Media Malware Analyst, Journeyman

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?

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 sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. The Leidos National Security Sector (NSS) combines technology-enabled services and mission software capabilities in the areas of cyber, logistics, security operations, and decision analytics to support our defense and intel customers’ mission to defend against evolving threats around the world.

Your greatest work is ahead!

The National Security Sector (NSS) seeks a highly qualified and trained Journeyman-level Media Malware Analysts to support United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) operations by identifying and analyzing sophisticated malware threats targeting USCYBERCOM the Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN), and associated networks and organizations. This vital on-site support to USCYBERCOM J3 (Operations), Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF), and Joint Task Force-Ares (JTF-ARES) underpins USCYBERCOM support to United States National Security objectives. This opportunity is in anticipation of a future contract award!

What you’ll be doing:

• Provide timely, accurate, relevant support in manner that best supports USCYBERCOM in identifying and assessing emerging threats and vulnerabilities in the Cyberspace domain.
• Conduct forensic analysis of vulnerable or compromised systems and media and identify and analyze adversary TTPs and intrusion artifacts.
• Perform static and dynamic malware analysis, including reverse engineering and extracting malicious files from digital media and conduct detailed file analysis, as appropriate. 
• Create technical analysis reports with actionable intelligence findings, delivering timely, accurate, relevant threat briefs and analysis updates that meet explicit and implied requirements, and deliver presentations to leadership in appropriate formats.
• Identify unique indicators for signature and heuristic development.
• Draft and support implementation of security incident response policies.
• Analyze operational reporting to correlate attack trends and shared tradecraft and support development and improvement of enterprise malware analysis tools. 
• Conduct log/system analysis (routers, Windows, UNIX) for threat detection and update DoD situational awareness mechanisms (e.g., USCYBERCOM portals).
• Research open-source intel to inform threat assessments and signature creation.
• Develop and maintain validated MD5 hash lists for signature repositories
• Analyze and evaluate All-Source finished intelligence, single-source intelligence, and technical data from various sources to identify Cyber threat patterns and anomalies.
• Conduct and publish in-depth risk assessments to evaluate and categorize the risk posture of detected cyber threats while supporting development and refinement of risk assessment methodologies and tools used for threat categorization.
• Collaborate with operational, technical, and intelligence elements across USCYBERCOM to enhance situational awareness and threat response capabilities.
• Maintain a current understanding of advanced persistent threats (APTs), threat actor tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), and cyber threat trends affecting national security.
• Maintain situational awareness of, and execute on demand, CO crisis plans.
• Provide situational awareness to range of projects, Crisis Action Teams, and current operations activities supporting Operational Planning Teams (OPTs)
• Execute resource allocation decisions aligned with organization objectives.
• Apply knowledge of cyber threats and attack methods and techniques emanating from state and non-state adversaries and tiered vulnerabilities within Blue Space as focus of threats.
• Review, approve, prioritize, and submit operational requirements for research, development, and/or acquisition of Cyber capabilities
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and guidance relevant to daily activities 
• Communicate complex information, concepts, or ideas in a confident and well-organized manner through verbal, written, and/or visual means.

What does Leidos need from me?

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and Polygraph required.
• BA/BS degree or higher within Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Digital Forensics, or related field, or ability to complete degree within one year of hire. Can substitute formal education with extended experience and technical certifications.
• Five plus years’ demonstrated proficiency in malware analysis (static/dynamic), incident handling, and reverse engineering.
• Working experience with tools such as IDA Pro, Ghidra, Wireshark, Volatility, and sandbox environments.
• Intimate familiarity with network protocols, OS internals (Windows/Linux/UNIX), and cyber threat analysis
• Broad knowledge of Blue-space Cyber capabilities and demonstrate understanding of available Cyber infrastructure or platforms to conduct Defensive (DCO) and Offensive Cyberspace Operations (OCO)
• Knowledge of computer networking fundamentals as well as concepts, terminology, and operations of a wide range of communications media (computer and telephone networks, satellite, fiber, wireless).
• Ability to support timely, accurate, relevant analytical production, to include documents, summaries, issue papers, talking points, and briefings.
• Demonstrated proficiency working in a fast-paced collaborative environment, ability to proactively multi-task and meet short deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, critical thinking, and communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex and technical data to nontechnical consumers.

Favorable if you have:

• Masters’ Degree or higher within Cybersecurity, Information Security, or related fields. 
• Experience developing detection signatures and writing technical reports for leadership.
• Deep understanding of USCYBERCOM organizational structure and mission. 
• Prior experience supporting Joint operations across multiple warfighting domains. 
• Demonstrated experience incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into operations at any level to increase efficiency and effectiveness of operational outcomes
• Experience with Space-enabled CO. 
• Formal training within field of Cyber Warfare and Joint Operations.
• Familiar with art of Data Science and applicability to CO.
• Familiar with Microsoft Power BI data visualization software.  
• Desired Certifications (not all inclusive, no expectations for candidate to hold all certifications): GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware (GREM); Certified Reverse Engineering Analyst (CREA); Certified Malware Analyst (CMA); Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR); GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA); GIAC Cyber Threat Intelligence (GCTI).

COSS

At Leidos, we don’t want someone who "fits the mold"—we want someone who melts it down and builds something better. This is a role for the restless, the over-caffeinated, the ones who ask, “what’s next?” before the dust settles on “what’s now.”

If you’re already scheming step 20 while everyone else is still debating step 2… good. You’ll fit right in.

Original Posting:

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay 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.