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Detection Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

As a Security Engineer in the Infrastructure Detection domain, you will be at the forefront of securing Alphabet's backend platforms and hardware. You will bridge the boundary between Google Cloud ...

SIEM Engineer LOCATION Annapolis Junction, MD 20701 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... Understanding of threat detection * Familiarity with security protocols * Ability to develop ...

SIEM Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

SIEM Engineer LOCATION Chantilly, VA 20151 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this position ... Understanding of threat detection * Familiarity with security protocols * Ability to develop ...

SIEM Engineer LOCATION Reston, VA 20190 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this position ... Understanding of threat detection * Familiarity with security protocols * Ability to develop ...

SIEM Engineer LOCATION Chantilly, VA 20151 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this position ... Understanding of threat detection * Familiarity with security protocols * Ability to develop ...

SIEM Engineer LOCATION Tysons, VA 22182 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this position ... Understanding of threat detection * Familiarity with security protocols * Ability to develop ...

SIEM Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

SIEM Engineer LOCATION Reston, VA 20190 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this position ... Understanding of threat detection * Familiarity with security protocols * Ability to develop ...

Showing results 41-60

Detection Engineer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$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:

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.

Security Engineer, Detection

Google

Reston, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago


Google rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 103 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

48th of 247 rated software companies


Job description

Minimum qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
  • 1 year of experience with security assessments or security design reviews or threat modeling.
  • 1 year of coding experience in one or more general purpose languages.
  • Experience with security engineering, computer and network security and security protocols.

Preferred qualifications:
  • Experience in responding to security problems in target-rich environments, looking at security alerts, front-line analysis, and response.
  • Expertise with signals development, threat hunting, and threat modeling.
  • Expertise in the analysis of large data sets and intrusion detection systems.
  • Knowledge of modern AI/ML frameworks and tools, including experience in prompt engineering.

About the job
Our Security team works to create and maintain the safest operating environment for Google's users and developers. Security Engineers work with network equipment and actively monitor our systems for attacks and intrusions. In this role, you will also work with software engineers to proactively identify and fix security flaws and vulnerabilities.
The Detection team develops and maintains the signals, tools, and infrastructure that we use, constantly evolving them to match sophisticated attackers. As part of this team, you will be building advanced and novel detection mechanisms for attacker techniques, tactics and procedures, developing systems to automate remediation, conducting threat hunting, and performing network and systems forensics, as well as malware and indicator analysis.
As a Security Engineer in the Infrastructure Detection domain, you will be at the forefront of securing Alphabet's backend platforms and hardware. You will bridge the boundary between Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and production (network, data center). Our outlook is to establish a self-defending enterprise where no adversary can exploit or abuse our global infrastructure undetected. You will help us transition from manual, reactive security models to proactive, highly automated, and AI-driven defense systems capable of sublinear coverage growth. You will help protect network boundaries, harden systems against attacks, and actively build the intelligent automation required to defend highly sensitive data at an unprecedented scale.
Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
US: $123000 - $175000 (USD) 15% bonus target equity benefits
Learn more about benefits at Google .
Responsibilities
  • Design, implement, and maintain high-fidelity detections across critical infrastructure focus areas, including compute (GKE), supply chain, IAM/API (LOAS, Cloud IAM), and network.
  • Partner with program teams to deploy agentic detection engineering workflows, shifting defenses from "Detect and Respond" to machine-speed "Infer and Interrupt."
  • Ground detection logic in factual threat data by leveraging proven exploit paths from Red teams, Orange teams, and the Vulnerability Reward Program (VRP).
  • Reduce manual triage toil and operational burden by optimizing feedback loops between prevention, detection, and response.
  • Participate in a 24/7 global operation that hunts for and responds to security events on Google's networks. Perform investigations on a wide variety of events from various sources to determine whether they pose a threat to Google.

Information collected and processed as part of your Google Careers profile, and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Google's Applicant and Candidate Privacy Policy .
Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See also Google's EEO Policy , Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal , Belonging at Google , and How we hire .
If you have a need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form .
Google is a global company and, in order to facilitate efficient collaboration and communication globally, English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.
To all recruitment agencies: Google does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Google employees, or any other organization location. Google is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.
Equity is granted exclusively and discretionarily by Alphabet Inc. on the basis of an agreement concluded between you and Alphabet Inc. Alphabet Inc. is your sole contractual partner with respect to equity grants. GSU grants are not guaranteed, are discretionary, are subject to approval by the Alphabet Inc. board of directors or its delegate, the terms of the relevant Alphabet Inc. stock plan, and your grant agreement. They have no impact on statutory payments. Current or past grants do not confer an acquired right.

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