STEM OPT Cybersecurity Specialist Jobs
Cybersecurity Specialist roles in threat detection, vulnerability assessment, and security operations qualify for STEM OPT because they typically require a degree in computer science, information technology, or a related STEM field. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months of work authorization, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify.
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Workforce Classification:
Hybrid
Join Our Team: Do Meaningful Work and Improve People’s Lives
Our purpose, to improve customers’ lives by making healthcare work better, is far from ordinary. And so are our employees. Working at Premera means you have the opportunity to drive real change by transforming healthcare.
Premera is committed to being a workplace where people feel empowered to grow, innovate, and lead with purpose. By investing in our employees and fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous development, we’re able to better serve our customers. It’s this commitment that has earned us recognition as one of the best companies to work for. Learn more about our recent awards and recognitions as a greatest workplace.
Learn how Premera supports our members, customers and the communities that we serve through our Healthsource blog: https://healthsource.premera.com/.
Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence Engineer II, Att@ck
Join Premera’s Threat Intelligence and Response (TI&R) team as a Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence Engineer II, Att@ck. As part of Premera’s broader Purple Team capabilities, you will apply the MITRE ATT&CK framework and threat intelligence to evaluate the effectiveness of our security defenses through authorized adversary emulation, security testing, and detection validation.
In this role, you will develop and execute controlled testing scenarios that reproduce real-world attacker behaviors, assess security telemetry and detection capabilities, identify defensive gaps, and work closely with the Threat Intelligence and Incident Response teams within TI&R to strengthen Premera’s security posture. You will also help validate corrective actions and develop repeatable testing processes that demonstrate measurable improvements in our ability to detect and respond to relevant threats.
Success in this role requires technical curiosity, sound analytical judgment, strong documentation skills, and the ability to translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable recommendations for both technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
This is a hybrid role, located on our campus in Mountlake Terrace, Washington.
What You’ll Do
- Plan and execute authorized adversary emulation, security testing, and technical assessments aligned with the MITRE ATT&CK framework to evaluate defensive controls and identify detection and visibility gaps.
- Research emerging adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), including those associated with nation-state actors and cybercriminal organizations, and translate relevant threat intelligence into practical, risk-based testing scenarios.
- Reproduce adversary techniques within approved testing environments and established rules of engagement, ensuring activities comply with operational safety, privacy, and security requirements.
- Collect, analyze, and document technical evidence and security telemetry generated during testing to determine whether expected defensive controls detected, prevented, or appropriately responded to simulated attacker activity.
- Collaborate with the Threat Intelligence and Incident Response teams within TI&R to evaluate findings, recommend defensive improvements, and conduct follow-up testing to validate remediation effectiveness.
- Develop, maintain, and improve scripts, automation, and repeatable testing procedures to streamline adversary emulation, telemetry collection, security validation, and technical analysis.
- Analyze testing results and identify trends in detection coverage, control effectiveness, and defensive visibility to support continuous improvement across Premera’s security capabilities.
- Support incident response investigations and other assigned technical assessments by providing expertise in adversary behavior, attack techniques, security telemetry, and detection capabilities.
- Contribute to security assessments involving significant changes to systems, applications, and networks by applying relevant threat intelligence, vulnerability assessment, and security control validation concepts.
- Document testing methodologies, findings, limitations, and recommendations, and communicate results through written reports, technical discussions, and briefings appropriate for technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
- Apply applicable security, privacy, regulatory, and organizational requirements when planning and performing assigned technical activities.
- Organize and prioritize assigned work in alignment with team objectives, established procedures, and Purple Team initiatives while demonstrating sound judgment, initiative, and appropriate technical independence.
- Share technical knowledge, lessons learned, and testing insights across the TI&R department to strengthen collective defensive capabilities.
What You'll Bring
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems or Business Administration or four (4) years’ experience.
- Three (3) years’ experience designing, implementing, and troubleshooting networked computer systems, including: systems integration, hardware requirements and network design planning; vendor negotiations for hardware and software; which must include:
- Two (2) years’ experience with secure network and systems architecture, design and implementation, intrusion detection, defense and incident response, security configuration management, access controls design and implementation and security policy and standards development.
Preferred Qualifications
- Industry-recognized offensive cybersecurity or adversary emulation certifications, such as OffSec OSCP, Zero-Point Security CRTO, GIAC GPEN, GXPN, or eLearnSecurity eJPT/eCPPT.
- Hands-on proficiency with the MITRE ATT&CK framework, including mapping adversary TTPs to internal security controls, logging sources, and detection capabilities.
- Experience with adversary emulation, breach and attack simulation (BAS), Purple Team exercises, or structured security control validation methodologies.
- Practical scripting and automation experience using Python, PowerShell, Bash, or similar languages.
- Experience developing repeatable security testing scenarios, analyzing results, and conducting follow-up validation of defensive improvements.
- Hands-on experience with security technologies across endpoint detection and response (EDR), network security monitoring, SIEM, identity, and cloud environments.
- Working knowledge of Windows and Linux operating systems, authentication technologies, networking protocols, and common attacker behaviors.
- Familiarity with threat intelligence analysis, threat hunting methodologies, and translating intelligence into actionable defensive testing scenarios.
- Familiarity with security control frameworks and regulatory requirements applicable to healthcare environments, including HITRUST, where relevant.
