Lead Cyber Defense & Threat Intelligence Analyst

Senior Cybersecurity Analyst Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire Location: Austin, Texas (Hybrid – Onsite and Telework) Local candidates only. This position does not support third-party submissions, subcontracting, or Corp-to-Corp (C2C) arrangements. We are seeking a Senior Cybersecurity Analyst to lead advanced threat detection, incident response, forensics, and enterprise security operations. This hands-on technical leadership role drives strategy across SIEM, EDR, SOAR, DLP, CASB, cloud security, and AI governance, with direct latitude to shape tooling decisions, mentor junior staff, and advise leadership on security posture and risk. Qualifications/Requirements Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in IT, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or a related field. Master's degree in cybersecurity, information technology security, computer engineering, computer information systems, computer science, management information systems, or a related field preferred. 8 years of professional cybersecurity or digital forensics engineering experience. 6 years of hands-on with SIEM, EDR/XDR, DLP, SOAR, cloud security, email threat management, and vulnerability management tooling. 5 years leading incident response, forensic investigations, malware analysis, and security engineering. Strong knowledge of NIST, CIS Controls, Zero Trust, and enterprise security principles. 5 years producing threat intelligence analysis and presenting findings to technical and non-technical audiences preferred. Experience with AI governance and security controls, including evaluating AI tool risk, enforcing responsible use policies, and identifying Shadow AI activity preferred. Advanced certifications such as CISSP, GCIH, GCIA, GCFA, CEH, CySA+, or CCSP. Responsibilities Lead advanced threat detection engineering, correlation rule development, SIEM tuning, and proactive threat hunting. Manage and optimize core cybersecurity tools, including SIEM, EDR, SOAR, DLP, CASB, email threat protection, and cloud security systems. Direct incident response, including forensic analysis, malware analysis, containment, eradication, and executive reporting. Conduct vulnerability management using tools such as Tenable or Qualys, including prioritization and remediation planning. Assess AI tool risk, enforce responsible-use standards, and monitor for Shadow AI to keep approved AI use safe and compliant with OOG policy and state mandates. Develop and enforce cloud security (Azure/M365/AWS/Google) and Zero Trust controls. Align security operations with NIST, CIS Controls, ISO, PCI, SOC, and other regulatory frameworks. Mentor junior analysts and serve as a senior advisor to leadership. Produce intelligence, forensic, and executive security reports. Genius Road, LLC is proud to be a Certified Women's Business Enterprise, an Equal Opportunity Employer, and values diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. #J-18808-Ljbffr Genius Road, LLC