Cyber Operations Specialist Jobs
Cyber Operations Specialist jobs are open from entry-level analyst to senior operator across defense contractors, federal agencies, financial services, and critical infrastructure firms, with specializations in threat intelligence, network defense, and offensive cyber operations. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Group 51 develops advanced Cyber-Electromagnetic Warfare capabilities and supports their acquisition, integration, and operational transition across the Department of War and Intelligence Community. The Group conducts research and development at the intersection of cyber operations, electronic warfare, radio-frequency systems, and artificial intelligence to address challenging national-security mission needs.
A central element of the Group’s mission is transitioning advanced technology into operational use. This includes developing and evaluating prototype capabilities; integrating them with other non-kinetic effects; conducting field tests and operational experiments; and supporting larger acquisition, integration, and operationalization programs. The Group collaborates closely with sponsors, operational users, acquisition organizations, and partners across the Laboratory, government, industry, and academia to ensure that technical innovations address real mission needs and can be effectively deployed.
Job Overview Details
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is seeking an experienced Full Spectrum Cyber Capability and Operations Expert to join our Cyber Physical Systems group within the Cyber Security and Information Sciences Division. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in core computing technical disciplines including software, hardware, and networks, with a strong emphasis on embedded systems development and security, wireless communications, applied cryptography, and applied networking. In addition, they will be familiar with DoD and/or IC capability development, acquisitions, and operations processes.
Job Duties & Responsibilities
- Develop and implement novel cyber capabilities on unconventional devices and networks.
- Test and evaluate cyber capabilities and concepts of employment for operational suitability and survivability.
- Work with DoD processes including acquisition, planning, and operations.
- Clearly focus on the big picture while taking appropriate lower-level technical details into account.
- Explain highly technical concepts succinctly to senior audiences.
- Self-direct efforts and lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams to achieve project goals.
Qualifications
- PhD plus experience in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Cyber Security, or a related field. In lieu of a doctorate, a master’s degree in one of these fields with at least four years of relevant technical experience will be considered.
- Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret level DoD security clearance.
- High-level scripting languages, such as Python.
- Low-level languages, such as C or assembly.
- Computing architecture design, instruction set architectures, and operating system internals.
- Familiarity with DoD processes including acquisition, planning, and operations.
- Familiarity with computer network operations, both offensive and defensive.
- Exceptional ability to rapidly assimilate understanding of novel systems or cyber techniques.
- Strong communication skills, especially in explaining technical concepts to high-level decision-makers.
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive projects to completion.
- Experience with embedded systems development and security.
- Familiarity with binary reverse engineering and exploitation.
Technical Staff 5/6 Job Overview
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Technical Staff provide critical through expert multi-domain or new-domain innovative research supporting the Laboratory’s national security mission. They prototype state-of-the-art technology solutions and engage across the program lifecycle, leading projects or major/multiple technical workstreams in partnership with project, program and team/Group leaders. As a Technical Staff member, you will lead complex technical efforts requiring deep expertise, sound judgment, with the ability to successfully navigate technical complexity. Depending on the level, you will lead projects, major workstreams, complex programs, multi-program initiatives, or technical portfolios on extraordinary technology prototype efforts and creative new ideas and approaches that support critical mission needs. Depending on the level, you will translate broad Group strategy into clearly defined research or executional deliverables. Through integrating your deep technical expertise across disciplines, you consistently drive high-quality mission outcomes.
As a successful candidate, you will connect deep and diverse technical expertise with broader Laboratory objectives, perform independent research, develop creative approaches, and translate broad strategy into executable plans. You will work across or guide multidisciplinary teams through ambiguous trade-offs; helping develop and execute programs, creating briefings and reports, and often interfacing with sponsors. You effectively support sponsor, mission-partner, and Laboratory leadership’s needs through daily or weekly technical briefings, program documentation, proposals, and may conduct advanced capability road mapping and development. You will also guide and mentor Associate Technical Staff, Assistant Technical Staff, and other technical support personnel.
Technical Staff 5/6 Job Duties & Responsibilities
- Lead projects, complex programs, major technical workstreams, multi-program initiatives, or technical portfolios involving multidisciplinary development, analysis, prototyping, integration, testing, evaluation, and technology transition.
- Apply deep technical expertise and systems-level judgment to highly complex and ambiguous problems, evaluating alternatives, trade-offs, risks, stakeholder needs, and mission implications.
- Translate broad or unclear objectives into actionable technical plans and influence program direction, architectures, systems, priorities, and roadmaps across teams, Groups, or mission areas.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, sponsors, mission partners, and internal leaders to align priorities, resolve dependencies, and guide decisions and deliverables.
