Cyber Security Watch Officer

Leidos; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 87,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

The Leidos Digital Modernization Sector has a current opportunity for a Mid-Shift Cyber Security Watch Officer (CSWO) at Ft. Meade, MD. The CSWO will triage events, handle incidents, perform network analysis and threat detection, and contribute to the DoD CSSP methodology.

The position offers a compressed 10-hour day schedule (4 on, 3 off) with day, swing, and mid-shift options. Key duties include supporting the DJOC Network Assurance team, coordinating with internal DISA elements, delivering

Qualifications

• BA degree or higher and 4+ years of experience; equivalent experience may be accepted.
• Active TS/SCI clearance required and CSSP-A certification within 180 days of start.
• Shift work Sunday-Wednesday; 24x7 readiness in a DoD cybersecurity environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist Battle Captain with cyber defense issues, indicators of compromise, and security posture.
• Provide oversight of security services and update SAS/KM tools and portals.
• Analyze operational reports and deliver daily situational awareness briefings.
• Report incidents and coordinate response across DISA and partner elements.
• Serve as Senior Defensive Cybersecurity SME during 24x7 operations.

Skills

CND experience

24x7 operations

Threat analysis

Team collaboration

Education

BA degree

Top Secret/SCI clearance

DoD-8570 IAT Level 2 baseline (Security+ CE)

CSSP-A certification within 180 days

Tools

CMDNet

DoD SA/KM tools

Job description

The Leidos Digital Modernization Sector has a current job opportunity for a Mid-Shift Cyber Security Watch Officer (CSWO) at Ft. Meade, MD

POSITION SUMMARY:

Serve as a Cyber Security Watch Officer (CSWO) on the DISA GSM-O II program supporting the DISA Joint Operations Center (DJOC) Network Assurance team. CSWOs are principally engaged in the triage of events, cyber incident handling, network analysis and threat detection, trend analysis, metric development, vulnerability information dissemination, and the DoD Cyber Security Service Provider (CSSP) methodology. This position offers a compressed workweek (10 hour/day 4 days on 3 days off) on a set Sunday through Wednesday schedule. (Day-shift hours: 5am-3pm. Swing-shift hours: 1pm-11pm. Mid-shift hours 9pm-7am).

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the DJOC Battle Captain with all Cyber Defense and Network Assurance issues to include making recommendations regarding Indicators of Compromise (IOC), malicious cyber activity, and the overall security posture of our networks.
• Provide technical oversight of information security services and customer support initiatives, by Updating DoD shared SA and knowledge management (KM) tools, including CMDNet, websites, blogs, and wikis, chat, collaboration tools, and portals.
• Consume and analyze operational reporting from cyber organizations; prepare and deliver daily situational awareness and operational update briefings, through the by coordinating with other cyber elements to obtain information for slide, briefings, presentations, or other SA products.
• Report DCO and incident management responses to network intrusions, malware, and other cyber events.
• Maintain awareness of all pertinent directives, orders, alerts, and messages to include the preparation and delivery of daily situational awareness and operational update briefings to DISA Senior Leadership.
• Oversee all network defense operations and be familiar with the operations process flow and execution. Coordinate and collaborate with internal DISA elements and mission partners to share the understanding and impact of day-to-day malicious cyber activity.
• Identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of a broad range of technical information. Use sound judgment to generate, evaluate, and execute alternative courses of action. Produce timely, effective, decision-quality technical recommendations to support senior leadership.
• Coordinate and ensure DoD incident handling reporting procedures are adhered to in accordance with (IAW) DoD, CJCS, USCC, and DISA guidance, regulations, and directives. Review Commander Joint Chiefs of Staff Manual (CJCSM) 6510: Cyber Incident Handling Program.
• Serve as Senior Defensive Cybersecurity SME during 24x7 operations. Requires the ability to think independently and make decisions/recommendations which will have an immediate effect on the security of our networks.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must hold a BA degree and 4+ years of experience. Additional experience may be accepted in lieu of degree.
• Must have an active Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
• Must have a DoD-8570 IAT Level 2 baseline certification (Security+ CE or equivalent) to start and must obtain CSSP-A certification within 180 days of start date.
• Willing to perform Shift Work –Sunday-Wednesday
• CND experience (Protect, Detect, Respond and Sustain) within a Computer Incident Response organization. Requires a deep understanding and the ability to apply cyber security related principles, theories, and concepts.
• Demonstrated understanding of the life cycle of network threats, attacks, attack vectors and methods of exploitation with an understanding of intelligence driven defense and/or Cyber Kill Chain methodology.
• Work independently and as part of a team to develop solutions to issues that are unclear and require deep technical knowledge.
• Experience in a 24x7 environment. This includes mentoring, training, and reviewing the work performed by more junior personnel.
• Experience recognizing situational awareness indicators and executing judgment of potential impact on mission operations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior Military IT or IC Experience
• Hands on Experience working with DoD Networks including NIPR and SIPR
• Performs well under pressure and has the ability to Multitask.
• Motivated, initiative driven person with strong written and verbal communication skills, replying to official communications via email or phone, with the ability to report or speak to complex technical reports on analytical findings.
• Demonstrated understanding of the life cycle of cybersecurity threats, attacks, attack vectors and understanding of intrusion set tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)

If you’re looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We’re not hiring followers. We’re recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We’re already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

October 7, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.