Senior Cybersecurity Researcher Jobs in Georgia (NOW HIRING)

About Us
Are you ready to transform lives through academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships and economic opportunity? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With growing enrollment and global reach, we continue to expand our institutional influence and prominence beyond the state of Georgia. We offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to empower over 50,000 students to become thought leaders, lifelong learners, and informed global citizens. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics draw students from throughout the region and from more than 100 countries across the globe. Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice. We are part of the University System of Georgia . We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision . Come Take Flight at KSU!
Location
(Primary Location for Job Responsibilities) Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144.
Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.
Job Summary
Serves as an experienced individual contributor within the university's cybersecurity operations, responsible for independently handling advanced monitoring, investigation, and response activities. This role contributes to and advances detection, data protection, and compliance processes, supports and helps drive risk and governance initiatives, participates in and promotes cybersecurity awareness efforts, and provides guidance to junior analysts while operating within established procedures and escalation paths.
Responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Independently monitors, investigates, and responds to cybersecurity alerts, incidents, and policy violations across enterprise security platforms
2. Serves as a lead responder for routine to moderately complex security events, coordinating response efforts and escalating higher risk incidents according to established routes
3. Analyzes logs, alerts, and user behavior anomalies to determine potential impact and root cause
4. Supports and continuously refines data protection and compliance controls, including Microsoft Purview DLP, sensitivity labels, retention policies, and eDiscovery workflows
5. Documents investigations, findings, and remediation actions to support compliance, audit, and reporting requirements
6. Monitors security events and detections using SIEM tools such as Microsoft Sentinel and/or Log Analytics
7. Supports governance, risk, and compliance activities by generating evidence, reports, and operational metrics
8. Participates in cybersecurity awareness initiatives, helping to coordinate phishing simulations, training campaigns, and awareness events
9. Assists with the development and delivery of cybersecurity awareness communications and outreach efforts in coordination with internal stakeholders
10. Collaborates with IT, HR, Compliance, and departmental teams to resolve security issues and improve operational effectiveness
11. Provides informal guidance, mentorship, and knowledge sharing to cybersecurity analysts to support consistent practices
12. Participates in security process improvements and tool enhancement initiatives helping advance departmental priorities
13. Contributes to and participates in cybersecurity awareness initiatives and institutional outreach activities
Required Qualifications
Educational Requirements
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
Required Experience
Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in cybersecurity, information security, or a related Information Technology discipline.
Preferred Qualifications
Additional Preferred Qualifications
Professional certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Microsoft SC-200 or SC-400, or comparable mid-level cybersecurity certifications
Preferred Educational Qualifications
An advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in Cybersecurity, Information Security, Information Systems, or a related field
A degree in Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field is preferred
Preferred Experience
Experience supporting cybersecurity operations within higher education, healthcare, utilities, or government environments
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
ABILITIES
Demonstrated capability to review and analyze security alerts, logs, and reports to identify potential threats, misuse, or policy violations and recommend appropriate action
Proven ability to conduct security investigations independently within defined procedures and determine appropriate escalation paths and response recommendations
Capability to support governance, risk, and compliance activities, including audit preparation, reporting, and remediation tracking, and continuous improvement efforts
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders across the organization to support security and compliance objectives
Able to handle multiple tasks or projects at one time meeting assigned deadlines
KNOWLEDGE
Experience working with cybersecurity monitoring, alert triage, and incident response processes in an enterprise environment
Familiarity with Microsoft 365 security and compliance services, including Purview, Sentinel, eDiscovery, and Compliance Manager
Understanding of data protection, information governance, and regulatory requirements such as FERPA, HIPAA, PCI, and related standards
Experience documenting incidents, investigative findings, and compliance evidence using ticketing or case management systems to support remediation and audit activities
Awareness of common cyber threats and adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures across typical attack stages
SKILLS
Excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, project management and presentation skills
Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (i.e., Microsoft Office suite)
Strong attention to detail and follow up skills
Strong customer service skills and phone and e-mail etiquette
USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct .
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653 .
Equal Employment Opportunity
Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community.
For additional information on this policy, or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, eeo@kennesaw.edu.
Other Information
This is not a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position may travel 1% - 24% of the time
This position does not require security clearance.
Background Check

• Standard Enhanced
• Education
• MVR

Per the University System of Georgia background check policy, all final candidates will be required to consent to a criminal background investigation. Final candidates may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. Applicants for positions of trust with screening results which confirm a disqualifying criminal history will be immediately disqualified from employment eligibility
All applicants are required to include professional references as part of their application process. Some positions may require additional job-based screenings such as motor vehicle report, credit check, pre-employment drug screening and/or verification of academic credentials.
https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap_manual/HRAP_Background_Investigation_Employment.pdf