Computer Network Defense Analyst (CNDA) TS SCI + Polygraph

Aperio Global; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 95,000 - 243,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care plan

401k with match

Life insurance

PTO

Disability

Professional development

Additional benefits

Job summary

Aperio Global is hiring a Computer Network Defense Analyst (CNDA) in Fort Meade, MD. This role requires an active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph and involves defending, analyzing, and improving network security across multiple data transport methods.

The position offers a clear path to develop expertise in networking protocols, cloud security, IoT security, and advanced network defenses, with responsibilities spanning detection, analysis, and collaboration with stakeholder teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field is required or equivalent.
• Experience in design/development, information/cyber/network security, vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, forensics, information assurance, or systems engineering.
• Network or system administration experience preferred; foreign language ILR scores may satisfy experience requirements.

Responsibilities

• Use intrusion detection systems, firewalls, logs to identify vulnerabilities and defend against cyber events.
• Develop mitigations to strengthen network defenses and protect infrastructure devices.
• Work across wired, wireless, and collaboration platforms and the supporting hardware/software.
• Apply analytical methods to form hypotheses and derive insights from data.
• Document and share findings and tradecraft with teammates and stakeholders.
• Collaborate to align intelligence needs and mission relevance across the team.
• Advance expertise in networking protocols, cloud security, IoT protocols, and advanced network security.

Skills

Network security

Penetration testing

Information assurance

Cybersecurity

Network engineering

Systems engineering

Vulnerability analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Computer Network Defense Analyst (CNDA) – Fort Meade, MD

We are hiring a team of Computer Network Defense Analysts (CNDA) to support our IC program in Fort Meade, MD. This role requires an active TS/SCI clearance with an active polygraph.

Responsibilities

• Use information from intrusion detection systems, firewalls, network traffic logs, and host system logs to identify potential vulnerabilities, respond to cyber events, and defend against future events.
• Develop mitigations to strengthen network defenses and protect against attacks on network infrastructure devices or systems.
• Work across diverse data transport methods, including wired, wireless (Wi‑Fi, cellular), collaborative platforms such as video teleconferencing, and the hardware and software that support them.
• Apply analytical skills to form hypotheses, choose appropriate analysis techniques, query, merge, enrich, evaluate, and pivot within data to attain and share insights.
• Document, contextualize, and share findings—including new tradecraft— with teammates, stakeholders, and intelligence consumers.
• Collaborate with the team to develop shared understandings of intelligence needs, mission relevance, and areas of expertise.
• Advance your career by developing increasing expertise in networking protocols and architectures, cloud security, Internet of Things protocols, and advanced network security.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Network Engineering, Systems Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field (extended military cyber training courses may count toward the degree).
• Experience: design/development, programming, information/cyber/network security, vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, computer forensics, information assurance, or systems engineering.
• Network or system administration experience.
• Foreign language proficiency may satisfy experience requirements; recent ILR scores are required.
• Level of experience:
  • Level 1: ≥ 2 years
  • Level 2: ≥ 5 years
  • Level 3: ≥ 8 years
  • Level 4: ≥ 11 years
• Qualifications may be satisfied by an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Clearance

Current TS/SCI clearance with polygraph.

Salary

Anticipated Annual Salary Range for Levels 1‑4: $95,000‑$243,000. The salary range for this role represents Aperio’s good‑faith estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Placement within the range is based on multiple factors including qualifications, experience, education, certifications, and market conditions.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA) with 100% employer match up to 6%
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Professional Development
• More benefits available

Aperio Global is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce where all employees and applicants are treated with respect and fairness. Employment decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs—never on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, pregnancy/childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ethnicity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.