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Detection Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

ECS

Detection Engineer - Threat Hunter

Arlington, VA · On-site

$170K - $190K/yr

Everforth ECS is seeking a Detection Engineer - Threat Hunter to join our team in Arlington, VA (Hybrid) . This position is contingent upon award. We are seeking a highly motivated Detection Engineer ...

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Verizon

Senior Detection Engineer

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$106K - $146K/yr

Detection Engineering: Design, build, and optimize advanced security detections within the Splunk platform. You will move beyond basic alerts to create high-fidelity, risk-based alerting (RBA) models ...

Booz Allen Hamilton

Data & Detection Engineer

Fort Belvoir, VA · On-site

$129K - $155K/yr

Data & Detection Engineer The Opportunity: Are you looking for an opportunity to share your experience in system security engineering to help our country and assist our clients with critical missions?

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Detection Engineer information

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$11.8K

$167.9K

$206.7K

How much do detection engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for detection engineer in Washington, DC is $167,921.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $153,534.00 and $185,207.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a detection engineer do?

A Detection Engineer is responsible for identifying, analyzing, and mitigating security threats by developing detection rules, monitoring security systems, and responding to potential incidents. They work with security tools like SIEMs, EDRs, and IDS/IPS to detect malicious activity and improve threat detection capabilities. Additionally, they collaborate with security teams to enhance defensive strategies and automate detection processes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a detection engineer?

To thrive as a Detection Engineer, you need strong analytical skills, a solid understanding of cybersecurity principles, and experience with threat detection and response, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Proficiency with security information and event management (SIEM) tools, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and certifications like GIAC or CISSP are commonly required. Attention to detail, proactive problem-solving abilities, and effective communication enhance effectiveness in this role. These skills are crucial as Detection Engineers must accurately identify security threats, collaborate with teams, and minimize potential risks to the organization.

What kind of projects or tasks does a detection engineer typically work on?

As a Detection Engineer, you can expect to work on designing, implementing, and refining security detection strategies to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities in company systems. Daily responsibilities often include developing detection logic, analyzing security alerts, conducting threat hunting exercises, and collaborating with incident response teams. You may also work closely with other cybersecurity professionals to evaluate the effectiveness of existing security measures and recommend improvements. This dynamic environment offers opportunities to work on complex technical challenges while directly contributing to the organization’s overall security posture.

What are the most commonly searched types of Detection Engineer jobs in Washington, DC?

The most popular types of Detection Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:

What are popular job titles related to Detection Engineer jobs in Washington, DC?

For Detection Engineer jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Detection Engineer jobs in Washington, DC look for?

The top searched job categories for Detection Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:

Detection Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Detection Engineer job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 12% Contract. Highlights an 82% In-person, 8% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,921 per year, or $80.7 per hour.

Detection Engineer

Accenture Federal Services

Arlington, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago

Accenture Federal Services rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 20 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

51st of 500 rated business services

Job description

Job Summary:
Accenture Federal Services is dedicated to strengthening the US federal government through technology and ingenuity. The Detection Engineer will work on the Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) to design, engineer, and implement security detection initiatives, developing detection logic and collaborating with teams to enhance security posture.
Responsibilities:
• Design, engineer, and implement security detection initiatives under the cybersecurity team lead.
• Develop new detection logic for SIEM (Microsoft Sentinel) and network security platforms (Cisco FirePower, IDS/IPS), incorporating AI-driven tooling where applicable.
• Write and optimize KQL queries for Sentinel to improve detection fidelity and reduce false positives.
• Tune detection sets to raise security-relevant events for triage and response teams.
• Maintain version control of detection logic using Git and GitHub workflows for collaborative development and auditability.
• Bridge the gap between network engineering and cybersecurity teams to advocate for secure network designs and maximize security device capabilities.
• Conduct technical briefings to enhance team awareness of network architecture and detection strategies.
• Collaborate with operations and management to recommend improvements to security posture and ensure compliance with industry and federal standards (e.g., NIST, CISA).
Qualifications:
Required:
• U.S. Citizenship required
• Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 6 + years experience in information security or equivalent combination of education and work experience
• 2+ years experience performing event and log analysis across enterprise security tools (AV, IDS/IPS, Firewalls, Active Directory, Web Proxies, DLP, SIEM)
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Sentinel & KQL (minimum 1 year)
• Hands-on experience with Cisco FirePower and IDS/IPS configuration (minimum 1 year)
• Hands-on experience with SIEM platforms (Sentinel preferred)
• Detection engineering: designing and tuning signatures for IoCs and IoAs
• Packet and malware analysis using tools like Wireshark
• Git and GitHub for detection code version control and collaborative workflows
• Scripting and parsing (regex, PowerShell, Python, grep, sed, awk)
• TCP/IP, application layer protocols, and Windows/Linux internals
• MITRE ATT&CK framework for detection mapping
Preferred:
• Threat hunting and automation experience
• Familiarity with cloud security monitoring (Azure, AWS)
• Certifications such as GIAC GCIA, GCED, or Microsoft Security Operations Analyst Associate
Company:
Accenture Federal Services is a leading US federal services company and subsidiary of Accenture. Founded in 1989, the company is headquartered in Arlington, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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