Security Operations Center Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Security Operations Center analysts and engineers are in high demand from sponsors, with H-1B visa and EB-3 pathways both well-established for this field. Employers across finance, healthcare, defense contracting, and tech regularly sponsor qualifying candidates with degrees in cybersecurity, computer science, or information systems. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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How to Apply
Please include a cover letter by attaching it as the first page of your resume, address your specific interest in the position and DPSS, and outline the skills that directly relate to this position.
Who We Are
The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) leads all public safety functions within the university, including police, security, and emergency management, and offers an integrated approach to safety and security, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. DPSS combines Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint operations to provide students, visitors, faculty, and staff with a safe and secure environment. Through our partnerships across the university and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, we use a blended service model to meet the needs of our community and exceed expectations.
Job Summary
The University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) is seeking a Lead Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst to support campus safety through advanced operations, training, and intelligence support.
The University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) provides integrated public safety services through law enforcement, security, emergency management, dispatch, intelligence, and enterprise physical security. The Security Operations Center (SOC) serves as the division's centralized hub for integrating security technologies and operational information to enhance situational awareness, support incident response, and improve the safety and security of the university community.
As a senior SOC team member, you will provide mentorship and technical expertise while working alongside SOC Associates. The position serves as a subject matter expert in SOC technologies and procedures and supports the onboarding and development of new personnel.
This role also contributes to continuous improvement through training, quality assurance, troubleshooting, and collaboration with internal partners, including Dispatch Services, ITS, Physical Security, Emergency Management, and law enforcement.
This position, working in a 24/7 environment, requires strong technical knowledge, situational awareness, communication skills, and the ability to perform effectively during complex incidents.
This position requires successful completion of an extensive law enforcement background investigation and drug screen.
Responsibilities
- Training & Personnel Development: Assist with onboarding, training, and mentoring SOC Operations and Intelligence Associates while serving as a resource for procedures, systems, and best practices, and supporting ongoing development and knowledge sharing.
- Security Operations & Monitoring: Serve as a senior operator monitoring campus security systems, verifying incidents, and supporting real-time response by communicating critical information to appropriate personnel.
- Systems Expertise & Troubleshooting: Maintain advanced working knowledge of all SOC technologies, systems, and operational platforms while troubleshooting operational issues, coordinating with technology partners and vendors to resolve system problems, and assisting with system testing, implementation efforts, and operational readiness activities.
- Intelligence & Information Gathering: Monitor digital tip platforms, open-source sources, and internal reporting channels to collect and document information on suspicious activity and emerging threats, supporting analysts through trend identification and report preparation.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Build and maintain effective relationships with DPSS Dispatch Services, Physical Security, ITS, Emergency Management, and other partners to support coordination, system integration, and communication on workflows and improvements.
- Quality Assurance & Operational Support: Review operational documentation for accuracy and compliance, identify improvements, support personnel during complex incidents, and ensure continuity during emergencies.
- Dispatch Collaboration and Emergency Communications: Coordinate with DPSS Dispatch Services on response efforts, support situational awareness, monitor radio traffic, and assist with emergency communication systems during urgent incidents.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Three (3) years progressively responsible experience in a Security Operations Center (SOC), public safety, intelligence, emergency management, fusion center, military operations center, or similar critical operations environment.
- Demonstrated experience utilizing video management systems, access control platforms, alarm monitoring technologies, and other enterprise security systems.
- Experience training, mentoring, coaching, or developing personnel in an operational environment.
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities related to security technologies and operational systems.
- Experience supporting intelligence gathering, information analysis, threat monitoring, or operational situational awareness.
- Working knowledge of public safety dispatch operations, emergency communications, and mass notification systems.
- Experience working in higher education, critical infrastructure, or another complex enterprise environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong multitasking abilities and the capacity to perform effectively under stress.
- Ability to work rotating shift work and unscheduled overtime, when necessary.
- Successfully pass an in-depth background investigation, drug screening, and motor vehicle driving record check.
Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance including "Other Qualified Adult" coverage
- Generous time off including parental leave
- A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
- Dental insurance, Life insurance, and Vision insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Tuition Support Program
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
All members of the Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) are considered Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) under The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. As such, you are required to report Clery reportable offenses that come to your attention. DPSS employees are required to complete Clery Compliance Training within the first 14 days of employment and annually thereafter.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled at any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Job Opening ID
281400
Working Title
Lead Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst
Job Title
Security Coordinator
Work Location
Ann Arbor Campus
Ann Arbor, MI
Modes of Work
Onsite
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
FLSA Status
Nonexempt
Organizational Group
Division Pub Saf Sec
Department
DPSS ADMIN OPERATIONS
Posting Begin/End Date
8/07/2026 - 8/21/2026
Salary
$65,000.00 - $72,000.00
Career Interest
Environmental Safety & Security
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Security Operations Center Jobs
Target industries with active security clearance programs
Defense contractors, federal IT firms, and financial institutions sponsor SOC roles most consistently. These employers maintain dedicated security teams and have established H-1B petition processes, making them more predictable sponsors than companies hiring for security reactively.
Align your degree to the specialty occupation standard
SOC analyst roles typically require a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or information systems. A degree in an unrelated field can complicate your H-1B petition, so document any supplemental certifications like CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+ to strengthen your case.
Prioritize employers with cap-exempt or cap-exempt adjacent status
Hospitals, universities, and nonprofit research institutions are cap-exempt H-1B sponsors. SOC roles at these organizations can be filed year-round without lottery risk, which matters significantly if you're already in the U.S. on OPT with a tight timeline.
Understand how security clearances interact with your visa status
Many SOC roles at government contractors require security clearances, which are generally unavailable to non-permanent residents. Focus on commercial sector SOC positions during your H-1B years, and revisit cleared roles once you're further along a green card pathway.
Use your OPT period to build a sponsorship track record
SOC employers who hire you on OPT have already invested in onboarding and training you. That investment makes them far more likely to sponsor your H-1B. Start H-1B conversations with your manager at least six months before your OPT expires.
Frame your experience around measurable incident response outcomes
Sponsors filing H-1B petitions need to justify the specialty occupation requirement. SOC candidates who can articulate specific tools, threat frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, and quantified incident response outcomes give employers stronger documentation to build their petition around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do SOC analyst roles qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B purposes?
Most SOC analyst and engineer roles qualify, but the job description matters. USCIS looks for a direct relationship between the duties performed and a specific bachelor's-level field. Roles centered on threat detection, SIEM management, or incident response using cybersecurity or computer science knowledge typically satisfy the standard. Generic IT support framed as SOC work is more likely to face a Request for Evidence.
Which visa types are available for SOC professionals beyond the H-1B?
The EB-3 employment-based green card is a common pathway for SOC professionals whose employers are willing to go through PERM labor certification. The O-1A is an option for candidates with documented industry recognition, published research, or leadership in major security incidents. Australians in SOC roles may qualify for the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and can be renewed indefinitely.
Where can I find SOC jobs that explicitly offer visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate specializes in visa sponsorship jobs and filters specifically for employers willing to sponsor. SOC roles listed there are vetted for sponsorship willingness, which saves you from applying to positions where sponsorship is technically possible but the employer has no intention of pursuing it. Browse Migrate Mate to find current SOC openings from active sponsors.
Can I work in a SOC role if my degree is in a different field?
It depends on the field and how closely related it is. A degree in electrical engineering or mathematics can support a SOC petition with strong documentation. A degree in business or communications makes it significantly harder. Industry certifications like CISSP, GIAC, or CEH help, but USCIS treats them as supplemental, not substitutes for a qualifying degree. An immigration attorney can assess your specific profile before you apply.
How does the H-1B lottery affect SOC job seekers, and are there ways around it?
The H-1B lottery selects roughly 20 to 25 percent of registrations in recent years, so most applicants aren't selected in any given cycle. SOC professionals have a few ways to reduce lottery dependence: seek roles at cap-exempt employers such as hospitals or universities, pursue the E-3 visa if you're Australian, or target employers willing to support an EB-3 green card filing directly, which bypasses the cap entirely.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Security Operations Center jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.