Cyber Network Defense Analyst

Cyber Network Defense (CND) Analyst
Location: Arlington, VA
Schedule: 100% Onsite
Clearance Required: Active TS/SCI
Certification Required: Security+ CE or equivalent DoD 8140 IAT Level II certification
Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire
Compensation: Up to $65/hr

Join a Mission-Critical Cyber Defense Team
Our client is seeking a Cyber Network Defense (CND) Analyst to support a highly secure enterprise environment responsible for protecting critical systems and services from evolving cyber threats. This team operates as a mission-focused cyber defense organization providing network monitoring, threat detection, incident response, and security operations support within a secure government environment.
This opportunity is ideal for cybersecurity professionals with experience in SOC operations, cyber defense, incident response, and threat detection who are looking to support a high-visibility national security mission.

Responsibilities
Perform computer network incident detection and response activities to identify and analyze potential cyber threats.
Monitor security tools, systems, and applications for indicators of malicious activity and anomalous behavior.
Investigate alerts, security events, and indicators of compromise (IOCs) to determine scope and impact.
Analyze network traffic, endpoint activity, system logs, and security telemetry.
Develop recommendations for containment, mitigation, and remediation of cybersecurity incidents.
Document investigations, findings, and response actions within ticketing and case management systems.
Collaborate with infrastructure, application, database, and cloud teams to support enterprise security operations.
Interface directly with stakeholders and customers while supporting mission-critical cyber defense functions.
Assist with threat analysis, trend identification, and continuous improvement of security monitoring processes.

Required Qualifications
Active TS/SCI clearance.
Security+ CE or equivalent DoD 8140 IAT Level II certification.
2+ years of experience in one or more of the following:
Security Operations Center (SOC)
Cyber Defense Operations
Threat Detection
Incident Response
Network Defense
Experience investigating security alerts and responding to cybersecurity incidents.
Working knowledge of Windows and Linux operating systems.
Strong understanding of networking concepts, communication protocols, firewalls, and IDS/IPS technologies.
Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, written, and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience with SIEM platforms such as Splunk, Elastic, Microsoft Sentinel, QRadar, or ArcSight.
Experience performing log analysis and threat investigations.
Knowledge of MITRE ATT&CK, Cyber Kill Chain, and cyber threat intelligence concepts.
Experience with vulnerability assessment and remediation activities.
AWS or Azure cloud security experience.
DISA STIG implementation and remediation experience.
Prior experience supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, or federal government environments.

Why Apply?
Support a high-impact national security mission.
Work alongside experienced cyber defense and incident response professionals.
Gain exposure to enterprise-scale cyber operations and cloud security initiatives.
Opportunity to convert into a long-term role with a leading government integrator.
Competitive compensation and career growth opportunities within cybersecurity operations.

Candidates must possess an active TS/SCI clearance and Security+ (or equivalent IAT Level II certification) to be considered.