Cyber Network Defense Analyst IV AP

Nightwing; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 122,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k plan

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Job summary

Nightwing is seeking a Cyber Network Defense Analyst to support a U.S. Government customer in Arlington, VA. The role focuses on onsite incident response, threat detection, and rapid containment of cyber threats within critical infrastructure environments.

Responsibilities include analyzing traffic, validating alerts with enterprise teams, and developing signature-based defenses. Candidates should have TS/SCI clearance, 8+ years of relevant experience, and strong packet-level analysis skills.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Active TS/SCI clearance required.
• Ability to obtain DHS EOD suitability.
• 8+ years of cyber defense experience.
• Experience developing and deploying signatures.
• Experience detecting intrusions with tools (e.g., Snort).
• Experience incident handling methodologies.
• Experience protocol analyzers and packet-level analysis.

Responsibilities

• Characterize and analyze network traffic to identify threats.
• Coordinate with cyber defense staff to validate alerts.
• Document and escalate incidents with history, status, and impact.
• Perform cyber defense trend analysis and reporting.
• Perform event correlation to gain situational awareness.
• Provide daily summaries of network events relevant to defense.
• Analyze alerts to determine causes and required actions.
• Use defense tools for continuous monitoring of system activity.
• Reconstruct malicious activity from network traffic.
• Assist in constructing signatures for threats.

Skills

Cyber defense analysis

Intrusion detection

Signature development

Incident handling methodologies

Trend analysis

Education

BS in Computer Science, Cyber Security, or Computer Engineering

HS Diploma + 10 years network investigations

Tools

Snort

Carnegie Mellon SiLK tool suite

Job description

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers’ most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets.

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers’ most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets.

Nightwing is supporting a U.S. Government customer to provide support for onsite incident response to civilian Government agencies and critical asset owners who experience cyber-attacks, providing immediate investigation and resolution. Contract personnel perform investigations to characterize of the severity of breaches, develop mitigation plans, and assist with the restoration of services. Nightwing is seeking a Cyber Network Defense Analyst to support this critical customer mission.

Responsibilities

• Characterize and analyze network traffic to identify anomalous activity and potential threats to network resources
• Coordinate with enterprise-wide cyber defense staff to validate network alerts
• Document and elevate incidents (including event's history, status, and potential impact for further action) that may cause ongoing and immediate impact to the environment
• Perform cyber defense trend analysis and reporting
• Perform event correlation using information gathered from a variety of sources within the enterprise to gain situational awareness and determine the effectiveness of an observed attack
• Provide daily summary reports of network events and activity relevant to cyber defense practices
• Receive and analyze network alerts from various sources within the enterprise and determine possible causes of alerts
• Provide timely detection, identification, and alerting of possible attacks/intrusions, anomalous activities, and misuse activities and distinguish these incidents and events from benign activities
• Use cyber defense tools for continual monitoring and analysis of system activity to identify malicious activity
• Analyze identified malicious activity to determine weaknesses exploited, exploitation methods, effects on system and information
• Identify and analyze anomalies in network traffic using metadata
• Validate intrusion detection system (IDS) alerts against network traffic using packet analysis tools
• Identify applications and operating systems of a network device based on network traffic
• Reconstruct a malicious attack or activity based off network traffic
• Identify network mapping and operating system (OS) fingerprinting activities
• Assist in the construction of signatures which can be implemented on cyber defense network tools in response to new or observed threats within the network environment or enclave

Required Skills/Clearances

• U.S. Citizenship
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Ability to obtain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry on Duty (EOD) Suitability

• 8+ years of direct relevant experience in cyber defense analysis using leading edge technologies and industry standard cyber defense tools-

• Experience successfully developing and deploying signatures
• Experience detecting host and network-based intrusions via intrusion detection technologies (e.g., Snort)
• Experience implementing incident handling methodologies
• Experience implementing protocol analyzers
• Experience collecting data from a variety of cyber defense resources
• Experience reading and interpreting signatures (e.g. snort)
• Experience performing packet-level analysis
• Experience conducting trend analysis

Desired Skills

• Python programming experience
• Strong math and science background
• Experience with Carnegie Mellon SiLK tool suite

Required Education

BS Computer Science, Cyber Security, Computer Engineering, or related degree; or HS Diploma & 10 years of network investigations experience. Desired Certifications:

• GNFA
• GCIH
• GCIA
• GSEC
• CASP+
• CySA+
• PaLMS
• FedVTE
• GSEC (SANS401)
• Arcsight (or other SEIM solution)
• Network+
• Security+

Arlington, VA

Salary & Benefits

The salary associated with this position ($122,000-$253,000) is commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications, years of relevant experience, and demonstrated level of expertise. Compensation will be determined based on these factors to ensure alignment with skills, responsibilities, and market standards.

• Nightwing offers medical, vision and dental insurance coverage in addition to a 401k plan, PTO, Holidays, and additional insurances.

Nightwing is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.