SOC Analyst - Tier 1

Position Summary

The Tier 1 SOC Analyst provides first-line, around-the-clock monitoring of the Security Operations Center, performing initial triage and categorization of security alerts and escalating confirmed or ambiguous events.

Clearance

TS/SCI with CI Poly

Location

Ft. Meade, MD (Onsite)

Work Schedule and Conditions

Primary shift assignment within a 24/7/365 coverage model.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Continuously monitor SIEM, EDR, and network IDS/IPS dashboards.
• Perform initial triage and severity categorization of security events against an incident category schema.
• Open, update, and track tickets in the SOC case management system.
• Execute documented playbooks and standard operating procedures for common alert types and perform initial containment actions within the scope of Tier 1 authority.
• Escalate confirmed or ambiguous incidents to Tier 2 or the SOC Manager per the defined escalation path, and maintain complete, accurate shift logs and handover notes.
• Support routine vulnerability and compliance scan reviews, and assist with data calls for the SOC effectiveness metrics.

Required Education and Experience

• High school diploma required;
• Associate's degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related field preferred.
• Zero to two years of relevant IT or cybersecurity experience, or equivalent military training (e.g., Service cyber defense operator training).

Required Certifications

• DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level II certification (e.g., CompTIA Security+) required.

Salary Range

$88k - $118k depending on experience and shift