SummaryThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is recruiting professionals to support a range of technical roles in Mitigation and Response, including Cyber Defense Incident Responder, Cyber Incident Response Analyst, and Cyber Intrusion Detection Specialist. All positions are in the DHS Cybersecurity Service.
DutiesHelp
DHS Cybersecurity Service (DHS-CS) uses a multi-phase assessment process to qualify applicants seeking employment through the DHS-CS. Given the ever-advancing nature of cybersecurity and the ongoing need for cybersecurity talent, DHS-CS uses "Talent Pools" to pull qualified applicants (i.e., individuals who have successfully completed the multi-phase assessment process for their capability and career track/level) for consideration for these jobs.
This announcement is being used to fill the
Mitigation and Response Talent Pool. By applying to this job announcement, you are opting to be part of the DHS-CS Talent Pool for ongoing consideration for employment for relevant open jobs and will remain eligible for consideration for up to one year from the date of completion.
There are a variety of Mitigation and Response opportunities across the Department, including supporting several specialized programs at DHS Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (PLCY), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Secret Service (USSS).
Depending on your career level and role, DHS Cybersecurity Service employees in the Technical Career Track, with a technical capability in Mitigation and Response, will generally apply their expertise to perform a range of tasks, including:
- Supporting a team or program in monitoring, analysis, incident response, and handling for DHS or its constituents.
- Proactively analyzing network traffic patterns to identify possible threats - includes analyzing log files from a variety of sources (e.g., individual host logs, network traffic logs, firewall logs, and intrusion detection system [IDS] logs) and using other analytic tools and data science methodologies.
- Actively monitoring DHS environments for potential threats or vulnerabilities, providing DHS or external agency/private industry leadership with situational visibility across the enterprise.
- Creating threat assessments for vulnerabilities on networks, systems software, and hardware and recommending appropriate mitigation.
- Ensuring incidents are managed in accordance with NIST stages of incident handling guidelines and assisting others who are less seasoned in properly applying these standards.
- Customizing communications for different levels of leadership and audiences to provide strategic direction and support to DHS, Component leadership and/or their SOCs, or external constituents to enable mission capabilities.
- Collaborating with internal and external DHS stakeholders in performing critical security operations and incident handling.
- Working with HQ and/or Component NOC/SOCs to block or deny access by hostile sites or restrict access by specific ports/protocols.
- Actively engaging processes to implement, configure, monitor, and maintain Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools to monitor, detect and respond to threats on DHS or federal/national partner networks and enclaves.
- Applying techniques for gathering, recovering, analyzing, interpreting, preserving, and presenting information and digital evidence (from computers, mobile devices, websites, network packets, et al.) to support legal prosecution or other departmental requirements.
- Integrating stakeholder feedback when recommending recovery action plans for repairs, including mitigation strategies for interim system vulnerabilities/deficiencies.
- Customizing communications (e.g., incident updates and after-action reports) to emphasize the most critical information and address anticipated follow-up concerns of specific target audiences.
- Proposing and maintaining, a suite of cybersecurity tools, to include SIEM and Endpoint Security Tools.
- Working with designated managers, cyber incident responders, and cybersecurity service provider team members in handling suspected cyber incidents articulating the event's history, status, and potential impact for further action in accordance with the organization's cyber incident response plan.
- Collaborating with team members to collect intrusion artifacts (e.g., source code, malware, trojans) and using discovered data to enable mitigation of potential cyber defense incidents within the enterprise in accordance with recovery action plans.
RequirementsHelp
Conditions of employment- You must be a U.S. Citizen or national.
- You must be 18 years of age.
- Must be registered for the Selective Service (if you are a male).
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. Security clearance levels may vary.
- Must be able to submit to a drug test and receive a negative result.
- Must be able to comply with ethics and standards of conduct requirements, including completing any applicable financial disclosure.
- May be required to serve a 3 year probationary period.
QualificationsThis position is in the Technical Track across a range of career levels. Employees in this career track generally:
- Have between 5-15 years of cybersecurity work experience.
- Range from experienced cybersecurity professionals who apply technical expertise and independent judgement to perform cybersecurity work - to - recognized Federal cybersecurity technical authorities with uncommon technical expertise who advise on cybersecurity challenges impacting DHS and the Nation.
DHS Cybersecurity Service employees with a technical capability in Mitigation and Responsewill generally:
- Track and respond to prioritized urgent IT and cyber events and indicators of compromise (IOCs) to mitigate threats to networks, systems, and applications.
- Investigate and analyze response activities and employs various advanced response and recovery approaches as appropriate.
- Apply understanding of tactics, techniques, and procedures for investigative processes, including identifying adversaries' TTPs and applying corresponding defense or security controls.
- Conduct root cause analysis and response coordination, providing recommendations for mitigation.
- Execute recovery action plans and adapts plans to handle new developments.
DHS Cybersecurity Service employees start at career levels and salaries matching their experience and expertise. In recruiting for this opportunity, DHS may hire employees at higher or lower career levels and associated salaries. To learn more about DHS Cybersecurity Service career tracks and levels, visit our application portal.
This position is focused on
Mitigation and Response.
DHS Cybersecurity Service jobs are structured cybersecurity specializations - called technical capabilities. To learn more about technical capabilities, visit our application portal.
EducationDegrees are not required for jobs in the DHS Cybersecurity Service, but DHS is interested in your level of education and the topics you studied. As you submit initial application information, you will be asked questions about your education.
Additional informationSalary: Listed salary ranges reflects typical starting salaries available to employees in most of the United States across applicable career levels. Within the provided range, average salaries vary for each career level.
Senior Cybersecurity Specialist: $106,700 - $138,000
Staff Cybersecurity Specialist: $129,700 - $163,000
Principal Cybersecurity Specialist: $154,600 - $196,500
Senior Principal Cybersecurity Specialist: $170,600 - $214,500
In some geographic areas, average starting salaries will be higher because of a local cybersecurity labor market supplement (e.g., metro Washington, D.C. +10%).
Actual salaries of individual employees may be higher or lower than provided figures. For an overview of the salaries available in the DHS Cybersecurity Service, visit Resources.
Benefits: DHS Cybersecurity Service employees receive a range of federal employment benefits designed to support their professional and personal lives. To learn more about benefits, visit our application portal.
More information about the specific benefits available to you will be provided as you progress through the application process.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
BenefitsHelp
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
