Media Malware Analyst, Journeyman

Koitecc Solutions; Odenton (MD); On-site; USD 87,100 - 157,450; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Journeyman- to senior‑level Media Malware Analyst to support USCYBERCOM operations by identifying and analyzing sophisticated threats targeting the DoDIN. You will conduct forensic analysis, malware analysis, and threat briefings for leadership, crafting actionable intelligence and risk assessments.

The role requires TS clearance with SCI eligibility and polygraph, 5+ years in malware analysis, and hands-on experience with IDA Pro, Ghidra, Wireshark, and sandbox environments.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and polygraph.
• BA/BS in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Digital Forensics, or related field, or ability to complete within one year.
• Five+ years of demonstrated proficiency in malware analysis (static/dynamic), incident handling, and reverse engineering.
• Working experience with tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra, Wireshark, Volatility, and sandbox environments.
• Intimate familiarity with network protocols, OS internals (Windows/Linux/UNIX), and cyber threat analysis.
• Broad knowledge of Blue-space Cyber capabilities and understanding of available cyber infrastructure or platforms to conduct defensive and offensive cyber operations.
• Ability to support timely, accurate, relevant analytical production, including documents, summaries, issue papers, talking points, and briefings.
• Demonstrated proficiency working in a fast-paced collaborative environment, ability to proactively multi-task and meet short deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform static and dynamic malware analysis, including reverse engineering and extracting malicious files from digital media.
• Create technical analysis reports with actionable intelligence findings and deliver leadership briefings.
• Identify unique indicators for signature and heuristic development.
• Draft and support implementation of security incident response policies.
• Analyze operational reporting to correlate attack trends and support enterprise malware analysis tools.
• Conduct log/system analysis (routers, Windows, UNIX) for threat detection.
• Research open-source intel to inform threat assessments and signature creation.
• Maintain validated MD5 hash lists for signature repositories.
• Publish in-depth risk assessments to evaluate threat postures and refine methodologies.

Skills

Malware analysis

Reverse engineering

Incident handling

Threat intelligence

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

IDA Pro

Ghidra

Wireshark

Volatility

Sandbox environments

Job description

Overview

This Journeyman‑level Media Malware Analyst role supports United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) operations by identifying and analyzing sophisticated malware threats targeting the Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN) and associated networks.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely, accurate support that best enables USCYBERCOM in identifying and assessing emerging threats and vulnerabilities in the cyberspace domain.
• Conduct forensic analysis of vulnerable or compromised systems and media and identify adversary TTPs and intrusion artifacts.
• Perform static and dynamic malware analysis, including reverse engineering and extracting malicious files from digital media, and conduct detailed file analysis as appropriate.
• Create technical analysis reports with actionable intelligence findings, delivering timely, accurate threat briefs and analysis updates that meet explicit and implied requirements, and deliver presentations to leadership in appropriate formats.
• Identify unique indicators for signature and heuristic development.
• Draft and support implementation of security incident response policies.
• Analyze operational reporting to correlate attack trends and shared tradecraft and support development and improvement of enterprise malware analysis tools.
• Conduct log/system analysis (routers, Windows, UNIX) for threat detection and update DoD situational awareness mechanisms (e.g., USCYBERCOM portals).
• Research open‑source intel to inform threat assessments and signature creation.
• Develop and maintain validated MD5 hash lists for signature repositories.
• Analyze and evaluate all‑source finished intelligence, single‑source intelligence, and technical data from various sources to identify cyber threat patterns and anomalies.
• Conduct and publish in‑depth risk assessments to evaluate and categorize the risk posture of detected cyber threats while supporting development and refinement of risk assessment methodologies and tools used for threat categorization.
• Collaborate with operational, technical, and intelligence elements across USCYBERCOM to enhance situational awareness and threat response capabilities.
• Maintain a current understanding of advanced persistent threats (APTs), threat actor tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), and cyber threat trends affecting national security.
• Maintain situational awareness of, and execute on demand, CO crisis plans.
• Provide situational awareness to a range of projects, Crisis Action Teams, and current operations activities supporting Operational Planning Teams (OPTs).
• Execute resource allocation decisions aligned with organization objectives.
• Apply knowledge of cyber threats and attack methods and techniques emanating from state and non‑state adversaries and tiered vulnerabilities within Blue Space as focus of threats.
• Review, approve, prioritize, and submit operational requirements for research, development, and/or acquisition of cyber capabilities.
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and guidance relevant to daily activities.
• Communicate complex information, concepts, or ideas in a confident and well‑organized manner through verbal, written, and/or visual means.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and polygraph required.
• BA/BS degree or higher within Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Digital Forensics, or related field, or ability to complete degree within one year of hire. Education may be substituted with extended experience and technical certifications.
• Five plus years of demonstrated proficiency in malware analysis (static/dynamic), incident handling, and reverse engineering.
• Working experience with tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra, Wireshark, Volatility, and sandbox environments.
• Intimate familiarity with network protocols, OS internals (Windows/Linux/UNIX), and cyber threat analysis.
• Broad knowledge of Blue‑space Cyber capabilities and understanding of available cyber infrastructure or platforms to conduct defensive (DCO) and offensive cyberspace operations (OCO).
• Knowledge of computer networking fundamentals and concepts, terminology, and operations of various communications media (computer and telephone networks, satellite, fiber, wireless).
• Ability to support timely, accurate, relevant analytical production, including documents, summaries, issue papers, talking points, and briefings.
• Demonstrated proficiency working in a fast‑paced collaborative environment, ability to proactively multi‑task and meet short deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, critical thinking, and communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex and technical data to non‑technical consumers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or higher within Cybersecurity, Information Security, or related fields.
• Experience developing detection signatures and writing technical reports for leadership.
• Deep understanding of USCYBERCOM organizational structure and mission.
• Prior experience supporting joint operations across multiple warfighting domains.
• Demonstrated experience incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning into operations to increase efficiency and effectiveness of operational outcomes.
• Experience with space‑enabled CO.
• Formal training within the field of cyber warfare and joint operations.
• Familiarity with data science and its applicability to CO.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Power BI data visualization software.
• Desirable certifications include GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware (GREM); Certified Reverse Engineering Analyst (CREA); Certified Malware Analyst (CMA); Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR); GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA); GIAC Cyber Threat Intelligence (GCTI).

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $87,100.00 - $157,450.00.
Employment benefits include competitive compensation, health and wellness programs, income protection, paid leave and retirement. For more details, visit Leidos Careers Pay & Benefits.

EEO Statement

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.