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Security Operations Analyst Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

SOC Analyst

Reston, VA ยท On-site

Mantis Security is seeking an experienced Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst to support the monitoring, detection, investigation, and response to cybersecurity threats within a mission-focused ...

New

... and analysis of response activities. Job-Specific Minimum Requirements: - Ability to document ... operations, incident response, or enterprise security support roles Preferred Skills and ...

Operations Analyst

Norfolk, VA ยท On-site

$25 - $29/hr

Operations Analyst Position Type: Contract (12 months, with possibility of extension) Schedule: Rotating Shift Work / 6-week schedule, including weekends and holidays as needed Location of assignment ...

Operations Analyst

Norfolk, VA ยท On-site

$25 - $29/hr

Operations Analyst Position Type: Contract (12 months, with possibility of extension) Schedule: Rotating Shift Work / 6-week schedule, including weekends and holidays as needed Location of assignment ...

Showing results 41-60

Security Operations Analyst information

See Virginia salary details

$17

$43

$60

How much do security operations analyst jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for security operations analyst in Virginia is $43.77, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $34.33 and $54.09 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a security operations analyst?

Security Operations Analysts are IT professionals responsible for monitoring, detecting, and responding to cybersecurity threats within an organization. They work in security operations centers (SOCs) to analyze security incidents, investigate suspicious activities, and help implement measures to protect digital assets. Their role often involves using security tools and technologies, collaborating with other IT teams, and ensuring compliance with security policies. By proactively identifying vulnerabilities and responding to incidents, Security Operations Analysts play a critical role in safeguarding an organization's information systems.

What does a security operations analyst do?

A security operations analyst works with a company, organization, or government office to identify and reduce security risks to their computer network. Your duties are to keep records of any suspicious activity, install security measures to prevent breaches, and give the organization suggestions about how to avoid future incidents. As a security operations analyst, your responsibilities also include conducting research on new threats and upgrading software as necessary. You often collaborate with other employees to resolve incidents as quickly as possible.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a security operations analyst, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Security Operations Analyst, you need a strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, incident response, and risk assessment, typically supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with security information and event management (SIEM) tools, intrusion detection systems, and certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CISSP is highly valuable. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are key soft skills that set top analysts apart. These skills and qualifications are essential for quickly identifying, investigating, and mitigating security threats to protect organizational assets.

How does a security operations analyst typically collaborate with other IT and security teams?

Security Operations Analysts work closely with various IT and cybersecurity teams to monitor, detect, and respond to security threats. They regularly interact with network engineers, incident response teams, and system administrators to escalate and resolve security incidents. Effective communication and coordination are crucial, as analysts may need to provide detailed incident reports, share threat intelligence, and participate in post-incident reviews to improve security protocols. This collaborative environment helps ensure a swift response to threats and fosters ongoing professional development through cross-team knowledge sharing.

What is the difference between Security Operations Analyst vs Security Engineer?

AspectSecurity Operations AnalystSecurity Engineer
Primary FocusMonitoring, detecting, and responding to security incidentsDesigning, implementing, and maintaining security systems
CertificationsCompTIA Security+, CISSP, CEHCISSP, GIAC Security Certifications, CISSP
Work EnvironmentSecurity operations centers, incident response teamsSecurity architecture teams, development environments
ResponsibilitiesAnalyzing security alerts, incident response, threat huntingDeveloping security tools, deploying security solutions, system hardening

While both roles focus on cybersecurity, Security Operations Analysts primarily monitor and respond to threats in real-time, whereas Security Engineers design and build security infrastructure to prevent attacks. Both roles often collaborate but serve different functions within an organization's security strategy.

What job categories do people searching Security Operations Analyst jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Security Operations Analyst jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Security Operations Analyst jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Security Operations Analyst job openings:

Infographic showing various Security Operations Analyst job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $91,034 per year, or $43.8 per hour.

Security Operations Lead

Applied Information Sciences

Alexandria, VA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Manage and direct all security operations functions, including threat monitoring, detection, response, and remediation.

  • Lead and mentor security analysts, penetration testers, and operations engineers to ensure effective cyber defense operations.

  • Oversee and coordinate penetration testing activities, vulnerability assessments, and red team engagements.


Job description

Why AIS?

When you join AIS, you're joining a mission-driven team that's passionate about making a difference. You'll work on projects that matter, alongside industry-leading experts, in an environment that fosters innovation, driving client success, and empowering our team to make a lasting impact. As an employee-owned company, we value collaboration, inclusivity, continuous growth, and shared success.

  • Employee Ownership: Your contributions directly impact the company's success, and you share in its achievements.

  • Continuous Learning: Access to resources, training, and mentorship to support your professional growth.

