Security Operations Specialist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Security Operations Specialist roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when tied to a directly related degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or information systems. Employers file a Labor Condition Application before sponsorship, and many active SOC sponsors operate in finance, defense contracting, and critical infrastructure sectors.
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Get Access To All JobsBusiness Unit: SOC
Location: Durham (Hybrid)
Reports To: SOC Manager
Skip-Level Manager: Senior Director of Security Operations
Role Summary:
The Security Operations Center (SOC) is seeking a highly skilled and proactive Senior Security Analyst to lead day-to-day security operations, drive continuous process improvement, and advance detection engineering across Pearson’s environments. This role is pivotal in safeguarding critical assets through rapid incident response, automation, and collaboration with internal and external partners. You will be responsible for refining SOC processes, developing detection capabilities, and ensuring alignment with Pearson’s security standards and regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
Security Operations Leadership:
- Lead and execute advanced SOC operations, including incident detection, triage, containment, and root cause analysis across Pearson environments. Requirement to work on-call schedule to ensure 24x7 coverage during non-office hours.
Detection Engineering & Automation:
- Develop, implement, and optimize detection logic, playbooks, and automated response workflows to reduce mean time to containment and improve SOC efficiency.
Process Improvement:
- Continuously assess and enhance SOC processes and procedures, ensuring best practices and alignment with evolving threat landscapes.
Threat Intelligence Integration:
- Collaborate with threat intelligence teams to analyze emerging risks and integrate relevant TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) into SOC operations.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Act as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders, translating technical findings into actionable insights and ensuring transparency throughout security operations.
Compliance & Governance:
- Ensure all SOC activities comply with relevant standards (e.g., NCSC, Cyber Essentials Plus) and internal Pearson policies.
Reporting & Metrics:
- Deliver executive-level reporting, risk assessments, and metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of SOC operations.
Required Skills & Experience:
- Must have experience working with regulated environments or government clients.
- Proven experience in security operations, incident response, and detection engineering (4+ years).
- Hands-on expertise with SOAR, EDR, NDR, and SIEM technologies.
- Experience with one or more Cloud Service Providers (AWS, Azure, GCP).
- Strong background in multitasking, adapting, and thriving in fast-paced environments.
- Excellent communication skills, especially in stakeholder management and translating technical risk to non-technical audiences.
Preferred Qualifications:
- US – Strong understanding of FedRAMP, GovRAMP and StateRAMP policies and practices.
- UK – Strong understanding of UK GDPR, Cyber Essentials and NCSC Guidance.
- Knowledge of cloud security (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid infrastructure.
- Experience collaborating with red/purple teams and defensive teams.
Who we are:
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.
Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.
If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.
Job: Security
Job Family: TECHNOLOGY
Organization: OCTO
Schedule: FULL_TIME
Workplace Type: Hybrid
Req ID: 26293
LI-REMOTE
Business Unit: SOC
Location: Durham (Hybrid)
Reports To: SOC Manager
Skip-Level Manager: Senior Director of Security Operations
Role Summary:
The Security Operations Center (SOC) is seeking a highly skilled and proactive Senior Security Analyst to lead day-to-day security operations, drive continuous process improvement, and advance detection engineering across Pearson’s environments. This role is pivotal in safeguarding critical assets through rapid incident response, automation, and collaboration with internal and external partners. You will be responsible for refining SOC processes, developing detection capabilities, and ensuring alignment with Pearson’s security standards and regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
Security Operations Leadership:
- Lead and execute advanced SOC operations, including incident detection, triage, containment, and root cause analysis across Pearson environments. Requirement to work on-call schedule to ensure 24x7 coverage during non-office hours.
Detection Engineering & Automation:
- Develop, implement, and optimize detection logic, playbooks, and automated response workflows to reduce mean time to containment and improve SOC efficiency.
Process Improvement:
- Continuously assess and enhance SOC processes and procedures, ensuring best practices and alignment with evolving threat landscapes.
Threat Intelligence Integration:
- Collaborate with threat intelligence teams to analyze emerging risks and integrate relevant TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) into SOC operations.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Act as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders, translating technical findings into actionable insights and ensuring transparency throughout security operations.
Compliance & Governance:
- Ensure all SOC activities comply with relevant standards (e.g., NCSC, Cyber Essentials Plus) and internal Pearson policies.
