What is this career opportunity?Do you want to help Montana protect and defend our citizen's data from cyber threats? Are you naturally curious? Are you a critical thinker? Do you have a strong interest in finding threats? If you answered yes to all these questions, then this might be the perfect job for you! Whether you are transitioning from a technical career, already a cybersecurity veteran, or wanting to start down the exciting path of cybersecurity, you might be able to join our team as a
Senior Threat Validation Specialist. This position is primarily responsible for vulnerability assessments, vulnerability consultation, red teaming and penetration testing.
If you are experienced in penetration testing of web application, cloud, and/or database security, consider joining our team as an
Senior Threat Validation Specialist and lead the team in offensive security tactics, teach efficient techniques for responding to threat actors, facilitate attack/defense exercises within the Bureau, and recommend controls to reach desired security posture. You will also be able to analyze malware, provide subject matter expertise to agencies and substantially impact enterprise security.
You will also use artificial intelligence (AI) and large language model (LLM) tools to work faster and dig deeper across engagements-accelerating reconnaissance, code and log analysis, tooling and script development, and reporting-while rigorously validating AI-generated output and safeguarding sensitive state data.
What are we looking for?Education and Experience:Alternate combinations of education, experience, and certifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Required for the first day of work, including alternatives: • Associates degree in Information Security or Technology; AND
• 6 years' experience in a security-related role
Preferred: • Bachelors degree in Information Security or Technology; AND
• 4 years' experience in a security-related role; AND
• OSCP, Pentest+, KLCP, GCFE, GCFA, E|CIH, or CISSP
• CPENT AI, Offsec OSAI, CompTIA SecAI+, or comparable AI-integrated offensive security training
Competencies:Knowledge of: - Cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
- Network traffic analysis methods.
- Database, Cloud, and/or Web Application Security
- Vulnerability assessment
- Cyber-attack stages (e.g., reconnaissance, scanning, enumeration, gaining access, escalation of privileges, maintaining access, network exploitation, covering tracks).
- Website types, administration, functions, and content management system (CMS).
- Attack methods and techniques (DDoS, brute force, spoofing, etc.).
- Host-based security products and how those products affect exploitation and reduce vulnerability.
- Internal tactics to anticipate and/or emulate threat capabilities and actions.
- Network protocols such as TCP/IP, Dynamic Host Configuration, Domain Name System (DNS), and directory services.
- Intrusion detection methodologies and techniques for detecting host and network-based intrusions.
- Web Application Security Risks (e.g., Open Web Application Security Project Top 10 list)
- Generative AI and large language model (LLM) fundamentals and architecture, including models and model selection, tokens and context windows, prompting, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agentic (tool-using) AI, the Model Context Protocol (MCP), and the trade-offs between cloud-hosted and locally hosted models.
- How AI and LLM-assisted capabilities apply across the penetration testing lifecycle, including reconnaissance and open-source intelligence (OSINT) synthesis, code and configuration review, script and exploit development, log and data analysis, and reporting, as well as AI-augmented and semi-autonomous testing platforms.
- Limitations and risks of generative AI in security work, including hallucination and the need to independently verify output, data-handling and confidentiality constraints, tool licensing, and applicable law and policy.
- How threat actors use AI to accelerate their own operations, such as generating phishing and social-engineering content, developing or obfuscating malware, and automating reconnaissance.
Skill in: - Conducting research using our threat intelligence tools.
- Social engineering techniques
- Defining and characterizing all pertinent aspects of the operational environment.
- Evaluating information for reliability, validity, and relevance.
- Identifying cyber threats which may jeopardize organization and/or partner interests.
- Using security event correlation tools.
- Detecting host and network-based intrusions via intrusion detection technologies.
- Conducting trend analysis.
- Reading, interpreting, developing, and deploying signatures.
- Prompt engineering and integrating AI and LLM tools into offensive security workflows to improve speed, coverage, and quality.
- Critically evaluating and validating AI-generated code, findings, and recommendations before acting on them or including them in deliverables.
- Using AI tools without exposing sensitive, confidential, or regulated state data to unauthorized or third-party services.
Ability to: - Communicate complex information, concepts, or ideas in a confident and well-organized manner through verbal, written, and/or visual means.
- Accurately and completely source all data used in intelligence, assessment and/or planning products.
- Evaluate, analyze, and synthesize large quantities of data (which may be fragmented and contradictory) into high quality, fused targeting/intelligence products.
- Function in a collaborative environment, seeking continuous consultation with other analysts and experts-both internal and external to the organization-to leverage analytical and technical expertise.
- Think critically.
- Think like threat actors.
- Develop or recommend analytic approaches or solutions to problems and situations for which information is incomplete or for which no precedent exists.
- Apply techniques for detecting host and network-based intrusions using intrusion detection technologies.
- Conduct forensic analyses in and for both Windows and Unix/Linux environments.
- Interpret the information collected by network tools
- Apply AI and LLM-assisted techniques to accelerate offensive security work while maintaining accuracy, scope discipline, and data protection.
- Evaluate, pilot, and responsibly adopt emerging AI-assisted offensive security tools, and advise the team on appropriate and authorized use.
- Explain AI and LLM capabilities, limitations, and risks to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Does this sound like you?Please tell us how and why by submitting your
resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, provide an example of how you've directly contributed to the security of an environment you were responsible for in a technical or advisory capacity. (Please Note: You do not need to complete the "work experience" or the "education & certifications" portion of the application process in our recruiting system. You only need to upload the requested documentation.)
What can you expect from us in return for your hard work?• Look here to see the additional benefits! They include:
o Work/life Balance
o Health Coverage
o Retirement plans
o Paid Vacation and Sick Leave and Holidays
o And more...
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Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF. Look here to learn more and see if you may qualify!
Other important information to be aware of.• This position requires the successful completion of a criminal background check.
• Only online applications are accepted. By applying online, you are able to receive updates and monitor the status of your application.