- Assess and improve technical tools, processes, methods, documentation, execution practices, and organizational capability.
- Serve as a technical resource and mentor by reviewing work, framing trade-offs and risks, and developing staff and emerging leaders.
- Contribute substantially to papers, reports, presentations, proposals, grants, roadmaps, and other materials that advance mission outcomes and technical direction.
Technical Staff 5/6 Minimum Qualifications
Candidates will be considered for the appropriate level based on their education, experience, demonstrated technical expertise and breadth, leadership responsibilities, and the scale and complexity of programs or technical efforts they have led.
Level 5 – Technical Staff
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field and typically 6+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree and typically 4+ years of relevant experience; or PhD and typically 0+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Diverse technical expertise with demonstrated ability to adapt that expertise to unfamiliar or emerging disciplines, systems, mission areas, or methods.
- Established education, skills, and experience demonstrating the ability to apply significant technical judgment to broad challenges requiring integration across related systems or methods.
- Demonstrated ability to lead projects or major workstreams and deliver complex technical outcomes.
- Experience evaluating trade-offs, recommending paths forward, and adapting technical approaches to evolving project needs.
- Demonstrated mentorship, collaboration, and ability to communicate recommendations, risks, and technical findings to varied audiences.
- Experience contributing to technical reports, papers, presentations, proposals, or other formal technical deliverables.
Level 6 – Technical Staff
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field and typically 8+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree and typically 6+ years of relevant experience; or PhD and typically 2+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Deep and diverse technical expertise with demonstrated ability to integrate knowledge across domains and establish direction in evolving systems or mission areas.
- Established education, skills, and experience demonstrating the ability to incorporate technical judgment, program context, and stakeholder input to solve broad technical challenges.
- Proven experience leading complex programs, significant program elements, or multi-team technical efforts.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate alternatives, manage technical ambiguity, and influence decisions across teams or stakeholder groups.
- Strong record of mentorship, collaboration, technical communication, and contribution to team or Group capability development.
- Experience contributing to proposals, publications, technical reports, presentations, or other materials that shape program direction or technical initiatives.
Technical Staff 5 Hiring Range: $140,000 - $187,000
Technical Staff 6 Hiring Range: $155,000 - $207,000
Disclaimer: MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides a typical hiring range as a good faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. The final salary offered to a selected candidate will depend on various factors, including—but not limited to—the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, skills and education/training, internal equity considerations and applicable legal requirements. This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits.
At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, our exceptional career opportunities include many outstanding benefits to help you stay healthy, feel supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance. Benefits offered to employees include:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
- MIT-funded pension
- Matching 401K
- Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
- Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
- Mentorship programs
- A range of work-life balance options ... and much more!
-
Please visit our Benefits page for more information. As an employee of MIT, you can also take advantage of other voluntary benefits, discounts and perks.
Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.
Requisition ID: 43646
Group 51 develops advanced Cyber-Electromagnetic Warfare capabilities and supports their acquisition, integration, and operational transition across the Department of War and Intelligence Community. The Group conducts research and development at the intersection of cyber operations, electronic warfare, radio-frequency systems, and artificial intelligence to address challenging national-security mission needs.
A central element of the Group’s mission is transitioning advanced technology into operational use. This includes developing and evaluating prototype capabilities; integrating them with other non-kinetic effects; conducting field tests and operational experiments; and supporting larger acquisition, integration, and operationalization programs. The Group collaborates closely with sponsors, operational users, acquisition organizations, and partners across the Laboratory, government, industry, and academia to ensure that technical innovations address real mission needs and can be effectively deployed.
Job Overview Details
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is seeking an experienced Full Spectrum Cyber Capability and Operations Expert to join our Cyber Physical Systems group within the Cyber Security and Information Sciences Division. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in core computing technical disciplines including software, hardware, and networks, with a strong emphasis on embedded systems development and security, wireless communications, applied cryptography, and applied networking. In addition, they will be familiar with DoD and/or IC capability development, acquisitions, and operations processes.
Job Duties & Responsibilities
- Develop and implement novel cyber capabilities on unconventional devices and networks.
- Test and evaluate cyber capabilities and concepts of employment for operational suitability and survivability.
- Work with DoD processes including acquisition, planning, and operations.
- Clearly focus on the big picture while taking appropriate lower-level technical details into account.
- Explain highly technical concepts succinctly to senior audiences.
- Self-direct efforts and lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams to achieve project goals.
Qualifications
- PhD plus experience in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Cyber Security, or a related field. In lieu of a doctorate, a master’s degree in one of these fields with at least four years of relevant technical experience will be considered.
- Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret level DoD security clearance.
- High-level scripting languages, such as Python.
- Low-level languages, such as C or assembly.
- Computing architecture design, instruction set architectures, and operating system internals.
- Familiarity with DoD processes including acquisition, planning, and operations.
- Familiarity with computer network operations, both offensive and defensive.
- Exceptional ability to rapidly assimilate understanding of novel systems or cyber techniques.
- Strong communication skills, especially in explaining technical concepts to high-level decision-makers.
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive projects to completion.
- Experience with embedded systems development and security.
- Familiarity with binary reverse engineering and exploitation.
Technical Staff 5/6 Job Overview
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Technical Staff provide critical through expert multi-domain or new-domain innovative research supporting the Laboratory’s national security mission. They prototype state-of-the-art technology solutions and engage across the program lifecycle, leading projects or major/multiple technical workstreams in partnership with project, program and team/Group leaders. As a Technical Staff member, you will lead complex technical efforts requiring deep expertise, sound judgment, with the ability to successfully navigate technical complexity. Depending on the level, you will lead projects, major workstreams, complex programs, multi-program initiatives, or technical portfolios on extraordinary technology prototype efforts and creative new ideas and approaches that support critical mission needs. Depending on the level, you will translate broad Group strategy into clearly defined research or executional deliverables. Through integrating your deep technical expertise across disciplines, you consistently drive high-quality mission outcomes.
As a successful candidate, you will connect deep and diverse technical expertise with broader Laboratory objectives, perform independent research, develop creative approaches, and translate broad strategy into executable plans. You will work across or guide multidisciplinary teams through ambiguous trade-offs; helping develop and execute programs, creating briefings and reports, and often interfacing with sponsors. You effectively support sponsor, mission-partner, and Laboratory leadership’s needs through daily or weekly technical briefings, program documentation, proposals, and may conduct advanced capability road mapping and development. You will also guide and mentor Associate Technical Staff, Assistant Technical Staff, and other technical support personnel.
Technical Staff 5/6 Job Duties & Responsibilities
- Lead projects, complex programs, major technical workstreams, multi-program initiatives, or technical portfolios involving multidisciplinary development, analysis, prototyping, integration, testing, evaluation, and technology transition.
- Apply deep technical expertise and systems-level judgment to highly complex and ambiguous problems, evaluating alternatives, trade-offs, risks, stakeholder needs, and mission implications.
- Translate broad or unclear objectives into actionable technical plans and influence program direction, architectures, systems, priorities, and roadmaps across teams, Groups, or mission areas.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, sponsors, mission partners, and internal leaders to align priorities, resolve dependencies, and guide decisions and deliverables.
- Assess and improve technical tools, processes, methods, documentation, execution practices, and organizational capability.
- Serve as a technical resource and mentor by reviewing work, framing trade-offs and risks, and developing staff and emerging leaders.
- Contribute substantially to papers, reports, presentations, proposals, grants, roadmaps, and other materials that advance mission outcomes and technical direction.
Technical Staff 5/6 Minimum Qualifications
Candidates will be considered for the appropriate level based on their education, experience, demonstrated technical expertise and breadth, leadership responsibilities, and the scale and complexity of programs or technical efforts they have led.
Level 5 – Technical Staff
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field and typically 6+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree and typically 4+ years of relevant experience; or PhD and typically 0+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Diverse technical expertise with demonstrated ability to adapt that expertise to unfamiliar or emerging disciplines, systems, mission areas, or methods.
- Established education, skills, and experience demonstrating the ability to apply significant technical judgment to broad challenges requiring integration across related systems or methods.
- Demonstrated ability to lead projects or major workstreams and deliver complex technical outcomes.
- Experience evaluating trade-offs, recommending paths forward, and adapting technical approaches to evolving project needs.
- Demonstrated mentorship, collaboration, and ability to communicate recommendations, risks, and technical findings to varied audiences.
- Experience contributing to technical reports, papers, presentations, proposals, or other formal technical deliverables.
Level 6 – Technical Staff
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field and typically 8+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree and typically 6+ years of relevant experience; or PhD and typically 2+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Deep and diverse technical expertise with demonstrated ability to integrate knowledge across domains and establish direction in evolving systems or mission areas.
- Established education, skills, and experience demonstrating the ability to incorporate technical judgment, program context, and stakeholder input to solve broad technical challenges.
- Proven experience leading complex programs, significant program elements, or multi-team technical efforts.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate alternatives, manage technical ambiguity, and influence decisions across teams or stakeholder groups.
