Threat Actor Engagement & Intelligence Consultant - Remote (Anywhere in the U.S.)

guidepointsecurity; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

GuidePoint Security seeks a skilled Threat Actor Communications and Engagement professional to support its GRIT team. The role focuses on threat actor engagement for ransomware and data extortion cases, plus intelligence research to operationalize data from engagements and DFIR efforts.

The candidate will work closely with clients, legal counsel, and insurers, delivering tailored engagement deliverables and staying ahead of evolving threat landscapes through continuous learning and collaboration.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years communicating with threat actors (e.g., ransomware negotiations).
• 2+ years Threat Intelligence analysis experience.
• Experience in intelligence sharing with ISACs, government, or private groups.
• Experience building persona operations and dark web familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Lead Threat Actor Communications engagements for clients, advising on risks and key considerations.
• Support DFIR investigations as a technical resource and share actionable intelligence.
• Foster client relationships through proactive communication and guidance.
• Author comprehensive engagement deliverables detailing findings, impact, and remediation.
• Utilize automation and scripting to reduce manual tasks and improve efficiency.
• Assist in integrating open-source and commercial tools to improve GRIT processes.
• Maintain and strengthen skills to stay at the forefront of information security.

Skills

Threat actor communications

Threat intelligence analysis

Client-facing consulting

Job description

GuidePoint Security provides trusted cybersecurity expertise, solutions and services that help organizations make better decisions and minimize risk. By taking a three-tiered, holistic approach for evaluating security posture and ecosystems, GuidePoint enables some of the nation's top organizations, such as Fortune 500 companies and U.S. government agencies, to identify threats, optimize resources and integrate best-fit solutions that mitigate risk.

General Description:

We are looking for a skilled threat actor communications and engagement professional to support GuidePoint's Digital Forensics and Incident Response practice within the GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team (GRIT). The primary function of this role will be threat actor communications (also known as threat actor engagement, or ransomware negotiations) for GuidePoint's clients, collecting intelligence and advising digital extortion victims of appropriate courses of action aligned to their business needs. This is a client-facing role, requiring tact, professionalism, and a robust understanding of threat actor behavior and organization. The ideal candidate will also support GRIT's intelligence research efforts, operationalizing threat intelligence data obtained through threat actor engagement and digital forensics efforts.

The Threat Actor Engagement and Intelligence Consultant will be required to demonstrate strong client-facing consulting skills, calm under pressure, communications ability, and initiative under circumstances with unclear or incomplete guidance.

About the GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team:

GRIT provides managed Threat Intelligence and Exposure Management services, Deep and Dark Web investigations, threat actor engagement, threat briefings, and advisory consulting in CTI operationalization, maturity, and program development. In each of these services, our goal is to better secure and prepare our clients to build, implement, and improve their security and CTI programs through advisory, instruction, assistance, or direct support.

Additionally, GRIT supports GuidePoint's DFIR practice, providing Threat Intelligence support to active intrusion investigations and response efforts, or informing DFIR advisory efforts and tabletop exercises. GRIT performs independent threat research into Ransomware and the cybercrime threat landscape, contributing to quarterly and annual reports, as well as Requests For Information (RFIs) and media inquiries.

GuidePoint Security's GRIT service offerings evolve in response to emerging threats and diverse client needs, and your creativity and expertise will assist the GRIT Practice with adapting to this rapidly changing environment.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Lead and conduct Threat Actor Communications engagements, advising clients, legal counsel, and insurance carriers on risks, benefits, and key considerations for communication with threat actors in ransomware and data extortion cases.
• Operate as a technical resource within the Practice and actively participate in DFIR investigations to share and identify actionable intelligence.
• Effective engagement communication, time management, and collaboration with peers and clients. Foster client relationships by providing support, information, and guidance
• Author comprehensive engagement deliverables that are tailored to both technical and managerial audiences; fully detail the technical findings, recommendations, business impact, and realistic remediation strategies.
• Utilize automation, orchestration, and scripting to reduce manual processes, improving overall efficiency while also enabling new capabilities to meet the rapidly changing needs of our clients.
• Contribute to integration of existing and future open-source and commercial tools or automation to help improve GRIT processes and procedures.
• Perpetually strengthen relevant skills, knowledge, and abilities to stay at the forefront of the information security industry.
• Maintain a strong desire to learn, adapt, and improve along with a rapidly growing company.
• Willingness and ability to support a rotating on-call schedule, including possible weekend work as needed to support emergency requirements.

Required Experience and Education:

• 2 - 4 years prior experience in communicating with threat actors, such as through virtual persona operations, ransomware negotiations, or use of "sock puppet" accounts in Deep and Dark Web collection.
• Two (2+) years of experience performing Threat Intelligence analysis and/or collection
• Prior experience in intelligence sharing relationships and partnerships within the private sector, ISACs, government, and/or private intelligence sharing groups.
• Prior experience in building and developing persona operations, including familiarity with dark web forums and marketplaces, adversary behavior, and trust mechanisms.
• Familiarity with digital forensics and incident response workflows, processes, and deliverables.
• Experience in client-facing, professio