Sr. Cybersecurity Analyst with Security Clearance

Cornerstone Defense LLC; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornerstone Defense LLC in Reston, VA seeks a Senior Cybersecurity Analyst to lead Government System ATO support and guidance for obtaining and maintaining certifications in line with NIST, RMF, and DoD guidelines.

You will monitor, analyze, and respond to incidents, implement security controls such as firewalls and IDS/IPS, and coordinate with government stakeholders to ensure compliant operation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience as a cybersecurity analyst with a Government System ATO focus.
• Deep knowledge of government ATO principles, methodologies, and tools.
• Experience with NIST SP 800-53, RMF, ICD 503, FISMA, FedRAMP.
• Experience achieving ATO for IL5 to IL6+ on NIPR, SIPR, and JWICS.
• Understanding of network protocols, operating systems, and infrastructure.
• Proficient in incident response, security incident handling, and forensic analysis.
• CISSP or equivalent to support DoD 8140 requirements.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with CI poly.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with government clients to understand system architectures, security requirements, and ATO objectives.
• Conduct exhaustive security assessments and risk analyses for government systems.
• Monitor security systems, logs, and network traffic per government guidelines.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement security controls (firewalls, IDS/IPS, encryption, access controls).
• Investigate security incidents to determine cause, impact, and response.
• Develop and implement incident response plans including containment, eradication, and recovery strategies.

Skills

ATO support

Security assessments

NIST SP 800-53

RMF

FISMA

FedRAMP

DoD 8140

CISSP

TS/SCI clearance

Government regulations

Education

CISSP or equivalent

Tools

Vulnerability scanning tools

IDS/IPS

Incident response tools

Forensic analysis tools

Job description

Sr. Cybersecurity Analyst Reston, VA Active TS/SCI with poly As a Sr. Cybersecurity Analyst, your focus will be on Government System Authority to Operate (ATO) support. You will be responsible for guiding government clients through the intricate process of obtaining and maintaining ATO certifications for their information systems. You will leverage your expertise in government cybersecurity standards and regulations to monitor, analyze, and respond to potential security incidents and threats. Your role will ensure that our government clients systems meet the stringent security requirements necessary for ATO compliance while aligning with government-specific cybersecurity guidelines. Company Overview: Cornerstone Defense is the Employer of Choice within the Intelligence, Defense, and Space communities of the U.S. Government. Realizing early on that our most prized assets are our employees, we continually focus our attention on improving the overall work/life experience they have supporting the mission. Our Team is pushed every day to use their industry leading knowledge to provide end-to-end solutions to combat our nation’s toughest and most secure problems. If you are looking for a place to not only be personally challenged, but encouraged and supported by a company that cares, don’t look any further than Cornerstone Defense.

Job Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with government clients to thoroughly understand their system architectures, security requirements, and objectives for achieving and maintaining ATO status within the context of government regulations.
• Conduct exhaustive security assessments and risk analyses that cater to government system compliance, identifying vulnerabilities and potential threats specific to government systems.
• Monitor security systems, logs, and network traffic with a keen focus on government cybersecurity guidelines, identifying any suspicious activity, intrusions, or unauthorized access attempts.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to establish and maintain government-aligned security measures, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, data encryption, and access controls.
• Investigate and analyze security incidents to determine their cause, impact, and appropriate response.
• Develop and implement incident response plans, including containment, eradication, and recovery strategies. Required Skills:
• 10+ years of experience as a cybersecurity analyst with a specialization in Government System ATO support, demonstrating deep knowledge of government ATO principles, methodologies, and tools.
• Strong experience in government regulatory frameworks, compliance requirements, and security standards specific to ATO (e.g., NIST SP 800-53, RMF, ICD 503, FISMA, FedRAMP)
• Demonstrated and repeat experience achieving and maintaining ATO for cloud services and solutions from IL5 to IL6+ on NIPR, SIPR, and JWICS.
• Understanding of network protocols, operating systems, and infrastructure components.
• Strong proficiency in incident response, security incident handling, and forensic analysis techniques.
• Expertise with government specific ATO assessment tools, vulnerability scanning tools, and intrusion detection/prevention systems.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• CISSP or equivalent certification to support DoD 8140 requirements
• Active TS//SCI clearance with CI poly