Cyber Defense Operations Associate (2nd Shift) - Connecticut

Motion Recruitment; Farmington (CT); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Benefits

Vision Benefits

Paid Time Off (PTO)

401(k)

Job summary

Motion Recruitment is seeking a Cyber Defense Operations Associate for a 2nd shift in the Farmington, CT area. You will join a mature SOC, monitor security events, investigate threats, and help drive incident response efforts alongside experienced analysts and engineers.

The role targets recent cybersecurity graduates or early-career professionals seeking hands-on experience in threat detection, monitoring, and defense across networks, endpoints, and cloud systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, Mathematics, or related field
• CompTIA Security+ certification
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals
• Ability to analyze data from security, system, and firewall logs
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating within a team

Responsibilities

• Monitor and triage security alerts generated from enterprise systems and network infrastructure
• Investigate suspicious activity and determine next steps based on documented procedures
• Analyze events from firewalls, IDS/IPS, servers, endpoints, and cloud systems
• Escalate incidents to senior analysts and response teams
• Review and interpret security logs to identify anomalies and threats
• Collaborate with IT and cybersecurity stakeholders to defend operations
• Maintain case documentation and investigation records
• Contribute to improvements of procedures and playbooks

Skills

Cybersecurity fundamentals

Network concepts (TCP/IP)

Data/log analysis

Communication skills

Independent work with team

Education

Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity or related field

Tools

Splunk

Wireshark

tcpdump

Windows / Linux

Job description

Job Description A growing digital infrastructure and cyber risk organization is hiring a Cyber Defense Operations Associate (2nd Shift) to join a high-visibility security operations team supporting critical enterprise environments.

This position is ideal for recent cybersecurity graduates or early-career security professionals looking to gain hands‑on experience investigating security events, analyzing threats, and working inside a mature Security Operations Center (SOC). You'll partner with experienced analysts and engineers while building real‑world expertise across network security, event monitoring, threat detection, and incident response.

This is a long‑term contract opportunity with strong potential for extension and career growth. The team is looking for individuals who are naturally curious, highly analytical, and genuinely passionate about cybersecurity.

Work Arrangement

• Hybrid schedule (3 days onsite / 2 days remote)
• Farmington, CT area
• Evening/2nd Shift

Required Skills & Experience

• U.S. Citizen
• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, Mathematics, or related field
• CompTIA Security+ certification
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals
• Knowledge of TCP/IP networking concepts and network architecture
• Familiarity with Windows and/or Linux operating systems
• Ability to analyze data from security, system, and firewall logs
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow documented procedures
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team environment

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience with SIEM tools such as Splunk or similar monitoring platforms
• Exposure to packet analysis tools such as Wireshark or tcpdump
• Knowledge of endpoint security technologies
• Additional certifications including Network+, CySA+, CEH, GSEC, GCIH, AWS, Azure, or similar credentials
• Previous internship, lab, academic, military, or professional experience related to cybersecurity
• Interest in threat detection, incident response, and security monitoring

What You Will Be Doing Daily Responsibilities

• Monitor and triage security alerts generated from enterprise systems and network infrastructure
• Investigate suspicious activity and determine appropriate next steps based on documented response procedures
• Analyze events originating from firewalls, IDS/IPS platforms, servers, endpoints, and cloud-connected systems
• Escalate potential security incidents to senior analysts and response teams
• Review and interpret security logs to identify anomalies and emerging threats
• Collaborate with IT and cybersecurity stakeholders to support ongoing defense operations
• Maintain accurate case documentation and investigation records
• Assist with continuous improvement of operational procedures and playbooks

Breakdown

• 80% Security Monitoring & Investigation
• 10% Incident Escalation & Documentation
• 10% Team Collaboration & Process Improvement

The Offer

• 36-month contract opportunity
• Potential for extension or long-term conversion
• Exposure to enterprise-scale cybersecurity operations
• Opportunity to work alongside experienced cyber defense professionals
• Structured onboarding and mentorship environment
• Hybrid work schedule

You Will Receive The Following Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Benefits
• Vision Benefits
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401(k)

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis now and in the future. U.S. Citizenship is required for this position.

Posted By: Nick Ramler