Cyber Defense Analyst II

Blue Origin LLC; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 91,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) match

Education support

Paid time off

Stock options

Parental leave

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Cyber Defense Analyst to monitor, investigate, and respond across classified enclaves, mission ground systems, and labs. This is a hands-on role where you will work with senior engineers to learn the environment and contribute to defensive operations.

You will triage events, conduct structured hunts, support audits, and help tune detections. Onsite in classified spaces with limited travel; citizenship and Top Secret clearance required.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in security operations or incident response.
• Experience with SIEM/EDR and Windows/Linux basics.
• Active TS/SCI with SCI eligibility and SAP access considerations at hire.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and triage security events across SIEM, EDR, network sensors, and logs.
• Investigate across host, network, and identity data to build a clear picture.
• Serve as first responder during incidents per playbooks and preserve evidence.
• Hunt and improve detections alongside senior team members.

Skills

Security operations

Incident response

System administration

Threat hunting

Tools

SIEM

EDR

Job description

Application close date:Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!The role is part of the In-Space Systems business unit, which is focused on addressing two of the most compelling challenges in spaceflight today: space infrastructure and increasing mobility on-orbit.Blue National Security (BNS) builds and operates space systems for the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. Someone has to be watching those systems continuously — and that's this role.We're looking for a Cyber Defense Analyst to monitor, investigate, and respond across BNS classified enclaves, mission ground systems, and labs. You'll work real events on real national security systems, and you'll do it alongside senior engineers who will teach you the environment rather than hand you a queue and walk away.This is a hands-on-keyboard role. You'll spend your days in consoles, terminals, and logging data. You'll also get your hands on the tooling itself, helping deploy sensors, onboard log sources, and tune detections under the direction of our senior engineers. That's how you'll learn this environment, and it's the fastest path to becoming the engineer who designs the next one.If you're coming off a military cyber protection team, a government SOC, or a service watch floor and you want to keep growing technically rather than get slotted into a ticket queue, this is a strong landing spot.What You'll DoMonitor and triage. Work security events and alerts across SIEM, EDR, network sensors, and audit logs. Determine what's noise, what's misconfiguration, and what warrants escalation.Investigate. Pull the threads — pivot across host, network, and identity data to build a picture of what actually happened, and document it clearly.Respond. Serve as first responder during incidents. Execute containment steps per playbook, preserve evidence, build timelines, and support senior engineers leading the response.Hunt. Participate in structured hunts, initially alongside senior team members and increasingly on your own hypotheses as you learn what \"normal\" looks like here.Support audit and insider threat review. Perform privileged user activity monitoring and audit log review in partnership with Security and Counterintelligence.Stand watch during mission events. Provide heightened monitoring coverage during launches, mission operations, and other critical windows.Get hands on the tooling. Assist with sensor deployment, log source onboarding, and agent rollout across enclaves under engineering direction.Tune and improve detections. Reduce false positives, validate rule coverage, and propose new detections based on what you find in the data.Improve the playbooks. Execute response procedures and flag every gap you hit — you'll be the first to find them, and your input drives the rewrites.Automate what you repeat. Script recurring triage, enrichment, and reporting tasks. We'll help you build this skill if you don't have it yet.Required Qualifications2+ years of hands-on experience in security operations, incident response, IT operations, or system administration or equivalent military/government cyber experienceWorking knowledge of network protocols and Windows and Linux fundamentalsFamiliarity with SIEM and EDR concepts and the ability to investigate events using themUnderstanding of common attack techniques and exposure to the MITRE ATT&CK frameworkClear, concise written communication — your investigation notes will be read by senior staff and government customersGenuine curiosity and the instinct to keep pulling on a thread when something doesn't add upActive U.S. Government Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and eligibility for SAP access determination; U.S. citizenshipDoD 8140 CSSP Analyst or IAT Level II certification (Security+ CE or equivalent) at hire or within [6] monthsA degree is not required. Equivalent military, government, or hands-on technical experience is fully accepted.Preferred QualificationsPrior military cyber experience (17C, 1B4, CTN, 1721, or equivalent) or CPT/CST assignmentAny scripting exposure — Python, PowerShell, or BashQuery language familiarity — KQL, SPL, or similarPrior work in classified DoD or IC environmentsExposure to forensics, malware triage, or detection rule developmentSecurity+, CySA+, GSEC, GCIH, or similarActive TS/SCI with polygraphWhy This RoleMost early-career defensive cyber jobs are queue jobs. You close tickets, escalate anything interesting, and learn very little about the systems you're supposedly defending.This team is small enough that you can't be siloed. You'll sit next to the engineers building the enclaves, help deploy the sensors you'll be watching, and see your tuning recommendations go live. When you find a gap during a hunt, you'll be in the room when we decide how to close it.We're hiring at this level specifically to grow people into senior engineers. If that's the trajectory you want, we'll be explicit about what it takes and invest accordingly.LogisticsOnsite in classified spaces; no telework by nature of the roleHeightened coverage expectations during launches and mission-critical eventsLimited travel, up to 10%Must be able to obtain and maintain access to classified facilities; periodic polygraph may be requiredBase Pay Range for:CO applicants is $90,934.00 - $127,307.25WA applicants is $99,201.00 - $138,880.35Other site ranges may differCulture StatementDon’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.Export Control RegulationsApplicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.Background CheckRequired for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background CheckRequired for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installationRequired for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physicalBenefitsBenefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.Equal Employment OpportunityBlue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws.Affirmative Action and Disability AccommodationApplicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail] . Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.