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Associate Security Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

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Security Engineer - Azure Government

Washington, DC · Hybrid

Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500), Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect (SC-100) * Additional relevant certifications (e.g., CISSP, CCSP, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator, AWS Security ...

USM

Cloud Security Engineer

Washington, DC · Hybrid

Cloud Security Engineer Location : Washington, DC Duration : 4 month contract to hire with no fee ... CISSP or Associate CISSP (if neither certification is held, then a minimum of 5 years' DHS ...

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All JobsAssociate Security Engineer JobsAssociate Security Engineer Jobs in Washington

Associate Security Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$47K

$93.6K

$149.5K

How much do associate security engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate security engineer in Washington is $93,594.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,200.00 and $107,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Associate Security Engineer vs Security Analyst?

AspectAssociate Security EngineerSecurity Analyst
Required CertificationsCompTIA Security+, Cisco CCNA Security, or equivalentCompTIA Security+, GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC), or similar
Work EnvironmentHands-on technical roles involving system and network security implementationMonitoring, analyzing security data, and incident response
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, cybersecurity firms, IT departmentsFinancial institutions, government agencies, large enterprises
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The Associate Security Engineer typically focuses on implementing and maintaining security systems, requiring technical certifications and hands-on work. In contrast, Security Analysts primarily monitor security events, analyze threats, and respond to incidents. Both roles are essential in cybersecurity teams but differ in daily responsibilities and focus areas.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Security Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Security Engineer, you need a solid understanding of information security principles, networking, and risk assessment, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with security tools such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), SIEM platforms, and relevant certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CEH is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication make candidates stand out in this role. These skills and qualifications are crucial for identifying vulnerabilities, mitigating threats, and collaborating with teams to maintain robust organizational security.

What are some common challenges Associate Security Engineers face when transitioning from academic settings to professional environments?

Associate Security Engineers often find that the pace and complexity of professional environments differ significantly from academic settings. Real-world security systems involve legacy technologies, rapidly evolving threats, and compliance requirements that may not be covered in coursework. Collaborating across teams, responding to incidents under pressure, and balancing security best practices with business needs can be challenging at first. However, this environment offers excellent hands-on learning opportunities and mentorship from experienced colleagues to help bridge the gap.

What are Associate Security Engineers?

Associate Security Engineers are entry-level professionals who help protect an organization’s computer systems and networks from security threats. They typically assist in monitoring network activity, investigating security incidents, and implementing basic security measures under the supervision of senior staff. Their responsibilities may also include maintaining firewalls, performing vulnerability assessments, and ensuring compliance with security policies. This role serves as a foundational position for those looking to advance in the cybersecurity field.
What are the most commonly searched types of Security Engineer jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Security Engineer jobs in Washington are:
What are popular job titles related to Associate Security Engineer jobs in Washington? For Associate Security Engineer jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Associate Security Engineer jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Associate Security Engineer jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Associate Security Engineer jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Associate Security Engineer job openings:
Associate Security Engineer jobs near you
Suricata Security Engineer

Suricata Security Engineer

GuidePoint Security

Washington, DC • On-site

Other

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

An active Top Secret / SCI clearance with the willingness to take and pass a polygraph exam is required for consideration for hire for this role. Work is to be performed 100% onsite with our Government Customer

We are seeking an experienced Suricata Engineer to join our cybersecurity team. The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise in Suricata, particularly in understanding and managing its YAML configuration files, and how these configurations integrate and influence the Suricata Intrusion Detection Systems/Intrusion Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS). You will play a critical role in deploying, tuning, and maintaining Suricata within a complex enterprise IT environment, primarily running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

A key focus of this role will be tuning Suricata to operate optimally with Napatech network interface cards (NICs), ensuring high-performance packet capture and processing while minimizing packet loss and system resource overhead.

Work with us as we secure and protect our nation's most sensitive capabilities.

What You'll Work On

  • Designing, deploying, and maintaining Suricata IDS/IPS systems across enterprise networks.
  • Developing, reviewing, and optimizing Suricata YAML configuration files to ensure optimal detection capabilities and minimal false positives.
  • Understanding and managing the interaction between Suricata's YAML configuration and its runtime engine, including rule loading, protocol decoding, and logging.
  • Tuning Suricata for optimal performance with Napatech NICs, including configuring Direct Memory Access (DMA), RSS queues, interrupt coalescing, and leveraging any NIC-specific acceleration features.
  • Collaborating with security teams to integrate Suricata with SIEM and other security monitoring platforms.
  • Troubleshooting installation and operational issues specific to Suricata on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, addressing compatibility, kernel module requirements, SELinux policies, and performance tuning.
  • Identifying and mitigating common pitfalls encountered when deploying Suricata in large-scale enterprise environments, including package dependencies, system resource constraints, and NIC driver/configuration issues.
  • Provide detailed documentation and runbooks for Suricata configuration, tuning  NICs, and deployment processes.
  • Staying current with Suricata releases, NIC driver updates, and community best practices for network interface tuning and IDS/IPS performance enhancement.

Required Skills

  • Proven experience working with Suricata IDS/IPS systems, including hands-on management of its YAML configuration files.
  • Strong knowledge of the Suricata configuration structure, syntax, and how it controls detection rules, logging, and output modules.
  • Extensive experience administering Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) systems, including package management (yum/dnf), kernel module management, SELinux configuration, and system optimization.
  • Hands-on experience tuning Suricata for high-performance packet capture with Napatech NICs or similar advanced network interface cards.
  • Familiarity with NIC-specific features such as DMA, Receive Side Scaling (RSS), interrupt moderation, and offload capabilities, and how to configure them for Suricata.
  • Experience troubleshooting Suricata's interaction with NIC drivers and kernel modules in an enterprise environment.
  • Experience with scripting languages (Bash, Python) to automate Suricata configuration and deployment tasks.
  • TS/SCI clearance with the ability to obtain a counter-intelligence polygraph.
  • Associate's degree and 5+ years of experience supporting IT projects and activities or Bachelor's degree and 3+ years of experience supporting IT projects and activities or Master's degree and 1+ years of experience supporting IT projects and activities. Years of experience may be accepted in lieu of degree.
  • DoD 8570 IAT Level II Certification, including Security+ CE, CCNA-Security, GSEC, SSCP, CySA+, GICSP, or CND Certification.
  • Ability to obtain a DoD 8570 Cybersecurity Service Provider - Infrastructure Support Certification, including CEH, CySA+, GICSP, SSCP, CHFI, CFR, Cloud+, or CND Certification, within 60 days of start date.

Preferred Skills

  • Proficient understanding of network protocols, intrusion detection methodologies, and security event correlation.
  • Experience integrating Suricata with Splunk, or other SIEM solutions.
  • Knowledge of containerized deployments of Suricata (Docker/Kubernetes) in enterprise environments.
  • Familiarity with common Linux operating systems, including RHEL, Oracle, CentOS.
  • Familiarity with other industry-standard IDS/IPS solutions and related technologies.
  • Ability to be a self-starter, work without considerable direction, and work with a team.
  • Possession of excellent verbal and written communication skills, including for coordinating efforts and establishing customer relations.

"Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information."

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