  • Inclusive Culture: A workplace where diversity is celebrated, and everyone's voice is valued.

  • Mission-Driven Work: Engage in projects that make a meaningful difference for our clients and communities.

What are we looking for?

At AIS, we're looking for more than just skills - we're looking for driven individuals who are passionate about making a difference, eager to grow, and aligned with our core principles.

What you will be doing?

This position is contingent upon contract award. We are currently pursuing a proposal and are seeking qualified candidates to include in our submission and identify candidates for future hiring needs on the program once awarded.

At AIS, we are dedicated to providing our employees with diverse opportunities to grow their careers while supporting a variety of impactful projects. For this position, we are seeking a talented individual to join AIS as a Security Architect.
  • Core Knowledge & Skills: Develops enterprise security architectures, frameworks, and standards; utilizes advanced forensics and integrates solutions with IT systems.

  • Work & Complexity: Designs secure architectures, manages integration projects, leads strategic initiatives, and enforces policies and standards.

  • Quality & Independence: Ensures integrity and scalability, develops comprehensive strategies, and optimizes solutions for performance and efficiency.

  • Teamwork & Communication: Leads architectural teams, builds partnerships, manages knowledge, and communicates strategies and executive reports.

  • Consulting & Engagement: Provides architectural consulting, leads innovation initiatives, evaluates enterprise technologies, and builds strategic partnerships.

As your initial project assignment, you will support the unique needs of our client as a Security Operations Lead. Project Overview

The Security Operations Lead is responsible for managing, directing, and executing enterprise security operations, including penetration testing, continuous monitoring, and advanced cyber defense activities. This role will architect, implement, and maintain security technologies, ensure data protection throughout the information lifecycle, and lead a high-performing security operations team. The ideal candidate has deep technical expertise, strong leadership skills, and extensive experience with Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) practices.

This is a proposal-based position; employment is contingent upon contract award and funding availability.


Key Responsibilities

Security Operations Leadership

  • Manage and direct all security operations functions, including threat monitoring, detection, response, and remediation.

  • Lead and mentor security analysts, penetration testers, and operations engineers to ensure effective cyber defense operations.

  • Establish operational frameworks, runbooks, and governance processes that align with organizational security objectives.

Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM)

  • Implement and oversee all phases of CDM, including asset management, vulnerability management, identity and access control, and security posture monitoring.

  • Define and maintain baselines for security tools to ensure proper configuration, tuning, and deployment.

  • Continuously refine CDM capabilities to align with evolving threats and compliance standards.

Security Architecture & Technology Enablement

  • Architect, deploy, and maintain enterprise security products and services across on-premises and cloud environments.

  • Ensure security technologies are effectively integrated, optimized, and aligned with enterprise architecture.

  • Recommend and implement innovative solutions to protect data throughout its lifecycle-creation, storage, processing, transmission, and destruction.

Penetration Testing & Threat Analysis

  • Oversee and coordinate penetration testing activities, vulnerability assessments, and red team engagements.

  • Evaluate emerging threats and security trends to inform strategy and defense enhancements.

  • Ensure timely remediation and risk mitigation across environments.

Collaboration & Reporting

  • Partner with IT, engineering, compliance, and executive leadership to align security operations with business priorities.

  • Provide executive-level reporting on threat posture, operational performance, and risk management outcomes.

  • Serve as an escalation point for major incidents and complex security challenges.


Required For This Opportunity
  • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field.

  • Minimum 10 years of experience delivering security operations and penetration testing support.

  • Minimum 5 years of experience managing and directing security operations teams.

  • Extensive experience with:

    • Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) execution

    • Enterprise security tool deployment, configuration, and baseline management

    • Data protection and lifecycle security strategies

    • Security architecture and engineering across hybrid environments

  • Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.

  • Clearance: Secret

Certifications (Mandatory)

  • CISSP-ISSMP (Information Systems Security Management Professional)

  • CISSP-ISSAP (Information Systems Security Architecture Professional)


Preferred Certification

  • CNSE (Certified Network Security Engineer)


Nice to Have Skills
  • Experience in highly regulated, federal, or mission-critical environments.

  • Expertise with SIEM/SOAR platforms, endpoint protection tools, and advanced threat analytics.

  • Knowledge of NIST frameworks, zero-trust architecture, and modern cyber defense methodologies.

At AIS, we are committed to offering competitive and fair compensation that reflects the skills, experience, and contributions of each team member. The targeted base salary range for this role is $138,000-$209,000 per year. Please note that this range is provided as a guideline and the final offer will be based on several factors, including but not limited to, skillset and competencies, level of experience, education, certifications, and location. We value transparency in our hiring process and are happy to discuss how your unique qualifications align with our compensation structure during the interview process.

Applied Information Sciences does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis. Employment decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs.