Entry Level Program Analyst Jobs in California, MD

Jaster Engineering Technology (JET) Systems develops, maintains, and innovates systems for specific and common mission capabilities, combat aides, and surveillance systems. We provide solutions through cost-effective, tailored strategies to meet mission requirements. JET is committed to working with government agencies and commercial partners to develop modern autonomous and operator-interfaced control systems. The Cybersecurity and Systems Support Analyst supports the protection, monitoring, documentation, and continuous improvement of company and customer information systems. This entry-level role is designed for a recent graduate or early-career professional seeking hands-on experience across cybersecurity, information technology, system administration, and compliance activities. The position reports to the IT Systems Administrator and will work under the guidance of experienced technical personnel. 

The Cybersecurity and Systems Support Analyst position supports a hybrid work environment, providing flexibility for in-person and remote work based on program and customer needs. Candidates must reside within the St. Mary’s County/ NAS Pax River commuting area and be available to report onsite as required. The role requires effective collaboration with technical and non-technical team members, careful adherence to established procedures, and a strong willingness to learn. An active security clearance is not required at the time of hire; however, the employee must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance. Compensation and work schedule will be based on experience, program requirements, and company policy. As a valued team member, we provide the following employee benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; Life Insurance, Paid Time Off; and a 401(K) with employer matching.  

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Support day-to-day cybersecurity and information technology activities under the direction of senior technical staff. 
• Assist with the administration, configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting of networks, endpoints, operating systems, user accounts, and related information technology infrastructure. 
• Support user administration activities, including account creation, access changes, permissions review, password resets, and account deactivation in accordance with established procedures. 
• Apply foundational cybersecurity practices involving access control, least privilege, secure configuration, patching, vulnerability management, endpoint protection, and network security. 
• Assist with system and network monitoring, log review, vulnerability scans, security alerts, and the identification or escalation of unusual activity. 
• Support Windows and Linux system administration, networking, scripting, and troubleshooting activities. 
• Assist with vulnerability remediation, patch validation, configuration reviews, and follow-up documentation. 
• Develop, maintain, and update cybersecurity procedures, technical instructions, system inventories, diagrams, checklists, and other operational documentation. 
• Collect and organize evidence supporting cybersecurity assessments, internal reviews, customer requirements, and compliance activities. 
• Support implementation and maintenance of cybersecurity controls aligned with applicable organizational, contractual, and regulatory requirements. 
• Participate in cybersecurity awareness, incident response, risk management, and continuous improvement activities. 
• Communicate technical findings, risks, status, and recommended actions clearly to both technical and non-technical team members. 
• Follow established security procedures, protect sensitive information, and promptly report suspected security concerns or policy violations. 
• Independently research technical issues, propose practical solutions, identify opportunities to improve security or operational processes, and perform other cybersecurity, information technology, system administration, documentation, or compliance-support duties as assigned. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field. 
• Foundational understanding of information technology infrastructure, including networks, endpoints, operating systems, user administration, and basic troubleshooting. 
• Basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including access control, least privilege, secure configuration, patching, vulnerability management, and network security. 
• Academic, laboratory, internship, personal-project, or professional experience with Windows and Linux networking, scripting, or system administration. 
• Ability to follow documented technical and security procedures accurately and consistently. 
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to create clear, organized, and usable technical documentation. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail. 
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical personnel. 
• Demonstrated willingness to learn new technologies, cybersecurity practices, tools, and compliance requirements. 
• Must be able to pass a background check. 
• Must be a U.S. Citizen. 
• Ability to work effectively under the guidance of senior technical personnel. 
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance in the future, if requested. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• CompTIA Security+, Network+, A+, CySA+, Linux+, or another relevant entry-level information technology or cybersecurity certification. 
• Familiarity with National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification requirements, or related cybersecurity frameworks. 
• Internship, coursework, laboratory, home-lab, help desk, system administration, network administration, cybersecurity, or information assurance experience. 
• Experience using Windows and Linux command-line tools, PowerShell, Bash, Python, or another scripting language. 
• Exposure to vulnerability scanning, endpoint protection, security information and event management, ticketing, configuration management, or asset-management tools. 
• Experience documenting technical procedures, troubleshooting steps, security findings, or system configurations. 
• Experience supporting defense, federal government, government contracting, or other regulated environments. 
• Understanding of basic incident response, risk assessment, security control, or compliance concepts. 

DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS:  

• Strong interest in building a long-term career in cybersecurity, information assurance, or secure information technology operations. 
• Eagerness to learn from experienced personnel and apply feedback to progressively more complex assignments. 
• Curious, analytical mindset with a disciplined approach to troubleshooting and problem resolution. 
• Strong sense of responsibility when handling sensitive information, system access, and security-related tasks. 
• Ability to learn new tools, technologies, systems, and cybersecurity requirements quickly. 
• Self-directed and willing to investigate issues, ask thoughtful questions, and generate ideas beyond assigned tasks. 
• Detail-oriented, organized, dependable, and able to manage multiple priorities. 
• Comfortable working within established processes while identifying opportunities for improvement. 
• Values integrity, accountability, coachability, collaboration, discretion, and professionalism