Cybersecurity Lead

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Job Description:

Parsons is seeking an experienced Cybersecurity Lead to lead a high-performing defensive cyber operations team supporting a large-scale Government cybersecurity program. This is an opportunity to shape and grow an integrated cybersecurity capability responsible for identifying vulnerabilities, detecting advanced threats, responding to incidents, maintaining compliance, and protecting mission-critical systems and networks.

As the Cybersecurity Lead, you will provide technical and operational leadership for a team performing penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, threat hunting, incident response, security monitoring, vulnerability and configuration management, and Security Operations Center support. You will help establish the team’s structure, processes, priorities, and operating rhythm while ensuring cybersecurity services are delivered effectively and in accordance with Government requirements.

You will serve as both a team leader and a senior cybersecurity subject matter expert. Working closely with Government stakeholders, Parsons program leadership, and technical teams across the enterprise, you will assess risk, guide defensive operations, develop actionable recommendations, and help strengthen the customer’s security posture. You will also have access to the expertise, tools, and best practices of Parsons’ Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.

The ideal candidate is a mission-focused cybersecurity professional who can lead technical teams, make sound risk-based decisions, communicate effectively with senior stakeholders, and remain hands‑on when complex cybersecurity challenges arise.

You’ll be joining Parsons’ local Analytics & Engineering team, a community known for its strong culture of defensive cyber operations, technical excellence, and collaboration. We invest in both mission success and team connection through regular social events, technical talks, training opportunities, and hands‑on innovation activities at our Cybersecurity Center of Excellence Lab in Columbia, MD. From team lunches and ice cream socials to family-friendly seasonal events and technical learning sessions, we work hard to create an environment where people can do meaningful work and enjoy being part of the team.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Lead, organize, mentor, and support a team of cybersecurity professionals conducting defensive cyber operations.

• Oversee penetration testing and security assessments designed to identify weaknesses in networks, applications, systems, and operational technology environments.

• Direct vulnerability assessment activities, including recurring vulnerability scans, analysis of findings, risk prioritization, reporting, and remediation tracking.

• Lead proactive threat‑hunting activities to identify hidden, persistent, or advanced threats across IT and OT environments.

• Oversee continuous monitoring and investigation of anomalous activity and potential security incidents.

• Direct incident response activities, including detection, analysis, containment, eradication, recovery, escalation, and lessons learned.

• Support the operation of a centralized Security Operations Center capability responsible for coordinating defensive security activities.

• Coordinate security event analysis, trend analysis, alert investigation, and response activities across cybersecurity and IT operations teams.

• Develop, maintain, and improve cybersecurity policies, procedures, playbooks, SOPs, and incident response processes.

• Ensure cybersecurity findings and incidents are accurately documented, classified, escalated, and reported within required timelines.

• Oversee the development and maintenance of Authority to Operate and Assess‑Only authorization packages.

• Support Risk Management Framework activities by coordinating technical evidence, security documentation, continuous monitoring data, and compliance artifacts.

• Manage applicable cybersecurity orders, taskers, directives, and remediation requirements.

• Oversee the development and tracking of Plans of Action and Milestones when requirements cannot be fully satisfied within the prescribed timeframe.

• Lead vulnerability and configuration management activities, including secure configuration, patching, STIG compliance, and attack‑surface reduction.

• Promote Infrastructure as Code and Configuration as Code practices that support controlled, auditable, and security‑reviewed changes.

• Coordinate with infrastructure, cloud, DevSecOps, application, data, and operations teams to address cybersecurity risks.

• Evaluate emerging cybersecurity technologies, tools, and practices and provide recommendations based on mission value, risk, cost, and implementation requirements.

• Develop cybersecurity reports, briefings, metrics, risk assessments, and recommendations for Government and program leadership.

• Track operational performance, staffing requirements, service quality, and team workload.

• Identify cybersecurity risks, resource limitations, process gaps, and opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Support transition‑in, transition‑out, surge staffing, training, and continuity of operations activities.

• Ensure all work is performed in accordance with applicable Government cybersecurity requirements, Government‑approved policies, contract requirements, and security procedures.

What Required Skills You’ll Bring:

• TS/SCI clearance active/current

• Eleven or more years of experience in cybersecurity, cyber operations, information assurance, information security, or a related field.

• CISSP certification or an equivalent industry‑recognized cybersecurity certification .

• At least one year of experience leading, supervising, mentoring, or coordinating a cybersecurity, SOC, incident response, vulnerability management, or related technical team.

• Demonstrated experience in at least several of the following areas:

• Penetration testing

• Vulnerability assessment and management

• Threat hunting

• Incident response

• Security monitoring and event analysis

• Security Operations Center operations

• Security control assessment

• RMF and ATO support

• Configuration and patch management

• Cybersecurity compliance

• Experience developing cybersecurity reports, technical documentation, policies, procedures, or operational playbooks.

• Experience communicating cybersecurity risks, findings, and recommendations to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

• Strong leadership, analytical, problem‑solving, written, and verbal communication skills.

What Desired Skills You’ll Bring:

• Experience supporting federal, classified, or other highly regulated environments.

• Experience supporting IT and OT environments.

• Experience with RMF, ATO packages, Assess‑Only authorizations, STIGs, POA&Ms, and continuous monitoring.

• Experience with SIEM, SOAR, EDR, vulnerability scanning, network monitoring, intrusion detection, threat intelligence, or security orchestration tools.

• Experience leading cybersecurity operations in a SOC, NOC, Cybersecurity Service Provider, or similar environment.

• Experience with cloud, hybrid infrastructure, DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code, or Configuration as Code.

• Experience developing or maintaining incident response plans and procedures.

• Experience with DoD cybersecurity orders, taskers, compliance directives, and security control frameworks.

• GIAC, CEH, OSCP, CISM, Security+, CySA+, CASP+, or comparable certifications.

• Experience supporting 12x5 or 24x7 cybersecurity operations, as required by the mission.

Security Clearance Requirement:

An active Top Secret SCI security clearance is required for this position.

This position is part of our Federal Solutions team.

The Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close‑knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation’s most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what’s next to deliver the solutions our customers need now.

Salary Range: $148,300.00 - $266,900.00

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best‑in‑class benefits such as

• medical
• dental
• vision
• paid time off
• 401(k)
• life insurance
• flexible work schedules
• holidays

to fit your busy lifestyle!

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest-

About Us

Parsons is a digitally enabled solutions provider focused on the defense, security, and infrastructure markets. With nearly 75 years of experience, Parsons is uniquely qualified to deliver cyber/converged security, technology‑based intellectual property, and other innovative services to federal, regional, and local government agencies, as well as to private industrial customers worldwide.

Parsons is an equal opportunity, drug‑free employer committed to diversity in the workplace. Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veteran/LGBTQ+.

For more about Parsons, visit parsons.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.