TS Mission Lead - SOC

Leidos; Shiloh (IL); On-site; USD 87,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos seeks a TS/SCI-cleared Mission Lead to guide a 24x7 defensive cybersecurity team across DoD networks. The role emphasizes threat intel, alert triage, packet analysis, and high-impact incident coordination on a 5x8 on-site schedule.

You will mentor analysts, drive advanced training, and ensure policy compliance while aligning operations with customer leadership and program goals.

Qualifications

• Clearance: Active DoD Top Secret / SCI.
• Foundational knowledge: TCP/IP networking, packet analysis, OSI model, defense-in-depth.

Responsibilities

• Lead analysts in evaluating alerts from endpoints, IDS/IPS, NetFlow, and custom network sensors to identify and mitigate activity.
• Correlate multi-source logs to produce Cyber Incident Reports and align with MITRE ATT&CK/Cyber Kill Chain in SIEM.
• Direct incident reporting and containment actions, escalating to leadership and DoD customers per requirements.

Skills

Team leadership

Incident response

Threat intelligence

Packet analysis

MITRE ATT&CK

Cyber Kill Chain

Education

Level III: Bachelor’s degree + 4 years cyber defense/SOC experience

Level IV: Bachelor’s degree + 8 years cyber defense/SOC experience

DoD 8570/8140 IAT II baseline certification (e.g., Security+ CE, SSCP, GSEC, CySA+)

CSSP-A or CSSP-IR certification (e.g., CySA+, CEH, GCIA, GCIH)

Tools

Splunk

Elastic

Microsoft Sentinel

Job description

Description

The TS Mission Lead guides an operational team delivering 24x7 defensive cybersecurity monitoring and incident operations across Department of Defense (DoD) Top Secret and classified enterprise networks. Operating on-site, this role balances tactical cyber threat intelligence, alert triaging, packet analysis, and high-impact incident response coordination with a focus on team development, coaching, and operational alignment.

This position operates on a core 5x8 day shift to ensure maximum availability and continuity across 24x7 shifts, facilitate regular analyst engagements, and maintain communication with program and customer leadership.

Primary Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development

• Coaching & Mentoring: Conduct 1-on-1 check-ins with team members every two weeks to provide supportive, actionable career guidance, reduce operational burnout, and foster long-term retention.
• Professional Growth: Partner with Operations Managers to facilitate advanced technical training, support certification pathways, and deliver objective, performance-driven reviews.
• Trust & Accountability: Establish clear, mission-aligned performance expectations, follow through on team commitments, and address policy compliance and operational gaps fairly and promptly.
• Positive Work Culture: Maintain strong ties with HR and leadership to resolve challenges, build psychological safety in high-stress classified environments, and focus the team on joint problem-solving during operational setbacks.
• Operational Integration: Collaborate with Shift Leads and operations leadership on shift coverage, training schedules, and mission readiness within the SCIF, ensuring rapid recall capability during critical incidents.

Cybersecurity Monitoring & Analysis

• Triage & Investigation: Lead analysts in evaluating alerts from endpoints, IDS/IPS, NetFlow, and custom network sensors across classified enclaves to identify, investigate, and mitigate sophisticated malicious activity.
• Reporting & Intel Integration: Correlate complex multi-source log data to produce detailed Cyber Incident Reports (CIR), integrate tactical threat intelligence feeds into SIEM platforms, and align analysis with MITRE ATT&CK and Cyber Kill Chain frameworks.
• Incident Response Coordination: Direct immediate reporting and applicable containment action’s and escalates validated, critical security incidents to customer leadership, JFHQ-DODIN, and USCYBERCOM in accordance with DoD reporting standards.

Basic Qualifications

• Clearance: Active DoD Top Secret / SCI security clearance
• Certifications:
  • Current DoD 8570/8140 IAT Level II baseline certification (e.g., Security+ CE, SSCP, GSEC, CySA+).
  • Current CSSP-A or CSSP-IR certification (e.g., CySA+, CEH, GCIA, GCIH), or the ability to obtain within 180 days of hire.
• Foundational Knowledge: Strong technical mastery of TCP/IP networking, packet analysis (Wireshark/tcpdump), the OSI model, and defense-in-depth principles.
• Education & Experience:
  • Level III: Bachelor’s degree + 4 year of relevant operational cyber defense or SOC experience (or equivalent military/work experience).
  • Level IV: Bachelor’s degree + 8 years of relevant operational cyber defense or SOC experience (or equivalent military/work experience).
• Location & Availability: 100% on-site SCIF requirement; willingness to work the assigned 5x8 schedule and reside within a 2-hour physical recall commute of Hill AFB, UT; Scott AFB, IL; or Columbus, OH.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting DISA, DoD Cyber Security Service Providers (CSSP), or Service Cyber Components
• Hands-on technical experience operating enterprise SIEMs/log aggregators (such as Splunk, Elastic, or Sentinel) on classified networks.
• Familiarity with advanced threat actor TTPs, static/dynamic malware analysis, and CJCSM 6510 incident reporting procedures.
• Advanced cybersecurity certifications (such as SANS GIAC, CASP+, or CISSP).
• At least two years of experience leading, mentoring, or supervising cross-functional cybersecurity teams.

Original Posting

September 30, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

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.