Security Operations Engineer – Senior

C3EL; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

C3EL is hiring a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer in Washington, DC to provide technical leadership in securing systems. This role covers designing and maintaining cybersecurity solutions, overseeing risk management, conducting vulnerability assessments, and enforcing security policies. The ideal candidate should hold an IAT Level III or IAM Level II certification, possess over 8 years of relevant experience, and demonstrate strong analytical and communication skills. This position is open to U.S. citizens only.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Current IAT Level III or IAM Level II certification (e.g., CISSP, CASP+ CE).
• 8+ years of experience in cybersecurity or related field.
• Experience with risk management frameworks like RMF.
• Familiarity with cloud environments like AWS or Azure.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain cybersecurity solutions.
• Perform vulnerability assessments and risk analyses.
• Monitor systems for security incidents.
• Develop and enforce security policies and procedures.
• Collaborate to integrate security controls in architectures.

Skills

Analytical skills

Troubleshooting skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

Nessus

SIEM

IDS/IPS

Endpoint protection tools

Job description

Job Title

Cybersecurity Engineer – Senior

Location

Washington, DC

Eligibility

Due to the nature of the work and contract requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.

Description

C3EL is seeking a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer to support security initiatives in Washington, DC. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining secure systems and ensuring the protection of organizational assets. The selected candidate will provide technical leadership across security architecture, risk management, and continuous monitoring efforts.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain cybersecurity solutions aligned with industry frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001).
• Perform vulnerability assessments, security control reviews, and risk analyses.
• Monitor systems for security incidents and support incident response and remediation efforts.
• Develop and enforce security policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Configure and manage security tools (e.g., SIEM, IDS/IPS, endpoint protection).
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate security controls into system architectures.
• Conduct security audits and support continuous monitoring activities.
• Maintain security documentation, including system security plans and risk tracking.
• Provide technical guidance to junior cybersecurity staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Current IAT Level III or IAM Level II certification (e.g., CISSP, CASP+ CE, or equivalent).
• 8+ years of experience in cybersecurity, information security, or a related field.
• Experience with risk management frameworks (e.g., RMF, NIST-based approaches).
• Experience with vulnerability assessment tools (e.g., Nessus or similar).
• Knowledge of security architecture and network security principles.
• Experience with security tools such as SIEM, IDS/IPS, and endpoint protection.
• Familiarity with Windows, Linux, and cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or similar).
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in enterprise environments.
• Familiarity with compliance and risk tracking tools.
• Experience with Zero Trust concepts.
• Scripting or automation experience (e.g., Python, PowerShell).
• Experience with DevSecOps or container security.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field preferred, OR an Associate’s degree plus ten (10) years of recent specialized experience, OR 12 years of recent specialized experience.