Security Operations Lead

Why AIS?

When you join AIS, you’re joining a mission-driven team that’s passionate about making a difference. You’ll work on projects that matter, alongside industry-leading experts, in an environment that fosters innovation, driving client success, and empowering our team to make a lasting impact. As an employee-owned company, we value collaboration, inclusivity, continuous growth, and shared success.

What are we looking for?

We're looking for driven individuals who are passionate about making a difference, eager to grow, and aligned with our core principles.

What you will be doing?

This position is contingent upon contract award. We are currently pursuing a proposal and are seeking qualified candidates to include in our submission and identify candidates for future hiring needs on the program once awarded.

Core Knowledge & Skills

• Develops enterprise security architectures, frameworks, and standards;
• Utilizes advanced forensics and integrates solutions with IT systems;
• Ensures integrity and scalability, develops comprehensive strategies, and optimizes solutions for performance and efficiency;
• Leads architectural teams, builds partnerships, manages knowledge, and communicates strategies and executive reports;
• Provides architectural consulting, leads innovation initiatives, evaluates enterprise technologies, and builds strategic partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and direct all security operations functions, including threat monitoring, detection, response, and remediation;
• Lead and mentor security analysts, penetration testers, and operations engineers to ensure effective cyber defense operations;
• Establish operational frameworks, runbooks, and governance processes that align with organizational security objectives;
• Implement and oversee all phases of CDM, including asset management, vulnerability management, identity and access control, and security posture monitoring;
• Define and maintain baselines for security tools to ensure proper configuration, tuning, and deployment;
• Continuously refine CDM capabilities to align with evolving threats and compliance standards;
• Enable security technologies across on-premises and cloud environments;
• Ensure security technologies are effectively integrated, optimized, and aligned with enterprise architecture;
• Recommend and implement innovative solutions to protect data throughout its lifecycle—creation, storage, processing, transmission, and destruction;
• Oversee and coordinate penetration testing activities, vulnerability assessments, and red team engagements;
• Evaluate emerging threats and security trends to inform strategy and defense enhancements;
• Ensure timely remediation and risk mitigation across environments;
• Partner with IT, engineering, compliance, and executive leadership to align security operations with business priorities;
• Provide executive-level reporting on threat posture, operational performance, and risk management outcomes;
• Serve as an escalation point for major incidents and complex security challenges.

Required For This Opportunity

• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field;
• Minimum 10 years of experience delivering security operations and penetration testing support;
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing and directing security operations teams;
• Extensive experience with:
• Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) execution;
• Enterprise security tool deployment, configuration, and baseline management;
• Data protection and lifecycle security strategies;
• Security architecture and engineering across hybrid environments;
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills;
• Clearance: Secret;
• Certifications (Mandatory): CISSP-ISSMP (Information Systems Security Management Professional), CISSP-ISSAP (Information Systems Security Architecture Professional);
• Preferred Certification: CNSE (Certified Network Security Engineer);
• Nice to Have Skills: Experience in highly regulated, federal, or mission-critical environments; Expertise with SIEM/SOAR platforms, endpoint protection tools, and advanced threat analytics; Knowledge of NIST frameworks, zero-trust architecture, and modern cyber defense methodologies.

Pay

The targeted base salary range for this role is $138,000-$209,000 per year. Please note that this range is provided as a guideline and the final offer will be based on several factors, including but not limited to, skillset and competencies, level of experience, education, certifications, and location.