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Senior Detection Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Sr. Security Engineer

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$140 - $190/hr

The Senior Security Engineer will serve as a technical lead on the program, working closely with ... Own detection, classification, and protection of AI-native development artifacts, including ...

Sr. Security Engineer

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$155K - $165K/yr

The Senior Security Engineer will serve as a technical lead on the program, working closely with ... Own detection, classification, and protection of AI-native development artifacts, including ...

Senior AI/ML Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$120K - $165K/yr

Senior AI/ML Engineer Arlington, VA 540 is seeking a Senior AI/ML Engineer to support a mission ... Establish model monitoring, performance tracking, drift detection, explainability, and governance ...

Sr. Security Engineer

Alexandria, VA · Hybrid

$122K - $167K/yr

The Senior Security Engineer will serve as a technical lead on the program, working closely with ... Own detection, classification, and protection of AI-native development artifacts, including ...

Sr. Security Engineer

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$155K - $165K/yr

The Senior Security Engineer will serve as a technical lead on the program, working closely with ... Own detection, classification, and protection of AI-native development artifacts, including ...

Senior AI/ML Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$120K - $165K/yr

Senior AI/ML Engineer Arlington, VA 540 is seeking a Senior AI/ML Engineer to support a mission ... Establish model monitoring, performance tracking, drift detection, explainability, and governance ...

Senior Cybersecurity Engineer

King George, VA · On-site

$106K - $146K/yr

The Senior Cybersecurity Engineer is a key member of the Information Technology team, responsible ... Threat Detection & Response * Work with external security service providers to coordinate ...

Senior Forward Deployed Engineer

Mclean, VA · Hybrid

$105K - $145K/yr

Senior Forward Deployed Engineer Location: McLean, Virginia Work Environment: Hybrid Role Summary ... Apply AI/ML methods to enhance predictive analytics, anomaly detection, and risk identification ...

Senior Wireless Engineer

Quantico, VA · On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

The Senior Wireless Engineer will be responsible for plan, design, develop, install, modify, and ... intrusion detection and prevention systems, including WIDS and WIPS * Understanding of Cisco ...

Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Mclean, VA

$105K - $145K/yr

Senior Machine Learning Engineer Location: McLean, VA (hybrid); occasional travel to Durham, NC and ... Our teams build AI/ML solutions that help the DoD detect enemies and threats, help biomedical ...

Senior AI/ML Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$140 - $210/hr

540 is seeking a Senior AI/ML Engineer to support a mission-critical technology modernization ... Establish model monitoring, performance tracking, drift detection, explainability, and governance ...

Senior AI/ML Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$120K - $165K/yr

540 is seeking a Senior AI/ML Engineer to support a mission-critical technology modernization ... Establish model monitoring, performance tracking, drift detection, explainability, and governance ...

Senior AI/ML Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$120K - $165K/yr

540 is seeking a Senior AI/ML Engineer to support a mission-critical technology modernization ... Establish model monitoring, performance tracking, drift detection, explainability, and governance ...

Sr Active Defense Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$144K - $258K/yr

... engineering. We use innovative tools and technologies to analyze and visualize data, including ... You will test detection coverage, perform gap analysis and then use this information to develop and ...

Senior AI/ML Engineer

Arlington, VA

$120K - $165K/yr

540 is seeking a Senior AI/ML Engineer to support a mission-critical technology modernization ... Establish model monitoring, performance tracking, drift detection, explainability, and governance ...

Sr Active Defense Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$144K - $258K/yr

... engineering. We use innovative tools and technologies to analyze and visualize data, including ... You will test detection coverage, perform gap analysis and then use this information to develop and ...

... and detection engineering activities. • Integrate threat intelligence into detection and ... senior technical contributor during cyber incident response activities and provide remediation ...

Showing results 41-60

Senior Detection Engineer information

What is the difference between Senior Detection Engineer vs Security Analyst?

AspectSenior Detection EngineerSecurity Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS, Cybersecurity, or related; certifications like CISSP, GIACBachelor's in CS, Cybersecurity, or related; certifications like CompTIA Security+
Work EnvironmentDevelops detection tools, analyzes security data, creates detection rulesMonitors security alerts, investigates incidents, reports findings
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, financial institutions, cybersecurity firmsIT departments, government agencies, large enterprises

While both roles focus on security, Senior Detection Engineers primarily develop and refine detection systems, whereas Security Analysts monitor and respond to security incidents. The Senior Detection Engineer role is more technical and development-oriented, while Security Analysts focus on incident response and analysis.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior detection engineer, and why are they important?

To excel as a Senior Detection Engineer, you need advanced knowledge of cybersecurity principles, threat detection methodologies, and experience with incident response, often supported by a degree in computer science or related certifications like CISSP or GIAC. Proficiency in SIEM platforms (such as Splunk or Sentinel), scripting languages (like Python), and EDR/XDR tools is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and effective communication help you collaborate with teams and respond to evolving threats. These capabilities are crucial for proactively identifying and mitigating security risks to protect organizational assets.

What is a senior detection engineer?

A Senior Detection Engineer is a cybersecurity professional responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining systems that detect threats and malicious activities within an organization's network. They create and refine detection rules, analyze security alerts, and work closely with incident response teams to mitigate risks. Senior Detection Engineers also lead efforts to improve detection capabilities by researching new attack techniques and developing advanced monitoring solutions. Their expertise helps organizations proactively defend against evolving cyber threats.