Reporting & Metrics:
- Deliver executive-level reporting, risk assessments, and metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of SOC operations.
Required Skills & Experience:
- Must have experience working with regulated environments or government clients.
- Proven experience in security operations, incident response, and detection engineering (4+ years).
- Hands-on expertise with SOAR, EDR, NDR, and SIEM technologies.
- Experience with one or more Cloud Service Providers (AWS, Azure, GCP).
- Strong background in multitasking, adapting, and thriving in fast-paced environments.
- Excellent communication skills, especially in stakeholder management and translating technical risk to non-technical audiences.
Preferred Qualifications:
- US – Strong understanding of FedRAMP, GovRAMP and StateRAMP policies and practices.
- UK – Strong understanding of UK GDPR, Cyber Essentials and NCSC Guidance.
- Knowledge of cloud security (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid infrastructure.
- Experience collaborating with red/purple teams and defensive teams.
Who we are:
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.
Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.
If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.
Job: Security
Job Family: TECHNOLOGY
Organization: OCTO
Schedule: FULL_TIME
Workplace Type: Hybrid
Req ID: 26293
LI-REMOTE
See all 114+ Security Operations Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Security Operations Specialist roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Security Operations Specialist
Frame your certifications around degree equivalency
H-1B eligibility requires a specialty occupation backed by a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. If your degree is in a broader field like IT, document how your coursework maps to security operations to preempt a USCIS Request for Evidence.
Target defense contractors and financial institutions first
Federal contractors and financial institutions file LCAs for Security Operations Specialist roles more consistently than other sectors. They operate 24/7 SOC environments that justify ongoing headcount, making them structurally more likely to sponsor than project-based technology consultancies.
Search verified sponsor employers on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to browse Security Operations Specialist roles at employers with confirmed LCA filing history. This filters out postings from companies that have never sponsored, saving you from applying where sponsorship is unlikely regardless of your qualifications.
Verify prevailing wage tier before accepting an offer
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your location and role level. Use the OFLC Wage Search to check the wage tier independently before negotiations so a low offer doesn't create a compliance problem during USCIS adjudication.
Disclose security clearance eligibility early in the process
Many SOC roles require a U.S. security clearance, which is not automatically available to visa holders. Raise your clearance eligibility status with the hiring manager before the offer stage to avoid late-stage rejections that waste both your time and the employer's filing investment.
Confirm the employer's PERM timeline if you need a green card
If long-term U.S. residence is your goal, ask whether the employer has completed PERM labor certifications for security roles before. Some defense-adjacent employers restrict PERM sponsorship for positions with access to sensitive systems, which affects your long-term immigration path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Security Operations Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS treats Security Operations Specialist roles as specialty occupations when the position requires a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information systems, or a closely related field. Roles that accept any degree, or no degree at all, are more likely to draw a Request for Evidence. Your employer's job description should state the degree requirement specifically, not just list it as preferred.
Which visa types are realistic for Security Operations Specialist candidates?
The H-1B is the most common path for employer-sponsored security operations roles, covering three-year initial status extendable to six. Australian nationals can use the E-3 visa, which has a separate cap and no lottery. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under TN visa if the role maps to a USMCA-listed profession such as computer systems analyst. Each requires the employer to file a Labor Condition Application with DOL before the visa application proceeds.
How do I find Security Operations Specialist jobs where employers are open to sponsorship?
Browse Security Operations Specialist roles on Migrate Mate, which lists employers with verified LCA filing history for this role type. This shows you companies that have already committed to the sponsorship process rather than ones that mention it as a possibility in job postings but have no track record of following through.
Does a security clearance requirement disqualify me from visa sponsorship?
Not automatically, but it complicates the process significantly. Many security clearances require U.S. citizenship or permanent residence, which most work visa holders don't have. Some lower-level clearances are available to visa holders through a sponsoring employer, but the employer must be willing to initiate that process separately from the visa sponsorship. Confirm clearance requirements and eligibility with the employer before you reach the offer stage.
What degree background does USCIS expect for Security Operations Specialist sponsorship?
USCIS looks for a direct relationship between your degree field and the specific duties in the role. Degrees in cybersecurity, information assurance, computer science, or information systems are the strongest fit. A general IT or engineering degree can work if the job description ties the role tightly to those disciplines. O*NET lists the typical education and skill profile for this occupation, which employers often reference when drafting the job description for the LCA and I-129 petition.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Security Operations Specialist 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.