Cybersecurity Engineer

As a Cybersecurity Engineer at Ignite IT, your responsibilities will include designing, configuring, and maintaining a full DOD Security Stack, integrating enterprise security tools, conducting gap analyses, and ensuring compliance with security standards. The role also involves continuous monitoring and improving existing security infrastructure to adapt to evolving cybersecurity threats.

To qualify for the Cybersecurity Engineer role at Ignite IT, candidates should have a Bachelor's degree or higher, along with 10+ years of cybersecurity experience, including a minimum of 5 years in DOD environments. Required certifications include DOD 8140 IAM Level II. A current Active Top-Secret Clearance is also necessary for the role.

Ignite IT is committed to professional development, offering training, tuition reimbursement, and various resources to expand your skillset as a Cybersecurity Engineer. We're dedicated to assisting team members in pursuing additional certifications and advancing their knowledge in cybersecurity best practices.

A Cybersecurity Engineer at Ignite IT should have expertise in configuring and managing tools such as Splunk, Fortinet, Palo Alto, CounterACT, Trellix ESS, and ACAS. Familiarity with network architecture, firewall configurations, and endpoint protection solutions is also critical to succeed in this role.

The team culture at Ignite IT is collaborative and inclusive, allowing Cybersecurity Engineers to work alongside passionate professionals in an Agile environment. Team members are encouraged to share ideas and innovate together to tackle complex cybersecurity challenges, fostering growth, learning, and a supportive work atmosphere.

When answering this question, be specific about your hands-on experience with Splunk, detailing how you've implemented it in past projects. Discuss specific features you've utilized, such as dashboards, alerts, and log analysis tools, and how they directly contributed to improving security posture.

You should structure your answer by outlining systematic steps for conducting gap analysis, such as reviewing existing security controls, identifying weaknesses, and referencing frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK. Highlight any tools or methodologies you've applied in past experiences to strengthen security defenses.

Focus on a combination of ongoing education and practical experience. Mention resources like cybersecurity forums, participation in training, webinars, and following thought leaders in cybersecurity. Illustrate your commitment to continuous growth by sharing examples of how you recently adapted your skills for emerging threats.

Discuss your understanding of Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and describe the steps you take to effectively implement them, such as assessing current configurations against the guidelines, creating a plan for compliance, and validating security controls through tests and audits.

In your response, highlight the importance of clear communication. Describe a situation where you effectively presented technical details to a non-technical audience, focusing on the impact of your findings and the actions taken as a result of your briefing.

Provide a thorough answer detailing your involvement in the Risk Management Framework (RMF) process, mentioning the specific stages you’ve been part of, such as categorization, selection of security controls, and continuous monitoring. Support your experience with examples of how you've improved compliance for past projects.

Discuss your practical experience with both firewall systems, detailing specific configurations you've managed, the defenses you've set in place, and how you’ve monitored firewall performance. Touch on any incidents that you've handled using these firewalls to ensure effective security measures.

Highlight your familiarity with scripting and automation tools. Discuss specific instances where you've automated repetitive tasks to improve efficiency, sharing any metrics that showcase how your initiatives saved time or enhanced security operations within your team.

Frame your answer around key performance indicators (KPIs). Talk about the benchmarks you assess such as incident response times, detection rates, and vulnerability reductions, and how you've leveraged this data to make improvement recommendations or tool adjustments.

Emphasize the importance of communication and teamwork. Share your strategies for building relationships with colleagues across different departments and how this collaboration has led to more effective security programs. Specific examples of joint initiatives would strengthen your response.