Security Operations Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Security Operations Engineer jobs in Virginia are among the most active in the country, with steady demand concentrated in defense contracting, federal civilian agencies, financial services, and cloud infrastructure across seniority levels from entry-level analysts to principal engineers. Northern Virginia, particularly the Tysons Corner and Reston corridors, leads hiring volume, followed by Richmond and the Hampton Roads area, where employers like Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and General Dynamics Information Technology maintain large security operations workforces. The most in-demand specialties are SIEM engineering, endpoint detection and response, and cloud security operations. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 33+ Security Operations Engineer jobs
Security Officer with Active Clearance Operations
Overview
Allied Universal®, North America’s leading security and facility services company, offers rewarding careers that provide you a sense of purpose. While working in a dynamic, welcoming, and collaborative workplace, you will be part of a team that contributes to a culture that positively impacts the communities and customers we serve.
Job Description
As a Security Officer with Active Clearance Operations in MANASSAS, VA, you will serve and safeguard clients in a range of industries such as Aero/Defense, and more. As a Security Officer supporting a leading aerospace and defense location, you will monitor and patrol assigned areas, maintain a visible presence to help deter security-related incidents, and provide professional customer service and communication. You will support a mission-focused environment through routine observations and timely reporting while upholding Allied Universal’s agile, reliable, innovative, caring, team-oriented, and integrity-driven values.
Position Type: Full Time
Pay Rate: $25.74 / Hour
Job Schedule:
What You'll Do:
- Provide customer service to clients by carrying out security-related procedures, site-specific policies, and, when appropriate, emergency response activities.
- Respond to incidents and critical situations in a calm, problem-solving manner, following established reporting and escalation procedures.
- Conduct regular and random patrols of aerospace and defense business areas, access points, and perimeter locations to help identify and report unusual activity.
- Monitor access to restricted areas, verify credentials as required, and document visitor, contractor, and delivery activity in accordance with site requirements.
Minimum Requirements:
- Have at least 2 years of security-related experience.
- Possess an active DoD Secret Clearance.
- Be at least 21 years of age.
- CPR certification is preferred.
- Be comfortable using a computer or tablet, preferred.
- Be at least 18 years of age for unarmed roles; 21+ years of age for armed roles.
- Possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
- As a condition of employment, applicants will be subject to a background investigation in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws.
- Allied Universal will consider qualified applications with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable laws.
- As a condition of employment, applicants will be subject to a drug screen to the extent permitted by law.
- Licensing requirements are subject to state and/or local laws and regulations and may be required prior to employment.
- A valid driver’s license will be required for driving positions only.
Why Join Us:
- Smart Tools: Access to our exclusive technology to view and claim additional shifts to earn more.
- Career Growth: Get paid training and access to career growth opportunities.
- Financial and Health Benefits: Enjoy access to a retirement savings plan, plus medical, dental, vision, basic life and AD&D, and disability insurance.
- Exclusive Perks: Enjoy discounts on top brands and services through our Perks Program.
Closing
Allied Universal® is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or relationship/association with a protected veteran, or any other basis or characteristic protected by law. For more information: www.aus.com.
If you have difficulty using the online system and require an alternate method to apply or require an accommodation, please contact our local Human Resources department. To find an office near you, please visit: www.aus.com/offices.
Requisition ID
2026-1655246
Security Officer with Active Clearance Operations
Overview
Allied Universal®, North America’s leading security and facility services company, offers rewarding careers that provide you a sense of purpose. While working in a dynamic, welcoming, and collaborative workplace, you will be part of a team that contributes to a culture that positively impacts the communities and customers we serve.
Job Description
As a Security Officer with Active Clearance Operations in MANASSAS, VA, you will serve and safeguard clients in a range of industries such as Aero/Defense, and more. As a Security Officer supporting a leading aerospace and defense location, you will monitor and patrol assigned areas, maintain a visible presence to help deter security-related incidents, and provide professional customer service and communication. You will support a mission-focused environment through routine observations and timely reporting while upholding Allied Universal’s agile, reliable, innovative, caring, team-oriented, and integrity-driven values.
Position Type: Full Time
Pay Rate: $25.74 / Hour
Job Schedule:
What You'll Do:
- Provide customer service to clients by carrying out security-related procedures, site-specific policies, and, when appropriate, emergency response activities.
