Cybersecurity Analyst III (Incident Response)

Company: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Location: Washington
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

Cybersecurity Analyst III (Incident Response)Are you passionate about safeguarding digital landscapes and collaborating with top-tier professionals? WMATA is seeking a Cybersecurity Analyst III to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will leverage your technical expertise to identify, analyze, and mitigate security threats, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of our systems. You will conduct in-depth security assessments, develop robust security countermeasures, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and deploy innovative security solutions. You will be using state-of-the-art cybersecurity tools like Splunk, Crowdstrike, and Varonis to enhance our security posture while working in our Cyber Fusion Center.The Cybersecurity Analyst III role allows you Mentorship opportunities, allowing you to share your knowledge and experience with junior team members, fostering their growth and development. You will also benefit from guidance and insights from seasoned professionals, enhancing your own skills and career trajectory.We offer a collaborative environment where your ideas and expertise are valued, along with opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth. With cutting-edge tools and technologies at your disposal, you will enhance your cybersecurity skills while enjoying a competitive compensation and benefits package. If you're ready to take your cybersecurity career to the next level and work alongside industry leaders, apply now and be a part of our mission to protect and innovate!Minimum QualificationsEducation

• A Bachelor -s degree from an accredited college or universityExperience
  • Four (4) years of experience as a cybersecurity officer/engineer, information systems security officer, or specialized expertise in cyber policy, intelligence, analytics, budget, audit, metrics, or training such that it meets the specific role postedPreferredEducation
    • A Bachelor -s Degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity or a related technical fieldMedical Group
      
      Satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position, if required. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.SummaryThe Cybersecurity Analyst III is responsible for identifying and remediating security threats. The analyst designs defensive measures and monitor information collected from a variety of sources to identify, analyze, and report events that occur or might occur within the network to protect information, information systems and networks from threats.Essential Functions
      • Provides senior level support regarding data analytics strategies based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework. This includes analyzing threat information from multiple sources, disciplines, and agencies across the Intelligence Community; Synthesizing and placing intelligence information in context; draws insights about the possible implications. Ensures threats and vulnerabilities are identified as early as possible and mitigated.
      • Provides senior level support regarding the development of cyber threat indicators (attacks and compromise) monitoring to maintain awareness of the status of the highly dynamic operating environment; Coordinates and performs the collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of cyber threat/warning assessments. Ensure vulnerabilities are identified as early as possible and mitigated.
      • Provides senior level support regarding the intelligence of data collected from a variety of cyber defense tools (e.g., IDS alerts, firewalls, network traffic logs) to analyze events that occur within the WMATA's environments (on-premises and cloud) for the purposes of mitigating threats. Ensure vulnerabilities are identified as early as possible and mitigated.
      • Senior level support regarding the development of assessment plans and measures of performance and/or effectiveness. Conducts strategic and operational effectiveness assessments as required for cyber events. Determines whether systems performed as expected and provides input to the determination of operational effectiveness. Ensures WMATA has a properly managed cyber analysis framework.
      • Provides senior level support regarding the assimilation of data and information from analytics and intelligence to support the creation of dashboards which inform senior leaders regarding the security posture of the organization. Generates routine and urgent reports and action plans to support enhanced security procedures and response measures to ongoing or imminent threats. Ensures Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has a properly managed and reportable cyber threat intelligence awareness program.
      • Provides senior level support regarding the analysis of defensive and simulated offensive results, techniques used, and information collected from a variety of sources to identify, analyze, and report events that occur or might occur within the network to protect information, information systems, and networks from threats. Ensures vulnerabilities are identified as early as possible and mitigated.
      • Provides senior level support regarding the response to routine and urgent cybersecurity situations within the pertinent domain to mitigate immediate and potential cyber threats. Uses mitigation, preparedness, and response and recovery approaches, as needed, to maximize safety, preservation of property, and information security. Investigates and analyzes all relevant incident response activities. To ensure real-time cyber defense incident handling (e.g., forensic collections, intrusion correlation and tracking, threat analysis, and direct system remediation) tasks to support deployable Incident Response Teams (IRTs).
      • Provides senior level support regarding incident response support functions through technical activities that gather evidence on criminal or foreign intelligence entities to mitigate possible or real-time threats, protect against insider threats, sabotage, international terrorist activities, or to support other intelligence activities. Investigates, analyzes, and responds to cyber incidents within the network environment or enclave. Ensures the organization can respond to attacks quickly and eliminate threats.
      • Provides senior level support regarding the consultation for the support program to establish relationships, between the incident response team and other groups, both internal (e.g., legal department) and external (e.g., law enforcement agencies, vendors, public relations professionals). Ensures the organization can respond to attacks quickly and eliminate threats.
      • Provides senior level support regarding the process to apply tactics, techniques, and procedures for a full range of investigative tools and processes to include, but not limited to, interviews, cyber surveillance, counter surveillance, and surveillance detection, and appropriately balances the benefits of intelligence gathering. Ensures vulnerabilities are identified as early as possible and mitigated.
      • Provides senior level support regarding the activities to produce timely, fused, all-source cyber operations intelligence and/or indications and warnings intelligence products (e.g., threat assessments, briefings, intelligence studies, country studies). Analyzes collected information to identify vulnerabilities and potential for exploitation. To ensure the reporting of all cyber events/activity are presented in a timely and actionable media; relevant to cyber intelligence and security best practices.
      • Provides senior level support regarding detailed intelligence plans to satisfy cyber operations requirements. Collaborates with cyber operations planners to identify, validate, and impose requirements for collection and analysis. Participates in targeting selection, validation, synchronization, and execution of cyber actions. Synchronizes intelligence activities to support organization objectives in cyberspace. To ensure the reporting of all cyber events/activity are presented in a timely and actionable media; relevant to cyber intelligence and security best practices.
      • Provides senior level support regarding the monitoring of all defensive measures and information collected from a variety of sources to identify, analyze, and report events that occur or might occur within the network to protect information, information systems, and networks from internal and external threats. Takes appropriate action by reporting, remediating and/or providing preventive recommendations being the liaison between the security engineering and authorizing official (as needed). To ensure the analysis of the information (data) from various sources within the enterprise and recognize a possible security violation or threat.
      • Provides senior level support regarding the analysis to identify, collect, examine, and preserve evidence using controlled and documented analytical and investigative techniques. The analysis of digital evidence and investigates computer security incidents to derive useful information in support of system/network vulnerability mitigation. To ensure forensically sound collection of images and inspect to discern possible mitigation/remediation on enterprise systems.The essential duties listed are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Nor is it intended to limit in any way the right of managers and supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.Evaluation CriteriaConsideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:
        • Skills and/or behavioral assessment
        • Personal interview
        • Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)
        • Criminal Background Check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)
        • Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety sensitive positions)
        • Review of a current motor vehicle reportClosingWMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.
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Keywords: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Leesburg , Cybersecurity Analyst III (Incident Response), Professions , Washington, Virginia