- Strong record of mentorship, collaboration, technical communication, and contribution to team or Group capability development.
- Experience contributing to proposals, publications, technical reports, presentations, or other materials that shape program direction or technical initiatives.
Technical Staff 5 Hiring Range: $140,000 - $187,000
Technical Staff 6 Hiring Range: $155,000 - $207,000
Disclaimer: MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides a typical hiring range as a good faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. The final salary offered to a selected candidate will depend on various factors, including—but not limited to—the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, skills and education/training, internal equity considerations and applicable legal requirements. This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits.
At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, our exceptional career opportunities include many outstanding benefits to help you stay healthy, feel supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance. Benefits offered to employees include:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
- MIT-funded pension
- Matching 401K
- Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
- Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
- Mentorship programs
- A range of work-life balance options ... and much more!
-
Please visit our Benefits page for more information. As an employee of MIT, you can also take advantage of other voluntary benefits, discounts and perks.
Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.
Requisition ID: 43646
See All 100 Cyber Operations Specialist Jobs
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Find JobsCyber Operations Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Education
- Science & Research
- Aerospace & Defense
- Electronics & Hardware
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in cyber operations specialist jobs.
- Active DoD Secret or Top Secret/SCI clearance with eligibility for polygraph
- Proficiency in SIEM platforms, endpoint detection tools, and network traffic analysis
- Experience with intrusion detection, incident response, and threat hunting operations
- Certifications such as Security+, CISSP, CEH, GCIA, GCIH, or OSCP
- Bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information systems, or a related field
- Familiarity with NIST, RMF, or DoD 8140 frameworks and compliance requirements
Tips for Your Cyber Operations Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to clearance requirements
Many cyber operations specialist postings specify a clearance level before listing technical skills. Lead your resume with your active clearance, clearance eligibility, and polygraph status so hiring managers don't screen you out before reading your experience.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists cyber operations specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Align certifications to the specific sub-discipline
A GREM matters more for malware analysis roles than a Security+ does. Read each posting carefully and lead with the certification that maps directly to the team's focus, whether that's digital forensics, vulnerability research, or red team operations.
Document your tools in quantifiable lab scenarios
Hiring panels for cyber operations roles expect proof of hands-on tool use, not just a skills list. Write bullet points that name the platform, the environment, and the outcome, such as detecting lateral movement in a segmented Windows domain using a SIEM tool.
Prepare for a technical screening before the panel interview
Most cyber operations specialist hiring pipelines include a timed technical assessment or capture-the-flag segment before you ever speak to a hiring manager. Practice under time pressure using realistic scenarios, not just multiple-choice certification prep.
Negotiate start dates around clearance transfer timelines
If your clearance is currently held by another employer, ask the new organization's security officer about reciprocity before accepting an offer. A mismatched start date can delay onboarding by weeks and affect your offer terms.
Cyber Operations Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most cyber operations specialists?
Booz Allen Hamilton, MITRE, and Leidos are hiring the most cyber operations specialists right now, with openings concentrated in Virginia, Maryland, and Florida, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense contractors and federal agencies account for the largest share of active postings.
How many cyber operations specialist jobs are remote?
About 54% of cyber operations specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though many roles require on-site presence due to classified network access. Sub-areas with the highest remote availability include threat intelligence analysis, vulnerability research, and cybersecurity consulting roles that operate on unclassified systems.
How do you become a cyber operations specialist?
Start by building a foundation in networking, operating systems, and security fundamentals through a degree program, community college coursework, or self-study. Earn an entry-level certification such as Security+ or Network+, then pursue hands-on experience through capture-the-flag competitions, home lab projects, or internships. Apply for roles with an unclassified or Secret clearance requirement, and work toward higher clearances as your career progresses.
Can you get a cyber operations specialist job with little experience?
Yes, some cyber operations specialist roles are designed for candidates with limited professional experience, particularly at defense contractors and federal agencies that sponsor clearances for strong candidates. Focus on demonstrating hands-on skills through lab work, CTF results, or academic projects, and target junior analyst or associate operator titles that explicitly welcome recent graduates or candidates transitioning from IT support.
What does the cyber operations specialist interview process look like?
Most hiring pipelines include an initial recruiter screen, a technical assessment or scenario-based challenge, and a panel interview with security engineers or operations leads. Some employers add a written exercise where you analyze a network log or incident report. For cleared roles, a security interview or counterintelligence polygraph is typically scheduled after the conditional offer stage, separate from the technical evaluation.
Where can I find and apply to cyber operations specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to cyber operations specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search for roles that match your clearance level, specialization, and location preference, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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