- Respond to incidents and critical situations in a calm, problem-solving manner, following established reporting and escalation procedures.
- Conduct regular and random patrols of aerospace and defense business areas, access points, and perimeter locations to help identify and report unusual activity.
- Monitor access to restricted areas, verify credentials as required, and document visitor, contractor, and delivery activity in accordance with site requirements.
Minimum Requirements:
- Have at least 2 years of security-related experience.
- Possess an active DoD Secret Clearance.
- Be at least 21 years of age.
- CPR certification is preferred.
- Be comfortable using a computer or tablet, preferred.
- Be at least 18 years of age for unarmed roles; 21+ years of age for armed roles.
- Possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
- As a condition of employment, applicants will be subject to a background investigation in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws.
- Allied Universal will consider qualified applications with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable laws.
- As a condition of employment, applicants will be subject to a drug screen to the extent permitted by law.
- Licensing requirements are subject to state and/or local laws and regulations and may be required prior to employment.
- A valid driver’s license will be required for driving positions only.
Why Join Us:
- Smart Tools: Access to our exclusive technology to view and claim additional shifts to earn more.
- Career Growth: Get paid training and access to career growth opportunities.
- Financial and Health Benefits: Enjoy access to a retirement savings plan, plus medical, dental, vision, basic life and AD&D, and disability insurance.
- Exclusive Perks: Enjoy discounts on top brands and services through our Perks Program.
Closing
Allied Universal® is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or relationship/association with a protected veteran, or any other basis or characteristic protected by law. For more information: www.aus.com.
If you have difficulty using the online system and require an alternate method to apply or require an accommodation, please contact our local Human Resources department. To find an office near you, please visit: www.aus.com/offices.
Requisition ID
2026-1655246
See All 33 Security Operations Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSecurity Operations Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Security Operations Engineer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in security operations engineer jobs across Virginia.
- Active or eligible federal security clearance, typically Secret or Top Secret with SCI eligibility
- Bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information systems, or a related field
- Relevant certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CISSP, CEH, or GIAC credentials
- Hands-on experience with SIEM platforms such as Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, or IBM QRadar
- Proficiency in incident response, threat hunting, and security event analysis workflows
- Familiarity with NIST cybersecurity frameworks, FedRAMP, or CMMC compliance requirements
Security Operations Engineer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a security operations engineer in Virginia?
Most security operations engineer roles in Virginia require a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, information systems, or computer science, along with industry certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or a GIAC credential. Virginia does not issue a state-specific license for this role, but federal contractor positions frequently require a security clearance obtained through a sponsoring employer. Building hands-on experience with SIEM tools, endpoint detection platforms, and incident response workflows is essential for competitive candidacy.
How much do security operations engineers make in Virginia?
Security operations engineers in Virginia earn a median of about $134,900 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $81,410 for the lowest 10% to over $205,750 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire security operations engineers in Virginia?
Employers hiring security operations engineers in Virginia right now include Allied Universal, RISA, and Empower AI, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's dense concentration of federal contractors and defense agencies means many openings require or prefer candidates who already hold or can obtain a federal security clearance.
Which Virginia cities have the most security operations engineer jobs?
Arlington, Springfield, and Reston have the most security operations engineer openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates because of its proximity to federal agencies, the Pentagon, and the national intelligence community, while Richmond draws demand from financial services firms and state government technology offices, and Hampton Roads reflects the strong Navy and defense contractor presence along the coast.
Are there remote security operations engineer jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than most technical fields. About 75% of security operations engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the desk-based and analytical nature of much of this work. The tasks most commonly performed remotely include SIEM monitoring, alert triage, and threat intelligence analysis, while roles requiring hands-on lab access or classified facility work tend to be on-site.
How can I get hired as a security operations engineer in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a junior SOC analyst or security analyst role at one of Virginia's large federal contractors, such as Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, or SAIC, which run structured early-career programs and new-graduate hiring pipelines. Completing CompTIA Security+ and Network+ certifications and building a home lab portfolio demonstrating SIEM configuration and incident response gives candidates a concrete edge. Adjacent roles in IT helpdesk, network administration, or systems administration at Virginia government agencies also serve as practical on-ramps.
Where can I find and apply to security operations engineer jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to security operations engineer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings. Find a role that fits and apply directly.
See All 33 Security Operations Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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