Security Analyst - Project Lead

Job Title: Security Analyst – Project Lead Job Location: Columbia, SC (Hybrid) Position Type: Contract Duration: 12 Months; Possibility of Extension Primary Skills: Security monitoring, incident response, MITRE ATT&CK framework, dashboard creation and reporting, SIEM, EDR, IDS/IPS, threat intelligence sources, deep-dive analysis, root cause analysis, incident report creation, phishing and malware investigation, SOC playbook and workflow development, detection rule tuning, alert threshold tuning, correlation logic, threat hunting, TTPs, runbook documentation, troubleshooting documentation Preferred Skills: Palo Alto Cortex XSIAM/XDR platform, Linux, network administration, network design, firewall administration, VPN technology, Active Directory, Intrusion Detection/Prevention systems, local to Columbia, SC or surrounding city in South Carolina Position Overview The position will work as a Tier 2 SOC Analyst for the Division of Information Security. This role will focus on supporting security monitoring, threat detection, security incident response, and security investigations. Engaging directly with state agencies to promote, support, and improve adoption of centralized security services is a key focus. The engagement is expected to be needed for 12 months with the possibility of extension. Daily Duties / Responsibilities Technical Continuously review and correlate security event data across SIEM, EDR, IDS/IPS, and threat intelligence sources to identify complex attack patterns, emerging threats, and security incidents. Perform deep-dive analysis of suspicious activity, validate incidents, determine root cause and impact, and escalate critical incidents with detailed context to Tier 3 as required. Create detailed incident reports, timelines, and post-incident summaries; contribute to lessons-learned documentation and recommendations for remediation and preventative measures. Investigate user-reported phishing, malware infections, and potential policy violations; advise users and internal/external teams on containment and recovery actions. Recommend updates to SOC playbooks and workflows based on real-world investigations; fine-tune detection rules, alert thresholds, and correlation logic to reduce false positives and improve threat coverage. Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure monitoring tools are properly configured and tuned. Integrate new threat intelligence feeds into workflows and proactively hunt for threats using up-to-date tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). Document processes, runbooks, and troubleshooting steps related to SOC operations. Non-Technical Serve as a customer-facing SME, "selling" the value of DIS services by demonstrating capabilities and resolving issues. Coordinate with engineering, SOC, and agency staff as needed to meet goals. Perform other duties as needed. Required Skills 2+ Years of Experience with Security Monitoring and Incident Response 2+ Years of Experience with MITRE ATT&CK framework 2+ Years of Experience with dashboard creation and reporting Preferred Skills Experience with the Palo Alto Cortex XSIAM/XDR platform Knowledge of Linux, network administration, and network design Experience in administration of firewalls, VPN technology, Active Directory, Intrusion Detection/Prevention systems Candidate is local to Columbia, SC or surrounding city in South Carolina Required Education Associate's degree in an information technology or information security related field Four years of relevant work experience may be substituted in lieu of education Two years of experience in supporting large SOC operations Required / Preferred Certifications Preferred: CISSP, CISA, CISO or equivalent advanced security certification Preferred: Additional relevant certifications (e.g., CEH, OSCP, GPEN) Preferred: Vendor certifications related to information security