SITEC - Network Defense Engineer - MacDill AFB

Peraton; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton's SITEC-3 EOM contract seeks a Network Defense Engineer to design and deploy telemetry and countermeasures across USSOCOM networks. Based at MacDill AFB in Florida, you will translate threat intelligence into actionable defenses and guide implementation with engineering teams.

The role emphasizes deep packet analysis, NetFlow, and automation through scripts, with active DoD TS/SCI clearance, IAT II and CCNA prerequisites; salary is commensurate with experience and location.

Qualifications

• DoD 8570 IAT II Certification is required.
• CCNA certification required.
• DoD TS/SCI clearance required.
• Minimum years of experience scale with education (HS 12/AS 10/BS 8/MS 6/PhD 3).

Responsibilities

• Engineer telemetry systems: design, develop, integrate network telemetry detection mechanisms.
• Lead network traffic analysis to identify complex cyber events and APT behaviors.
• Develop and test network-based countermeasures to disrupt adversary operations.
• Advise on enterprise security design and mitigations.
• Automate threat intelligence ingestion into sensor grids for detection pipelines.
• Evaluate emerging defense technologies and transition them to production.

Skills

Threat hunting

Network telemetry

Traffic analysis

Automation scripting

Threat intelligence

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Wireshark

Tshark

Snort

Suricata

Yara

Sigma

Zeek

Job description

Responsibilities

Peraton requires a Network Defense Engineer to support the Special Operation Command Information Technology Enterprise Contract (SITEC) – 3 EOM.

This position is located at MacDill AFB in Florida.

The purpose of the Special Operations Forces Information Technology Enterprise Contract (SITEC) 3 Enterprise Operations and Maintenance (EOM) Task Order (TO) is to provide USSOCOM, its Component Commands, its Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs), and its deployed forces with Operations and Maintenance (O&M) services to maintain Network Operations (NetOps); maintain systems and network infrastructure; provide end user and common device support; provide configuration, change, license, and asset management; conduct training, and perform Install, Move, Add, Change (IMACs) services. The responsibilities and tasks associated with each requirement play a pivotal role to USSOCOM, the CIO/J6 organization, and ultimately the end-user who operate around the globe 24x7x365.

The Network Defense Engineer is responsible for designing the organization's network threat detection and countermeasure capabilities. This role focuses on engineering sophisticated telemetry collection systems that provide total visibility into network traffic and adversary behaviors. As the definitive technical authority on network-based cyber events, the engineer translates complex threat intelligence and attack characterizations into actionable, enterprise-wide countermeasures. This position requires deep expertise in network protocols, traffic analysis, and defensive architecture to proactively shield critical mission networks from advanced persistent threats, passing validated mitigation designs to administrative teams for implementation.

• Engineer Telemetry Systems: Design, develop, and integrate advanced network telemetry detection mechanisms (e.g., deep packet inspection, NetFlow analysis, and sensors) to ensure comprehensive visibility across the enterprise network boundary and internal segments.
• Network Traffic Analysis: Serve as the primary technical authority for identifying, analyzing, and characterizing complex network-based cyber events, anomalous traffic patterns, and Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) behaviors within the environment.
• Countermeasures: Develop and test network-based countermeasures and active defense strategies designed to detect, disrupt, or neutralize adversary network operations before they impact mission-critical systems.
• Design Mitigations: Assist in advising enterprise security design.
• Threat Intelligence Integration: Automate the ingestion threat intelligence into network sensor grids to build proactive, high-fidelity detection pipelines.
• Strategic Capability Planning: Continuously evaluate emerging network defense technologies, conducting proof-of-concept testing to transition new detection capabilities into the enterprise production architecture.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Min 12 years with HS degree, 10 years with AS/AA degree, 8 years with BS/BA, 6 years with MS/MA, 3 years with PhD
• DoD 8570 IAT II Certification; AND
• CCNA
• DoD TS/SCI clearance

Desired Qualifications:

• Must be with DoW 8140 compliant under the Work Role Code 521– Cyber Defense Infrastructure Support Specialist - Intermediate level or higher by 1 Oct 26.
• Deep Packet & Protocol Analysis: Mastery of network protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, TLS/SSL, SMB) and advanced packet analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark, Tshark) to dissect malicious payloads and identify evasive command-and-control (C2) traffic.
• Automation & Scripting: Proficiency in scripting languages (such as Python, PowerShell, or Bash) to automate the processing of network logs, parse large datasets, and integrate threat intelligence feeds.
• Threat Hunting & Emulation: Ability to think like an adversary to proactively hunt for hidden threats within network metadata and reconstruct complex multi-stage attack paths.
• Detection Engineering: Direct experience writing, testing, and deploying custom high-fidelity detection signatures using industry-standard formats (such as Snort, Suricata, Yara, Sigma, or Zeek scripts).

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range

$80,000 - $128,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.