What are some common challenges a senior detection engineer faces when developing and tuning detection rules?

A Senior Detection Engineer often encounters challenges such as balancing detection accuracy with false positive rates, staying ahead of evolving threat landscapes, and ensuring detection rules adapt to new attack techniques. They must also collaborate closely with other security teams to understand operational impacts and validate the effectiveness of their rules in real-world scenarios. Regular communication, continuous learning, and iterative testing are crucial to overcoming these challenges and maintaining a robust security posture.

How much do detection engineers make?

Detection engineers typically earn a median salary ranging from $90,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and certifications. Senior detection engineers with specialized skills in cybersecurity tools and threat detection may earn higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000.
What job categories do people searching Senior Detection Engineer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Detection Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Senior Detection Engineer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Senior Detection Engineer job openings:

Sr. Security Engineer

Tetra Tech

Alexandria, VA • On-site

$140 - $190/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago


Tetra Tech rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 42 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

402nd of 447 rated engineering


Job description

Halvik Corp delivers a wide range of services to 13 executive agencies and 15 independent agencies. Halvik is a highly successful WOB business with more than 50 prime contracts and 500+ professionals delivering Digital Services, Advanced Analytics, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Cyber Security and Cutting-Edge Technology across the US Government. Be a part of something special!

Position Overview

Halvik is seeking a Senior Security Engineer to support a customer's enterprise initiative that enables secure, compliant adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across their agency's hybrid environment. This role leads the design, implementation, and operationalization of enterprise-scale data discovery and classification, AI governance and protection controls, and detection capabilities for emerging AI-native development artifacts (e.g., Markdown-based prompt files, cursor rules, GitHub Copilot instructions, and Model Context Protocol configuration files). The Senior Security Engineer will serve as a technical lead on the program, working closely with customer stakeholders, the COR/CO, and Halvik delivery leadership to protect sensitive agency and stakeholder information while enabling the agency's AI adoption goals.

This is a Hybrid position requiring work at the customer location in Alexandria, VA.

Core Responsibilities
  • Strategic Execution: Lead the architecture and phased rollout of enterprise data discovery, classification, and AI governance capabilities, prioritizing high-risk repositories and expanding coverage across cloud, on-premises, SaaS, and developer environments.
  • AI Governance & Enforcement: Design and tune policy-based controls (allow, block, alert, redact, route) that monitor AI prompts, responses, and related artifacts in real time or near-real-time to prevent unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information.
  • Emerging AI Artifact Security: Own detection, classification, and protection of AI-native development artifacts, including Markdown prompt files, cursor rules, Copilot instructions, and MCP configuration files, across repositories, shared drives, and developer workspaces.
  • Operational Oversight: Maintain auditable enforcement records, oversee remediation workflows for policy exceptions and exposure events, and ensure timely, traceable resolution of compliance findings.
  • Collaboration: Partner with customer stakeholders, the COR/CO, and cross-functional Halvik teams to align implementation with the agency's cloud migration timeline, security approvals, and AI expansion roadmap.
  • Technical Performance: Architect integrations with enterprise DLP/CASB platforms, SIEM, and identity/access workflows; support early, automated detection of vulnerabilities in code, containers, and infrastructure-as-code templates, including flaws introduced by AI components or data pipelines feeding AI models.
  • Mentorship & Quality: Provide technical guidance and review for mid-level engineers and contribute to deliverables including the Enterprise Architecture and Deployment Plan, Discovery and Classification Configuration, and AI Governance and Enforcement Configuration.
  • Continued Proficiency: Stays current with emerging AI technologies and cybersecurity trends to ensure best-in-class practices.
Minimum Requirements
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field (Master's Degree and 8 years of experience; equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of degree, 14+ years).
  • Experience: Minimum of 10 years of professional cybersecurity engineering experience, including at least 3 years focused on data loss prevention (DLP), data classification, or cloud/enterprise security architecture, ideally within a Federal environment.
  • Technical Proficiency: Advanced knowledge of data discovery/classification and DLP platforms (e.g., Microsoft Purview, Symantec DLP, Varonis), cloud security in AWS/Azure/GovCloud, CASB, and SIEM tooling.
  • Compliance: Working knowledge of NIST SP 800-53, FISMA, and the Risk Management Framework (RMF).
  • Certifications: Current CISSP certification is required.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance.
Preferred Expertise
  • Demonstrated success supporting Federal contracts.
  • Hands-on experience securing generative AI and LLM-enabled workflows, including prompt engineering artifacts and Model Context Protocol implementations.
  • Familiarity with Agile/Scrum delivery methodologies and enterprise IT service management practices.
  • Scripting and automation experience (e.g., Python, PowerShell) to support policy tuning and reporting.
  • Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical risk into terms suitable for executive and government stakeholders.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with others and contribute to a team environment.
Benefits
  • Company-supported medical, dental, vision, life, STD, and LTD insurance
  • Benefits include 11 federal holidays and PTO
  • Eligible employees may receive performance-based incentives in recognition of individual and/or team achievements.
  • 401(k) with company matching
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for commuter, medical, and dependent care expenses
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Charitable Contribution matching

Halvik Corp is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Halvik'spay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

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