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Cyber Defense Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

As a Cyber Defense Specialist, you will: * Contribute to technical R&D efforts identifying technical gaps and developing solutions to meet operational needs * Work closely with operational ...

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Cyber Network Defense Analyst II

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They are seeking Cyber Network Defense Analysts (CNDA) to support this critical customer mission ... Our team of Highly Cleared Specialists have hard-to-find skills and expertise in a wide spectrum of ...

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Cyber Defense Specialist information

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$45K

$93.2K

$145K

How much do cyber defense specialist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for cyber defense specialist in the United States is $93,170.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,500.00 and $112,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a cyber defense specialist?

Cyber Defense Specialists are IT professionals who focus on protecting an organization's digital assets from cyber threats and attacks. They monitor networks, identify vulnerabilities, and respond to security incidents to prevent unauthorized access or data breaches. Their responsibilities often include developing security policies, performing risk assessments, and implementing security solutions. Cyber Defense Specialists work closely with other IT and security teams to ensure the organization's information systems remain secure and resilient.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a cyber defense specialist?

To thrive as a Cyber Defense Specialist, you need a solid understanding of network security, threat analysis, and incident response, typically backed by a degree in cybersecurity or related fields. Familiarity with security information and event management (SIEM) tools, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and certifications such as CISSP or CEH is important. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication help you identify, mitigate, and report security threats efficiently. These skills and qualities are vital for protecting organizational assets and ensuring robust defense against evolving cyber threats.

What are some common challenges faced by cyber defense specialists in their daily work?

Cyber Defense Specialists often encounter the challenge of staying ahead of rapidly evolving cyber threats, which requires continuous learning and adaptation. They must efficiently respond to incidents while minimizing downtime, all under the pressure of high-stakes environments where mistakes can have significant consequences. Additionally, collaborating effectively with IT, legal, and management teams is crucial for implementing comprehensive defense strategies and ensuring organizational alignment. Balancing proactive threat hunting with reactive incident response is a key part of the role.

What is the difference between Cyber Defense Specialist vs Network Security Analyst?

AspectCyber Defense SpecialistNetwork Security Analyst
CertificationsCompTIA Security+, CISSP, CEHCompTIA Security+, Cisco CCNA Security, GIAC Security
Work EnvironmentFocuses on defending organizational systems, incident response, threat analysisMonitors network traffic, analyzes vulnerabilities, implements security measures
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across cybersecurity firms, government agencies, large corporationsCommon in IT departments, telecom companies, financial institutions

Both roles involve protecting digital assets, but Cyber Defense Specialists focus on active defense and incident response, while Network Security Analysts primarily monitor and analyze network security. Understanding these differences helps organizations assign the right cybersecurity roles based on their needs.

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Cyber Defense Specialist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cyber Defense Specialist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,170 per year, or $44.8 per hour.

Cyber Defense Specialist

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Fort George G Meade, MD

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

Come and help defend the nation in cyberspace! In the Cyber Operations & Analysis Technology Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, we research challenging technical problems in cyber security, develop new technologies, and prototype first-of-a-kind systems. We have particular focus on enabling human operators and improving operational systems, orienting our work toward strong practical impact. 
 

We work across a variety of cutting-edge national-security applications: 

  • Quantifying risk posed by adversary cyber threats to key national security missions
  • Enhancing the cyber security and resilience of critical infrastructure and other operational technology
  • Protecting and defending U.S. weapon systems in cyber contested environments
  • Helping the nation’s cyber operators do their jobs better, faster, and at greater scale
  • Creating game-changing capabilities for defensive cyberspace operations

As an interdisciplinary group, we innovate by drawing insights from computer science, software engineering, data engineering, data science, artificial intelligence/machine learning, electrical engineering, mathematics, statistics, physics, and allied technical fields. We collaborate with research partners across MIT, offering frequent opportunities to team and learn in new areas. If you want a career in R&D with the opportunity to have real impact on important problems, join us!


 

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced Defensive Cyber Operations Subject Matter Expert to join our team at MIT Lincoln Laboratory as a Cyber Defense Specialist in a technical role. The successful candidate will have a strong background and experience in planning, conducting, and assessing defensive cyber operations, as well as experience utilizing defensive tools for cyber hunting, threat analysis, and cyber incident response.

As a Cyber Defense Specialist, you will:

  • Contribute to technical R&D efforts identifying technical gaps and developing solutions to meet operational needs
  • Work closely with operational stakeholders to identify technical needs and challenges
  • Provide expert-level guidance on defensive cyber operations to both technical researchers and government stakeholders
  • Stay informed of emerging cyber threats and technologies, including advanced persistent threats, zero-day exploits, and nation-state sponsored attacks
  • Develop and maintain expertise in emerging technologies and techniques relevant for cyber defense, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud security
  • Represent MIT Lincoln Laboratory in interactions with government agencies, industry partners, and other stakeholders on matters related to defensive cyber operations
Education and Technical Experience:

To be considered for this role, you must possess the following qualifications. 

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred)
  • Minimum 8 years of experience in defensive cyber operations, including experience in planning, conducting, and assessing defensive operations as an element of the Cyber Mission Force
  • Experience utilizing defensive tools such as Splunk, ELK, ArcSight, or similar platforms for cyber hunting, threat analysis, and incident response (experience with GOTS tools is a plus)
  • Strong understanding of network protocols, operating systems, and cybersecurity principles
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think critically and outside the box
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, including technical communication for non-technical audiences
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively on difficult, open-ended problems in cyber security and operations with interdisciplinary technical teams.
  • Motivation to identify underlying technical problems and investigate solutions proactively
Technical expertise in one or more of the following areas is desired but not required:
  • Experience working in a research environment, with a focus on developing and applying new technologies and techniques to solve complex problems
  • Experience with programming languages such as Python, C/C++, Rust, and/or Java
  • Familiarity with cloud computing platforms and cybersecurity solutions (e.g. AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
General Requirements for this Position:
  • Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret-level DoD security clearance
  • Must be within commutable distance of Lexington, Massachusetts or Fort Meade, Maryland.
  • This is a technical specialist position contributing to R&D in cyber security. Applicants looking for roles conducting cyber defense for the Lincoln Laboratory enterprise should look for other opportunities in those roles.

Hiring Range: $110,400-$148,900

Disclaimer: MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides a typical hiring range as a good faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. The final salary offered to a selected candidate will depend on various factors, including—but not limited to—the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, skills and education/training, internal equity considerations and applicable legal requirements. This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits.

At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, our exceptional career opportunities include many outstanding benefits to help you stay healthy, feel supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance. Benefits offered to employees include: 

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
  • MIT-funded pension
  • Matching 401K
  • Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
  • Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
  • Mentorship programs
  • A range of work-life balance options
  • ... and much more!  

Please visit our Benefits page for more information. As an employee of MIT, you can also take advantage of other voluntary benefits, discounts and perks.

Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.

Requisition ID: 42078 

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