NOC/SOC Lead

About the role

The Defense Sector at Leidos is seeking a cleared NOC/SOC Lead to direct combined network and security operations supporting Department of Defense (DoD) information systems, with primary emphasis on the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and the Authorization to Operate (ATO) lifecycle. This individual will lead operations staff across monitoring, incident response, and vulnerability management while ensuring daily operations produce the evidence, compliance posture, and continuous monitoring outputs required to obtain and sustain system authorizations. The NOC/SOC Lead will serve as the operational bridge between engineering teams, ISSMs/ISSOs, and the Authorizing Official (AO).

Responsibilities

• RMF & ATO Lifecycle: Lead operational support for all RMF steps, from categorization and control selection through assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring. Coordinate with ISSMs/ISSOs to build, update, and maintain ATO packages in eMASS, ensuring artifacts reflect the current operational state of the system. Own the POA&M process for operations‑related findings, track remediation, validate closure evidence, and escalate overdue items. Prepare operations teams for ATO assessments, reauthorizations, and cyber inspections (e.g., CCORI), and lead remediation of resulting findings. Assess the security impact of proposed changes and ensure Configuration Control Board (CCB) decisions are reflected in authorization documentation.
• Continuous Monitoring & Compliance: Execute the system ConMon strategy, ensuring scheduled vulnerability scans, STIG checks, and audit log reviews are completed and documented. Oversee ACAS scanning cadence and vulnerability remediation timelines in accordance with IAVM, TASKORD, and OPORD directives. Produce compliance metrics and risk posture reporting for government leadership and the AO.
• Operations Leadership: Direct day‑to‑day NOC and SOC operations, including network health monitoring, security event triage, and service restoration. Lead incident response activities, coordinate with the CSSP, and ensure timely and accurate incident reporting. Develop and maintain SOPs, runbooks, shift turnover procedures, and escalation matrices. Supervise, schedule, and mentor NOC/SOC analysts and technicians; identify training needs and support staff certification compliance.
• Coordination & Governance: Serve as the primary operations liaison to ISSMs, ISSOs, SCAs, engineering teams, and government stakeholders. Participate in CCB meetings and security reviews, representing operational risk and supportability considerations. Drive continuous improvement of operational processes, tooling, and automation to reduce compliance burden and response times.

Required Qualifications

• Clearance: US Citizen with at least an active Top Secret clearance and the ability to obtain a SCI prior to start date.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree with 12+ years of experience or a Master’s degree with 10+ years of experience (additional experience may substitute for a degree).
• Certifications: DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level III or IAM Level II certification.
• Experience: 10+ years of combined IT/IS experience, including substantial hands‑on RMF and ATO work and at least 3 years leading cybersecurity operations teams.
• RMF & ATO Expertise: Working knowledge of DoDI 8510.01, NIST SP 800‑37, and NIST SP 800‑53 controls; proven experience developing and maintaining ATO packages in eMASS (SSPs, control implementation statements, artifacts); ability to manage POA&Ms, risk acceptance documentation, and continuous monitoring strategies; experience supporting ATO assessments, reauthorizations, and SCA validation activities.
• Operations Expertise: Experience with enterprise monitoring and SIEM platforms, incident response workflows, and DoD compliance tooling (ACAS/Nessus, STIG Viewer, SCAP Compliance Checker, Evaluate‑STIG); working knowledge of DoD incident handling and reporting requirements.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to supervise multi‑shift operations staff, manage escalations, and communicate risk clearly to technical and senior government audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Clearance: Active TS/SCI.
• RMF Certification: ISC2 CGRC or equivalent governance, risk, and compliance credential.
• CSSP Certification: DoD 8570/8140 CSSP Analyst or Incident Responder certification (e.g., CySA+, GCIH, GCIA).
• Classified Authorization: Experience authorizing classified systems under ICD 503 (IC) or the Joint SAP Implementation Guide (JSIG).
• Continuous ATO: Exposure to continuous ATO (cATO) initiatives, DevSecOps pipelines, or automated control inheritance.
• Zero Trust: Familiarity with the DoD Zero Trust Strategy and mapping ZT capabilities to RMF controls.
• Endpoint & Security Tools: Experience with Trellix/HBSS, Tanium, or comparable endpoint security and asset management platforms.
• ITSM: Experience with ITIL‑based service management and ticketing platforms.

Pay Range

$116,350.00 – $210,325.00. The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, market data, applicable bargaining agreements, or other legal considerations.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. Leidos crafts compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, health and wellness programs, income protection, paid leave, and retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.