Watch Officer Jobs
Watch Officer jobs are open across government agencies, defense contractors, maritime operations, and critical infrastructure sectors, at every level from entry-level to senior watch supervisor, with specializations in security operations, maritime monitoring, and emergency response coordination. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 8+ Watch Officer jobs
The Opportunity:
CACI has openings for Operations Watch Officer in McLean, VA. In this position you will support the National Counterterrorism Center Operations Center (NCTOC) or the Office of Director National Intelligence DNI Watch. As an operations watch officer you will provide support 24/7 365 using Identity Intelligence and/or Targeting skills. For the DNI Watch, you will be providing traditional watch floor support. This role is responsible for monitoring and identifying key record message traffic from a variety of cable repositories to drive development and production of situational awareness products and other ad-hoc products. This role is responsible for conducting research and writing reports and articles that summarize and contextualize current intelligence within a 24-hour reporting cycle.
This position requires completion of a multiweek certification course to learn the necessary functions and tradecraft to transition to an operations team and provide 24/7/365 situational awareness and analytic products.
Responsibilities:
- Continuously monitor intelligence cables using NCTC-designated networks, platforms, and databases to identify counterterrorism-related intelligence of interest
- Identify CT-related intelligence cables of interest and highlight critical items to Watch Team leadership for immediate action
- Prepare articles and analytical products supporting production requirements, ensuring accuracy and relevance for senior policymakers
- Edit intelligence products for proper classification, content accuracy, contextual clarity, and adherence to intelligence community standards
- Produce analytical products in response to time-sensitive events, providing policymakers with necessary intelligence related to developing and changing situations worldwide Alert leadership to worldwide breaking events of interest per established NCTC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), policies, and guidelines
-
Qualifications:
Required:
- Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) or Master's degree (MA/MS)
- 1 to 10 years of relevant professional experience
- Prior experience working jointly with Intelligence Community (IC) departments and agencies
- Demonstrated familiarity with a variety of IC databases, networks, and operational environments
- Ability to work rotating 12-hour shifts in a fast-paced, demanding operational environment, including weekends and holidays
- Proven ability to work effectively both independently and in team or collaborative environments
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, with demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities under strict guidelines while maintaining excellent customer service
- Active ODNI ISSA Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance with Polygraph
Desired:
- Experience as a Targeting Analyst, OR
- Experience as an Identities Intelligence (I2) Analyst, OR Experience supporting a traditional watch floor environment
-
What You Can Expect:
A culture of integrity.
At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team member, you’ll be part of a high-performing group dedicated to our customer’s missions and driven by a higher purpose – to ensure the safety of our nation.
An environment of trust.
CACI values the unique contributions that every employee brings to our company and our customers - every day. You’ll have the autonomy to take the time you need through a unique flexible time off benefit and have access to robust learning resources to make your ambitions a reality.
A focus on continuous growth.
Together, we will advance our nation's most critical missions, build on our lengthy track record of business success, and find opportunities to break new ground — in your career and in our legacy.
Pay Range :
There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.
The proposed salary range for this position is:
$66,100 - $135,600
The Opportunity:
CACI has openings for Operations Watch Officer in McLean, VA. In this position you will support the National Counterterrorism Center Operations Center (NCTOC) or the Office of Director National Intelligence DNI Watch. As an operations watch officer you will provide support 24/7 365 using Identity Intelligence and/or Targeting skills. For the DNI Watch, you will be providing traditional watch floor support. This role is responsible for monitoring and identifying key record message traffic from a variety of cable repositories to drive development and production of situational awareness products and other ad-hoc products. This role is responsible for conducting research and writing reports and articles that summarize and contextualize current intelligence within a 24-hour reporting cycle.
This position requires completion of a multiweek certification course to learn the necessary functions and tradecraft to transition to an operations team and provide 24/7/365 situational awareness and analytic products.
