active certifications required – IAT II as described in DoDD 8570.01 and CSSP Auditor.
• Demonstrated experience with Linux environments (Red Hat, CentOS, Ubuntu).
• Understanding of information technology threats, and cybersecurity practices.
• Hands-on experience with security monitoring, threat hunting, packet analysis, malware analysis, signature development, and/or shell scripting.
• Hands-on experience with network monitoring and packet inspection tools.
• Programming experience (Perl, Python, C, etc.).

Desired Qualifications

• Possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to operate the advanced cyber analytical toolkit and perform required assessments.
• Possess working knowledge of DoD’s IT system and network certification and accreditation processes to include system security authorization agreements.
• Experience conducting Information Operations Computer Network Defense/Exploitation assessments.
• Experience with firewalls and network TAP technologies.
• Experience installing, configuring, administering software applications.
• Experience troubleshooting problems with software and hardware.
• Experience configuring, managing and maintaining networking equipment.
• Working knowledge of Department of Defense’s Information Assurance.
• Experience in Vulnerability Alert processes.
• Working knowledge of Computer Network vulnerability/compliance analysis software.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Range: From $120,000.00 - $135,000.00 per year based on years of experience, degree and any special skills and knowledge that they may bring to the position. ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/.