Cybersecurity EngineerContract Length: 10 months with the possibility of extending based on project need.Candidate currently residing in Richmond, VA area is required.The Cybersecurity Engineer develops and implements advanced cyber defense solutions for the agency, safeguards the infrastructure, and assures that the system is built to specification and is deployed successfully.We are seeking a highly analytical and technically proficient Cybersecurity Engineer supporting Splunk SIEM. You will play a critical role in defending our organization against cyber threats by leveraging Splunk Enterprise Security to monitor, detect, analyze, and respond to security events. The ideal candidate has strong expertise in log analysis, threat hunting, and writing Splunk queries to identify and contain malicious activity.Key ResponsibilitiesThreat Detection & Monitoring: Continuously monitor network traffic, endpoint logs, and cloud security events for anomalous behavior and potential security incidents.Splunk Management: Create, maintain, and tune Splunk correlation searches, alerts, and dashboards to minimize false positives and improve detection capabilities.Incident Response: Investigate potential security incidents, follow forensic evidence, and collaborate with IT and network teams to remediate threats.Use Case Development: Develop and refine detection and response playbooks based on threat intelligence and frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK.Log Integration: Work with infrastructure teams to onboard new data sources, ensuring log integrity, parsing, and normalization across the SIEM platform.Compliance & Reporting: Support audit readiness by collecting SIEM control evidence and generating compliance reports aligned with internal policies and standardsRequired/Desired SkillsMinimum of 8+ years of hands-on experience in cybersecurity, specifically operating, building, and investigating threats within a SIEM or Splunk. Required, 8 Years Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. Ability to operate calmly under pressure and manage multiple security tickets. Required, 8 Years Proficiency in writing SPL (Splunk Processing Language). Required, 8 Years Strong understanding of networking, firewalls, EDR, and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP). Required, 8 Years Knowledge of security frameworks (e.g., MITRE ATT&CK) and security compliance standards (e.g., NIST, HIPAA, or SOC 2). Required, 8 Years Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or a related field. RequiredRelevant certifications such as Splunk Core Certified User, Splunk Core Certified Advanced Power User, are highly preferred.