Cyber Security Watch Officer

Leidos; Odenton (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Swing-Shift Cyber Security Watch Officer (CSWO) to support the DISA GSM-O II program at Fort Meade, MD. The role focuses on triage of events, incident handling, network analysis, and threat detection within a 24x7 security operations context.

Responsibilities include advising on IOCs, updating KM tools, delivering daily SA briefings, and coordinating with DISA partners to strengthen defense posture. A TS/SCI clearance and DoD 8140 certifications are required.

Qualifications

• BA degree and 2+ years of related experience; additional experience accepted in lieu of degree.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• DoD-8140 WRC 511 Intermediate certification to start.
• Experience in cyber defense and incident handling within a Computer Incident Response organization.
• Familiarity with cyber threat life cycles and cyber kill chain methodology.

Responsibilities

• Triage events, handle cyber incidents, analyze threats, and support the DJOC Network Assurance team.
• Provide technical oversight of information security services and update DoD shared SA/KM tools.
• Prepare daily situational awareness briefings and coordinate with cyber elements for SA products.
• Report DCO and incident responses to intrusions, malware, and other cyber events.
• Maintain awareness of directives and deliver briefings to DISA leadership.
• Oversee network defense operations and collaborate with internal DISA elements and partners.
• Identify problems, evaluate information, and provide timely, decision‑quality recommendations.
• Ensure DoD incident handling reporting procedures are followed per DoD/JCS/DISA guidance.
• Serve as Defensive Cybersecurity Watch Officer during 24x7 operations.

Skills

BA degree

2+ years experience

Top Secret/SCI clearance

DoD-8140 WRC 511 Intermediate

CND experience

24x7 operations experience

Education

BA degree

Tools

CMDNet

KM tools

Blogs

Wikis

Collaboration tools

Job description

Description

The Leidos Digital Modernization Sector has a current job opportunity for a Swing-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 on a set Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday schedule. (Day-shift hours: 5am-3pm. Swing-shift hours: 1pm-11pm. Mid-shift hours 9pm-7am).

Primary Responsibilities

• Support the DJOC Battle Captain and senior CSWOs 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.
• Assist senior CSWOs in providing 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.
• Support the senior CSWOs in overseeing all network defense operations and become 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 Defensive Cybersecurity Watch Officer during 24x7 operations. Requires the ability to independently analyze security events, formulate response strategies, and deliver timely, well‑reasoned recommendations to senior CSWOs and leadership to protect and defend network assets.

Basic Qualifications

• Must hold a BA degree and 2+ years of experience. Additional experience will be accepted in lieu of degree.
• Must have an active Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
• Must have a DoD-8140 WRC 511 Intermediate certification (see list below for acceptable certifications) to start.
• CND experience (Protect, Detect, Respond and Sustain) within a Computer Incident Response organization.
• Familiarity with 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 as part of a team to develop solutions to issues that are unclear and require technical knowledge.
• Experience in a 24x7 environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior Military IT or IC Experience
• Hands on Experience working with DoD Networks including NIPR and SIPR
• Willing to perform Shift Work – Swing-shift hours: 1pm-11pm. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.
• 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)

WRC 511 Intermediate Certifications

• CEH(P)
• GMON
• GRID
• Cloud+
• FITSP-O
• GCED
• GDSA
• GSEC
• PenTest+
• Security+

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

August 20, 2026

Pay Range

Pay Range $69,550.00 - $125,725.00

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.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay And Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.