IT Security Analyst

Kairos Power; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 109,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Kairos Power is seeking an IT Security Analyst II to strengthen security across multi-site, hybrid IT infrastructure, on-premises systems, and SaaS platforms. You will monitor, respond to incidents, manage vulnerabilities, and administer security controls in a regulated environment.

The role requires hands-on security operations experience in a medium-to large-scale setup, familiarity with NIST 800-171/CMMC, and preferred certifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or related field, or equivalent.
• 4+ years of IT security/cybersecurity operations experience.
• Hands-on experience with SIEM platforms, endpoint detection and response tools, vulnerability scanners, firewalls, and ticketing systems.
• Experience supporting identity, access, and endpoint security technologies (Microsoft 365, Entra ID, SSO, MFA).
• Familiarity with NIST 800-171, CMMC, ISO 27001 or similar frameworks; professional certs like Security+, CySA+, GSEC, SSCP preferred.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze activity across networks, systems, cloud, and SaaS for incidents.
• Configure and onboard systems into the enterprise SIEM and validate log collection.
• Analyze alerts from SIEM/EDR/firewalls and escalate as needed.
• Investigate and document security incidents; coordinate containment and remediation.
• Perform vulnerability management activities and track remediation.
• Collaborate with IT infrastructure to assess and resolve security risks.
• Maintain and enforce security policies, controls, and evidence.
• Support audits, compliance reviews, and control assessments.
• Administer security controls (IAM, MFA, encryption, remote access).
• Review user access and enforce least-privilege and zero-trust principles.
• Support security awareness and maintain incident/detection metrics.
• Coordinate with vendors and MSPs; stay updated on threats and regulations.

Skills

SIEM monitoring

Incident response

Vulnerability management

Identity & access management

Zero-trust

NIST/CMMC familiarity

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Cybersecurity

Equivalent work experience

Tools

Microsoft 365

Entra ID

SSO tooling

MFA tooling

Endpoint security tools

Job description

Alameda, CA, Albuquerque, NM, Oak Ridge, TN or Remote

Company Overview

Kairos Power is a new nuclear energy technology and engineering company whose mission is to enable the world's transition to clean energy, with the ultimate goal to dramatically improve people’s quality of life while protecting the environment. This goal will be accomplished through the commercialization of the fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (FHR) that can be deployed with robust safety, affordable costs, and flexible operation to accommodate the expansion of variable renewables.

