Cyber Security Associate Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

Job ID: 2616522

Location: Springfield, VA, US

Date Posted: 2026-09-03

Category: Cyber

Subcategory: Cyber Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: TS.SCI

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: TS/SCI with Poly

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE

Description

SAIC is seeking a skilled and motivated Cyber Network Defense (CND) Analyst to join our MAJESTIC Joint Program Office (JPO) Team in support of an on-premises enterprise IT environment. As part of a subcontract supporting a critical customer, the candidate will perform assessments of systems and networks to identify deviations from acceptable configurations, enclave policy, or local policy, while evaluating incident response procedures and capabilities. Responsibilities include exploiting system and network vulnerabilities to gather data from target systems. This role involves working within a complex environment of virtualized Windows and Linux servers, SQL Server databases, Oracle databases, and comprehensive networking layers to protect mission-critical systems and infrastructure.

All work must be performed on-site in Springfield, VA.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform assessments of systems and networks within the networking environment or enclave to identify deviations from acceptable configurations, policies, or security standards. 
• Evaluate incident response procedures and capabilities to ensure readiness for detecting, responding to, and mitigating cyber threats. 
• Exploit system and network vulnerabilities and misconfigurations for the purposes of gathering data from target systems or adversary networks to enable operations and intelligence collection capabilities. 
• Leverage computer networks to disrupt, deny, degrade, or destroy information resident in computers and networks, or the computers and networks themselves. 
• Identify, evaluate, and report cybersecurity vulnerabilities, providing actionable mitigation recommendations. 
• Review and validate system configurations, changes, and security controls for compliance and effectiveness. 
• Provide monitoring and analysis to detect signs of exploitation, unauthorized activity, or suspicious patterns. 
• Maintain detailed documentation, including incident investigations, security findings, compliance reports, and remediation plans. 
• Collaborate with stakeholders, such as Systems Administrators, Network Engineers, and Cybersecurity personnel, to assess and address risks effectively. 

Qualifications

Education:

• High School Diploma/GED

Certifications (CWF Requirements): 

• Candidates must satisfy Cybersecurity Workforce Framework (CWF) ID 511 (Cyber Defense Analyst) or 531 (Cyber Defense Auditor, Intermediate Level) requirements, as outlined by Navy COOL
  This requirement can be met by possessing one or more of the following qualifying certifications: 
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH/Practical)
• CompTIA Cloud+
• CompTIA PenTest+
• CompTIA Security+
• Federal IT Security Professional-Operator-NG (FITSP-O)
• GIAC Certified Enterprise Defender (GCED)
• GIAC Continuous Monitoring Certification (GMON)
• GIAC Defensible Security Architecture (GDSA)
• GIAC Response and Industrial Defense (GRID)
• GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)
• GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
• GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)
• Rocheston Certified Cybersecurity Engineer (RCCE) Level 1
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Cybersecurity (formerly Cisco Cybersecurity Associate)
• EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (ECIH)
• Federal IT Security Professional-Operator-NG (FITSP-O)

OR This requirement can be met through:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, IT, or a related field

Experience: 

• 2-5 years of experience performing security audits, compliance assessments, or Cyber Network Defense-related (CND) functions in an enterprise IT environment

Technical Skills: 

• Proficiency in cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST 800-53, RMF, ICD 503)
• Experience with CND tools and technologies (e.g., Splunk, Nessus, ACAS)
• Solid understanding of Windows/Linux security configurations and enterprise network concepts
• Familiarity with incident response procedures and database security for platforms like SQL Server and Oracle

Clearance Requirement: 

• Active TS/SCI clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI with Poly

Work Environment and Notes: 

• On-site Work: All work must be conducted on-site in Springfield, VA
• Program Scope: Supports on-premises enterprise IT environments, including virtualized Windows/Linux servers, databases, and comprehensive networking layers
• Subcontractor Role: Roles and responsibilities are defined per the subcontract agreement, with salary based on competitive market rates and role-specific requirements