Cyber Operations Researcher

The Opportunity:

Our team of scientists provide Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) support to programs that have the potential to provide our nation with an overwhelming intelligence advantage. That’s why we need you, a cybersecurity expert, to help us advise our government clients and work with research partners that come from academia, other research institutions, and private industry. You’ll work to deliver technical support and expertise on new concepts beyond the program but integral to the program’s success. We’ll look to you to share your machine learning expertise through leadership and mentoring junior staff. Join us and take on exciting challenges in the Intelligence Community.

This role will work with a leading psychology expert to provide advantage to cyber defenders by exploring novel methods for manipulating attackers during various phases of a cyber threat by creating a set of cyberpsychology-informed defenses that leverage the threat’s human limitations, innate decision-making biases, and other psychological vulnerabilities.

At Booz Allen, you can apply your skills and broad knowledge to inform strategies and mitigate the most pressing vulnerabilities. Here, you aren’t just deciphering reports. You’re advancing our nation's most far-reaching cyber risk mitigating technologies.

Booz Allen is committed to creating an environment where you can expand your cyber career through mentoring, leveraging new resources, and gaining in-demand certifications to sharpen your skill set. With opportunities supporting both the private and public sectors across multiple geographies, your career is only limited by your own appetite for exploration.

Work with us to secure our systems, networks, and crucial infrastructures.

Join us. The world can’t wait.

You Have: 

• 2+ years of experience in project management

• 1+ years of experience in cyber operations

• Experience in program management principles for R&D programs

• Ability to proactively and independently identify potential, technical, and programmatic risks and advise PM accordingly

• TS/SCI clearance with a polygraph

• Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of experience working in research, Master’s degree in CS or Mathematics and 1+ years of experience working in research, or Doctorate degree in CS or Mathematics

Nice If You Have:  

• 5+ years of experience in operational cybersecurity

• 2+ years of experience in system integration and software development

• Experience in supporting a security operations center (SOC), Computer Emergency and Incident Response team, or Intelligence Community and DoD Computer Network Defense (CND) mission

• Experience with human subject research

• Experience with the Intelligence Community or government-run analysis and evaluation

• Experience designing or participating in Capture-the-Flag or Hack-the-Box events

• Ethical Hacking Certification, including Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) Certification

Clearance:  

Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information; TS/SCI clearance with polygraph is required.

Build Your Career: 

Rewarding work, fun challenges, and a ton of investment in our people—that’s Booz Allen cyber. When you join Booz Allen, we’ll help you develop the career you want. 

Competitions — From programming competitions at our PyNights (Python competition and learning events) to competing in CTFs, we’ve got plenty of chances for you to show off your skills. 

Paid Research — Have an innovative idea to explore or hypothesis to test? You can participate in challenges via our crowdsourcing platform, the Garage, and other programs to be awarded dedicated time and/or funding to advance your skills. 

Cyber University — CyberU has more than 5000 instructor-led and self-paced cyber courses, a free online library that you can access from just about anywhere—including your phone—and certification exam prep guides that include practical assessments to prepare you for your exam. 

Academic Partnerships — In addition to our tuition reimbursement benefit, we’ve partnered with University of Maryland University College to offer two graduate certificate programs in cybersecurity—fully funded without a tuition cap. 

Maker/Hackerspaces — Race drones, print 3D gadgets, drink coffee from our Wi-Fi coffee maker, and get hands-on training on tools and tech from in-house experts in our dedicated maker and hackerspaces. 

Compensation

At Booz Allen, we celebrate your contributions, provide you with opportunities and choices, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, work-life programs, and dependent care. Our recognition awards program acknowledges employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our values. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in Booz Allen’s benefit programs. Individuals that do not meet the threshold are only eligible for select offerings, not inclusive of health benefits. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Resource page on our Careers site and reviewing Our Employee Benefits page.

Salary at Booz Allen is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected compensation range for this position is $81,800.00 to $186,000.00 (annualized USD). The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Booz Allen’s total compensation package for employees.

EEO Commitment

We’re an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer that empowers our people to fearlessly drive change – no matter their race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, or related medical conditions), national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law.