Junior Cyber Systems Analyst

The Junior Cyber Systems Analyst will conduct cyber intelligence analysis in support of U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) defense and acquisition programs. The analyst will assess foreign cyber capabilities, emerging technologies, network vulnerabilities, adversary Courses of Action (COAs), and cyber threats that may impact USMC systems and operations. This position will also support threat analysis and intelligence production throughout the Marine Corps acquisition and capability development lifecycle.

Essential Job Functions:

Evaluate the cybersecurity posture of USMC defense programs, ensuring assessments remain aligned with evolving cybersecurity practices and prioritize threats based on comprehensive cyber analysis.

Analyze foreign capabilities to detect, disrupt, or deny USMC emissions and signals across the cyber kill chain, including emissions associated with targeting, communications, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, as well as reversible and non-reversible attacks.

Monitor and assess developments in emerging and commercial technologies that state and non-state actors could leverage to detect, disrupt, or compromise network infrastructure supporting USMC acquisition programs.

Identify critical environmental and network risk factors, including network classification, baseline activity, system architecture, operating systems, services, connectivity, and bandwidth.

Determine network boundaries and identify connected or supporting networks that may require intelligence collection.

Evaluate existing databases and intelligence holdings to identify information and intelligence gaps.

Utilize open-source resources to collect and assess Publicly Available Information (PAI).

Analyze the physical battlespace to determine how environmental factors may influence tactical operations and characterize potential battlespace effects.

Analyze the battlespace environment across information, services, and networks, including confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as well as mechanisms to protect, detect, respond, restore, and review.

Evaluate additional battlespace characteristics, including security measures, auditing procedures, backup systems, asset locations, architecture, automation capabilities, security policies, baseline activity, and vulnerabilities.

Assess considerations related to Rules of Engagement (ROE), Information Assurance (IA), Computer Network Defense (CND), and Computer Network Attack (CNA).

Identify potential adversary Courses of Action (COAs) and determine likely objectives and desired outcomes.

Identify and assess all feasible adversary COAs, emphasizing the most likely and most dangerous scenarios.

Develop COAs from the adversary's perspective of friendly information architecture through reverse cyber Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB).

Evaluate, prioritize, and continuously refine adversary COAs as new intelligence and information become available.

Assess foreign Computer Network Defense (CND) and Computer Network Attack (CNA) capabilities, limitations, and vulnerabilities.

Evaluate potential vulnerabilities of USMC tactical systems to CNA, including systems supporting targeting, ISR, and navigation.

Provide portfolio-specific cyber analysis, subject matter expertise, and intelligence production in support of mission requirements.

Conduct Threat Steering Groups with participants from USMC Combat Development & Integration (CD&I) to identify key factors and significant risk drivers associated with potential materiel solutions, including impacts to lifecycle cost, performance, schedule, and acquisition decisions.

Produce and deliver Validated Online Lifecycle Threat Reports (VOLTs), Critical Intelligence Parameters (CIPs), and Capability Development Threat Summaries supporting Marine Corps Acquisition Programs throughout the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) process and the Defense Acquisition System.

Required Skills:

Due to the sensitivity of customer related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.

Active TS/SCI security clearance with willingness to undergo a Counterintelligence (CI) Polygraph.

Minimum of 3 years of experience conducting analysis relevant to the labor category, with at least a portion of that experience gained within the last two (2) years.

Bachelor's degree in a field related to the labor category from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; OR

An additional 4 years of relevant experience in the specific labor category, for a total of 7 years of relevant experience, may substitute for the Bachelor's degree.

Working knowledge of the concepts, functions, and responsibilities associated with the cyber systems analyst labor category.

Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to apply Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) classification guidelines and procedures.

Ability to work semi-independently with appropriate oversight and direction.

Ability to logically evaluate and synthesize information from multiple sources and understand the meaning, significance, and implications of analytical findings.

Ability to develop and defend analytic judgments using sound, logical conclusions and adjust assessments as new information, changing conditions, or unexpected developments arise.

Ability to produce timely, logical, and concise analytic reports, assessments, studies, documents, and briefing materials in multiple formats.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, as well as electronic matrices and web-enabled formats.

Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate complex issues in a concise, organized, and professional manner.

Ability to conduct structured research, including obtaining, evaluating, organizing, and maintaining information in accordance with applicable security and data-handling protocols.

Ability to identify nuances and resolve contradictions, inconsistencies, and gaps within intelligence information.

Working knowledge of structured analytic techniques and alternative analysis methodologies used to examine biases, assumptions, and competing theories, reduce uncertainty, strengthen analytic judgments, and mitigate strategic surprise. Techniques may include:

Analysis of Competing Hypotheses (ACH)

Devil's Advocacy

High-Impact/Low-Impact Analysis

Red Team Analysis

Alternative Futures Analysis

Understanding of intelligence collection capabilities and limitations, including technical sensors/platforms and Human Intelligence (HUMINT) sources relevant to the labor category.

Understanding of how to evaluate collected intelligence reporting, coordinate with collection managers, and develop intelligence collection requirements.