Threat Detection Engineer

Leidos•Arlington, VA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business. If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading! The Digital Modernization Sector brings together our digital transformation and IT programs, allowing us to better serve our customers through scale and repeatability. Leidos has a critical need for a Threat Detection Engineer to support the DHS CISA SOC. Leidos has an immediate need for an experienced Threat Detection Engineer for a new customer on a highly-visible and strategic Cybersecurity Task Order. The Detection Engineer will need to be a self-starter with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, flexibility, good judgment, and the ability to work within a team to stand up and mature the cybersecurity capabilities of our customer. Threat Detection Engineering plays a crucial role in defending an organization by building, implementing, and tuning threat detection logic to identify and respond to malicious activities. The position requires expertise in security analytics, data correlation, threat intelligence, and automation within a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform or equivalent detection system/s.

Requirements

BS degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math or related field and 12-15 years of prior relevant experience with a focus on cybersecurity. Additional years of experience and/or certs will be considered in lieu of a degree.
Strong expertise in SIEM platforms and familiarity with query languages (e.g. SPL, KQL).
Understanding of malware behaviors, threat actors, and attack tactics (MITRE ATT&CK).
Ability to independently assess and improve detection rules.
Expertise with troubleshooting and documentation skills.
Develop and fine-tune detection rules to identify more complex threats.
Collaborate with the threat intelligence team to incorporate threat indicators into detection logic.
Experience with automated detection workflows and streamline incident response processes.

Nice To Haves

Understanding of malware behaviors, threat actors, and attack tactics (MITRE ATT&CK).
Experience with automation and scripting (e.g., Python, PowerShell).
Candidate must have one of the following: Certifications SANS: GCDA, GCDT, GCFA, GCFE, GCTI, GCIA, GCIH Splunk: Certified Power User, Splunk Admin, Certified Cybersecurity Defense Analyst Certified Cybersecurity Defense Engineer (SCCDE). MITRE: MITRE ATT&CK Defender (MAD) certs.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and maintain detection rules to identify malicious behaviors.
Optimize detection efficacy by reducing false positives and increasing true positive rates
Work closely with the Incident Response Team (IRT) to provide coverage for detected threats, as well as detailed analysis and documentation.
Integrate automated workflows and playbooks to streamline response processes.
Collaborate with threat intelligence teams to develop detection logic for emerging threats.
Generate reports and dashboards to highlight detection efficiency and threat trends.
Document detection processes, methodologies, and workflows.
Share insights and mentor team members on best practices in threat detection.
Contribute to playbook development and work closely with Incident Response on detection coverage.
Lead/Mentor Analysts in detection techniques and security best practices.