Information Assurance SOC Analyst

ARKA Group L.P. (“ARKA”) is an advanced technologies company serving the U.S. military, intelligence community, and commercial space industry delivering next-generation solutions to support the national security space enterprise. Built on more than six decades of excellence, ARKA brings modern approaches and a culture of innovation to the challenges of today.

Join the ARKA team to learn how Beyond Begins Here. Discover your next career opportunity now!

Position Overview:

We are looking for an experienced, motivated, and hands-on Security Operations Center Analyst reporting to the Senior Manager of Information Assurance (IA). Working in unison with the IA, Information Technology (IT), and Security teams across ARKA, you will be responsible for the advancement of our current IT security program. This includes the execution and improvement of our organizations’ incident response and threat detection capabilities, as well as supporting internal IT security audit functions to ensure compliance with applicable NIST standards, government, company, and customer regulations. This position is an integral member of the ARKA enterprise.

This position can be performed remotely or at one of our main locations to include Colorado Springs, CO, Danbury, CT, Melbourne, FL, Ypsilanti, MI or Northern Virginia.  

Responsibilities:

• Design, implementation, and maintenance of cybersecurity solutions, to include, firewalls, IDS/IPS, EDR, SIEM, and data encryption technologies
• Conduct security impact analysis for proposed changes to organizational IT baselines
• Provide subject matter expertise on topics relevant to current and future corporate network operations, including, cloud security, zero-trust, industry standards on security best practices (NIST, MITRE, DevOps, data classification)
• Assist in internal IT compliance audits to assess the practical implementation of regulatory security requirements
• Support the organizations insider threat prevention and threat hunting program by performing visibility gap analytics
• Support continuous monitoring and incident response efforts (sometimes after-hours), including investigations, preparation activities, playbook development, and ad-hoc tabletop exercises
• Maintain a well-managed repository of audit documentation which supports internal processes and demonstrates compliance with regulatory requirements
• Provide regular reporting to internal and external government customer and program management in the form of meetings, standardized deliverables, reports, presentations
• Independently identify and recommend technical solutions for discovered risks on the corporate network

Required Qualifications:

• BS Degree in relevant field such as Information Management, Systems Security or Cyber Security
• Relevant industry certifications that demonstrate proficiency in security, cloud technologies, IT auditing, or other DoD Approved 8570 Baseline Certifications
• Attention to detail and follow-through when completing tasks
• Capability to develop and implement solutions to a variety of complex problems
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Willing to work extended hours, in a fast paced, deadline driven environment
• Ability to display tact, discretion, and diplomacy in dealing with all levels of employees
• A strong knowledge of risk based advanced IT auditing in a dynamic and changing environment in compliance with known security frameworks such as RMF, CMMC, and/or CSF
• Experience with technologies such as: Amazon Web Services, Azure Cloud Services, Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Sentinel, Defender, and Purview, CrowdStrike, Virtualization/Orchestrated Containerization, Linux based systems, Cisco ISE, Palo Alto Networks, RedHat Linux, Windows, Oracle Database, Microsoft 365, network devices, etc.
• Experience working with vulnerability assessment tools such as Nessus to assist in IT system hardening according to STIGs, CIS Benchmarks, and/or vendor recommendations as well as risk mitigation
• Experience working with GRC tools such as Xacta, EMass, and/or SNOW

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of one or more general-use programming languages (Bash, Python, Powershell) and demonstrated proficiency building out scalable applications
• Experience deploying enterprise wide SIEM solutions
• Experience proposing technical material to managerial leadership in a fashion that’s concise, digestible, and well-explained
• Demonstration of continuous education which represents the modern technology and threat landscape through research, homelabbing, certifications, and work-supporting projects.

Pay Range: $80,000 - $120,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

The application window will close in 40 days for this position.

What We Offer: 

• Comprehensive medical/vision/dental insurance packages
• Company contributions to qualified HSA accounts
• 401k retirement plan with industry leading company contributions
• 3 weeks of vacation accrual per year plus time off for sick leave and unscheduled life events
• 13 paid holidays
• Upfront tuition assistance for approved degree programs
• Annual bonus program based on company and employee performance
• Company paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
• 4 weeks paid Parental Leave
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

EHS/Environmental Requirements:

This job operates alongside a professional office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee routinely is required to use hands to keyboard, communicate, listen to, and interpret instructions and remain stationary for extended periods of the time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Applicants are invited to apply for a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the job. To apply, send a request to staffing@arka.org or contact 203-797-5000 and press 2 for Human Resources.

ITC & Security Clearance Requirements:

U.S. citizenship in support of contract requirements.  Additionally, if you are a dual citizen (a citizen of the U.S. and another country), the Company must obtain approval for you to have access to the information required for this position. You will not be able to begin employment until such approval is obtained and this may take several months.

Visa Restrictions: 

No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Pre-employment Screenings: 

Employment with any ARKA companies in the U.S. is contingent upon satisfactory completion of several pre-employment requirements to include a credit check, background check, and drug screen.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action: 

ARKA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other federally protected class.