Job Summary

We are searching for an IT Security Analyst II to support and strengthen the security, monitoring, and compliance of our multi-site, hybrid corporate IT infrastructure, on-premises systems, and SaaS application platforms. This role will independently perform security monitoring, vulnerability management, incident response, policy and control administration, and compliance activities within established cybersecurity programs and procedures. The role will collaborate with IT infrastructure, application owners, business teams, and external service providers to identify, assess, and remediate cybersecurity risks. The ideal candidate will have hands-on cybersecurity operations experience in a medium- or enterprise-scale environment, preferably within a highly regulated industry or an organization subject to NIST 800-171, CMMC, or similar security frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Independently monitor and analyze activity across computer networks, systems, cloud platforms, and SaaS applications for suspicious activity and potential security incidents.
• Configure and onboard supported IT systems and appliances into the enterprise SIEM, including validating log collection and supporting detection and investigation capabilities.
• Analyze, investigate, and respond to SIEM, endpoint protection, firewall, identity, and access management alerts, escalating complex or high-risk events as appropriate.
• Investigate and document routine and moderately complex security incidents; coordinate containment and remediation activities and escape as appropriate.
• Perform vulnerability management activities, including scanning, analysis, prioritization, reporting, and remediation tracking through closure.
• Work with IT infrastructure teams to identify, assess, prioritize, and resolve network, endpoint, cloud, and application security risks.
• Apply and support the maintenance and enforcement of internal IT security policies and procedures, including data handling, acceptable use, access control, and incident response.
• Perform assigned audit, compliance review, evidence collection, and control assessment activities against applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Administer and monitor assigned security controls for firewalls, endpoint protection, encryption, identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, and secure remote access.
• Review user access, permissions, and privileged accounts to enforce least-privilege and zero-trust principles.
• Support security awareness initiatives and reinforce cybersecurity best practices across the organization.
• Maintain accurate documentation of security incidents, risks, procedures, control evidence, and remediation activities.
• Coordinate assigned security activities with third-party cybersecurity vendors and managed service providers.
• Monitor developments in current cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, trends, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain metrics and reports on security alerts, vulnerabilities, incident response, compliance status, and remediation progress.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, certifications, training, and applicable work experience.
• 4+ years of relevant work experience in IT security, cybersecurity operations, security operations, or a closely related technical security role.
• Hands-on experience analyzing security events and alerts using SIEM platforms, endpoint detection and response tools, vulnerability scanners, firewalls, and ticketing systems.
• Experience supporting identity, access, and endpoint security technologies, including Microsoft 365, Entra ID, SSO, MFA, endpoint management, or zero-trust initiatives.
• Experience supporting vulnerability management, security incident response, or security control administration.
• Familiarity with security frameworks such as NIST 800-171, CMMC, ISO 27001, or similar standards is preferred.
• Professional certifications such as Security+, CySA+, GSEC, SSCP, or similar are preferred.
• Prior work experience in a highly regulated industry, government contractor environment, engineering organization, industrial/manufacturing company, and/or energy company is preferred.
• Prior work experience in a high-growth or rapidly scaling environment is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Working knowledge of networking principles, endpoint security, identity and access management, cloud services, and common cybersecurity controls.
• Working knowledge of security incident response principles and processes, including investigation, escalation, containment, remediation, recovery, and documentation.
• Ability to independently analyze routine and moderately complex security alerts and events, identify relevant patterns and indicators, and determine appropriate response or escalation.
• Ability to assess cybersecurity risks and prioritize remediation activities based on severity, likelihood, business impact, asset criticality, and established organizational criteria.
• Ability to analyze vulnerability findings, distinguish actionable risk from lower-priority findings, and coordinate remediation through closure.
• Ability to develop and interpret cybersecurity metrics, reports, and trend data related to incidents, vulnerabilities, compliance, and remediation progress.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with IT infrastructure teams, application owners, business stakeholders, third-party vendors, and managed service providers to investigate security issues and implement corrective actions.
• Ability to apply cybersecurity policies, standards, and control requirements in support of security operations, audits, compliance reviews, and control assessments.
• Ability to administer and monitor assigned security technologies and controls within established configurations, standards, and procedures.
• Ability to maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready security documentation and control evidence.
• Ability to manage multiple security priorities and assigned remediation activities in a changing operational environment.
• Ability to analyze technical security problems and identify practical, risk-based solutions.
• Ability to communicate cybersecurity risks, findings, and remediation requirements effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.

Physical Demands

• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods
• Communicating with others to exchange information

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment
• Prototyping/Test Facilities
• Manufacturing/Industrial Environments

Safety and PPE

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes, or other PPE as required

Travel

• Some travel may be required (5%)

Certification

• Professional cybersecurity certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CySA+, ISC2 SSCP, GIAC GSEC, Microsoft security certifications, or similar is preferred but not required.

Additional Requirements

• Occasionally requires working weekends
• Occasionally requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines

The salary range for this position is $108,735 to $127,923 for employees working onsite at our Alameda, CA headquarters. The range provided in this job posting represents the typical range or starting rate of candidates hired in California. Factors that maybe used to determine your actual salary may include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, ability and the market data for your work location, and a comparison to other employees already in the role.

About our Benefits

We know that we have some of the most talented and dedicated employees, and we believe in rewarding them accordingly. If you work here, full-time employees (excludes interns) expect to have access to the benefits below:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, dental and vision benefits for employees and their dependents
• Paid Vacation
• 401(k) and pre-tax health insurance, dependent care, and commuter benefits (FSA)

Kairos Power is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities where we do business. Kairos Power is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We actively welcome people of different experiences, abilities, and perspectives.

Candidates only, no recruiters or agencies please.

Note: You are applying for a position that is located in a facility that handles information that is subject to export control restrictions by the Department of Energy under 10 CFR Part 810. To work in this facility, you need to be authorized by the Department of Energy to access Part 810-controlled information. Foreign nationals who are citizens of countries that are not on the Department of Energy's general authorization list (link below) are not permitted to work in our facility unless the Department of Energy issues an export control license to the company to permit that individual to have access to Part 810-controlled information. The following questions are intended to determine the licensing requirements that may apply. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/10/appendix-A_to_part_810