Premera total rewards
Our comprehensive total rewards package provides support, resources, and opportunities to help employees thrive and grow. Our total rewards are more than a collection of perks, they're a reflection of our commitment to your health and well-being. We offer a broad array of rewards including physical, financial, emotional, and community benefits, including:
- Medical, vision, and dental coverage with low employee premiums.
- Voluntary benefit offerings, including pet insurance for paw parents.
- Life and disability insurance.
- Retirement programs, including a 401K employer match and, believe it or not, a pension plan that is vested after 3 years of service.
- Wellness incentives with a wide range of mental well-being resources for you and your dependents, including counseling services, stress management programs, and mindfulness programs, just to name a few.
- Generous paid time off to reenergize.
- Looking for continuing education? We have tuition assistance for both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
- Employee recognition program to celebrate anniversaries, team accomplishments, and more.
For our hybrid employees, our on-campus model provides flexibility to create your own routine with access to on-site resources, networking opportunities, and team engagement.
- Commuter perks make your trip to work less impactful on the environment and your wallet.
- Free convenient on-site parking.
- Subsidized on-campus cafes make lunchtime connections with colleagues fun and affordable.
- Participate in engaging on-site activities such as health and wellness events, coffee connects, disaster preparedness fairs and more.
- Our complementary fitness & well-being center offers both in-person and virtual workouts and nutritional counseling.
- Need a brain break? Challenge someone to a game of shuffleboard or ping pong while on campus.
Equal employment opportunity/affirmative action:
Premera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Premera seeks to attract and retain the most qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
If you need an accommodation to apply online for positions at Premera, please contact Premera Human Resources via email at careers@premera.com or via phone at 425-918-4785.
The pay for this role will vary based on a range of factors including, but not limited to, a candidate’s geographic location, market conditions, and specific skills and experience.
The salary range for this role is posted below; we generally target up to and around the midpoint of the range.
National Plus Salary Range:
$92,400.00 - $157,100.00
National Plus salary range is used in higher cost of labor markets including Western Washington and Alaska.
We’re happy to discuss compensation further during the interview because we believe that open communication leads to better outcomes for all. We’re committed to creating an environment where all employees are celebrated for their unique skills and contributions.
See all 186+ STEM OPT Cybersecurity Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Cybersecurity Specialist
Verify your CIP code matches cybersecurity
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to a STEM-designated field like computer science, information security, or electrical engineering. Your DSO confirms the match before approving your STEM OPT extension request.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask hiring managers directly whether the specific legal entity making your offer is enrolled in E-Verify, not just a parent company. Enrollment must cover the worksite location where you'll be placed, including third-party client sites for consulting roles.
Target security teams at E-Verify-enrolled contractors
Federal contractors and subcontractors are legally required to use E-Verify, making them reliable targets. Defense, intelligence, and civilian agency contractors regularly hire cybersecurity analysts and are already compliant with the enrollment requirement.
Negotiate your I-983 training plan around real deliverables
Your employer must complete the I-983 before your STEM OPT begins. For cybersecurity roles, ground learning objectives in specific work products, such as incident response runbooks or penetration testing reports, so USCIS sees a genuine training relationship.
Use Migrate Mate to filter by E-Verify enrollment status
Search for Cybersecurity Specialist openings on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and LCA filing history so you're not cold-applying to companies that can't legally hire STEM OPT students.
File your extension 90 days before OPT expires
USCIS requires the STEM OPT extension application to be submitted no earlier than 90 days before your initial OPT end date. Missing this window ends your work authorization with no grace period for active employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a cybersecurity degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree carries a STEM-designated CIP code. Degrees in computer science, information assurance, cybersecurity, electrical engineering, and related fields typically qualify. Your DSO will verify the CIP code against the Department of Homeland Security's STEM Designated Degree Program List before approving your extension request. Check your official transcript and confirm the match with your school's international student office before applying.
What does the I-983 training plan require for a Cybersecurity Specialist role?
The I-983 must describe how your day-to-day cybersecurity work relates to your STEM degree, list concrete learning objectives such as threat modeling or security architecture, and identify a supervising mentor. USCIS reviews whether the role provides genuine training, not just employment. Your employer signs the form, and you must report to your DSO every six months to confirm the training relationship remains active.
Does my employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify to hire me on STEM OPT?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for every employer that hires a STEM OPT student. The enrollment must cover the specific legal entity and worksite where you'll work. If you're placed at a client site through a staffing or consulting firm, both the staffing firm and the end client may need to satisfy this requirement depending on the employment structure. Confirm enrollment before your start date.
How does cap-gap protection apply if I'm a Cybersecurity Specialist waiting on an H-1B?
If your STEM OPT is still active when an H-1B visa petition is filed on your behalf for the following fiscal year, cap-gap automatically extends your OPT work authorization through September 30. You can continue working as a Cybersecurity Specialist during this period without interruption. USCIS issues a cap-gap extension on your I-20, which you should carry as proof of continued authorization.
Where can I find Cybersecurity Specialist jobs with employers already enrolled in E-Verify?
Migrate Mate surfaces Cybersecurity Specialist openings filtered by employers with E-Verify enrollment and active LCA filing history, so you can focus applications on companies already set up to hire STEM OPT students. This saves the back-and-forth of asking HR teams to confirm compliance status before you've even had a first interview.