Responsibilities:
- Continuously monitor intelligence cables using NCTC-designated networks, platforms, and databases to identify counterterrorism-related intelligence of interest
- Identify CT-related intelligence cables of interest and highlight critical items to Watch Team leadership for immediate action
- Prepare articles and analytical products supporting production requirements, ensuring accuracy and relevance for senior policymakers
- Edit intelligence products for proper classification, content accuracy, contextual clarity, and adherence to intelligence community standards
- Produce analytical products in response to time-sensitive events, providing policymakers with necessary intelligence related to developing and changing situations worldwide Alert leadership to worldwide breaking events of interest per established NCTC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), policies, and guidelines
-
Qualifications:
Required:
- Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) or Master's degree (MA/MS)
- 1 to 10 years of relevant professional experience
- Prior experience working jointly with Intelligence Community (IC) departments and agencies
- Demonstrated familiarity with a variety of IC databases, networks, and operational environments
- Ability to work rotating 12-hour shifts in a fast-paced, demanding operational environment, including weekends and holidays
- Proven ability to work effectively both independently and in team or collaborative environments
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, with demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities under strict guidelines while maintaining excellent customer service
- Active ODNI ISSA Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance with Polygraph
Desired:
- Experience as a Targeting Analyst, OR
- Experience as an Identities Intelligence (I2) Analyst, OR Experience supporting a traditional watch floor environment
-
What You Can Expect:
A culture of integrity.
At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team member, you’ll be part of a high-performing group dedicated to our customer’s missions and driven by a higher purpose – to ensure the safety of our nation.
An environment of trust.
CACI values the unique contributions that every employee brings to our company and our customers - every day. You’ll have the autonomy to take the time you need through a unique flexible time off benefit and have access to robust learning resources to make your ambitions a reality.
A focus on continuous growth.
Together, we will advance our nation's most critical missions, build on our lengthy track record of business success, and find opportunities to break new ground — in your career and in our legacy.
Pay Range :
There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.
The proposed salary range for this position is:
$66,100 - $135,600Watch Officer Jobs by Experience Level
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Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in watch officer jobs.
- Active or adjudicated security clearance at the Secret or Top Secret level
- Experience standing watch in a 24-hour operations center or duty station
- Proficiency with common operations center tools such as radio consoles and monitoring systems
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for shift handover reports and incident logs
- Ability to maintain situational awareness and respond calmly under time pressure
- Associate or bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as criminal justice, maritime studies, or emergency management
Tips for Your Watch Officer Job Search
Tailor your resume to watch schedules
Hiring managers for watch officer roles scan for shift experience immediately. List your actual watch rotations, whether four-on-four-off, rotating 12-hour shifts, or 24-hour duty cycles, so they can confirm you've operated in the same tempo they need covered.
Highlight your clearance status upfront
Many watch officer postings require an active or current security clearance. Place your clearance level and status in your resume header or summary, not buried in a skills list. Active clearances move you past initial screening faster than any other credential.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists watch officer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing. Applying early matters for these roles because clearance-required positions often close once a qualified pool is reached.
Match your language to the posting's domain
Maritime watch officers, security operations center analysts, and nuclear facility watch standers all share the title but use different terminology. Mirror the exact operational language from each posting, whether that's COLREGS, SCADA systems, or force protection, to get past automated screening.
Prepare for scenario-based interview questions
Watch officer interviews almost always include situational scenarios: a vessel deviating from course, a network anomaly spiking at 0300, or a facility perimeter breach. Practice walking through your decision process out loud, emphasizing who you notify first and how you document the event.
Negotiate schedule before accepting an offer
Watch officer compensation often includes shift differentials, holiday pay, and overtime structures that vary widely by employer. Confirm the exact rotation, differential rates, and relief protocols during the offer stage, before you commit, so there are no surprises once you're standing watch.
Watch Officer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most watch officers?
The companies hiring the most watch officers right now include SABG, SAIC, and L3Harris, with the largest share of openings in Virginia, Maryland, and Alaska, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense contractors and federal agencies consistently make up the largest portion of active postings.
How many watch officer jobs are remote?
About 0% of watch officer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most watch duties require a physical presence at a facility or operations center. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements are intelligence analysis support roles and certain cybersecurity watch functions where monitoring is software-driven rather than facility-based.
How do you become a watch officer?
Start by gaining experience in a relevant operational domain, such as maritime service, military duty, law enforcement, or a security operations center. Obtain any required certifications for your target sector, such as STCW credentials for maritime roles or relevant security certifications for defense positions. Build familiarity with the monitoring tools and reporting protocols used in your target environment, then apply to entry-level watch positions that match your background.
Can I get hired as a watch officer with little or no experience?
Entry-level watch officer roles do exist, particularly within private security, campus operations, and certain federal contractor positions that provide on-the-job training. Employers hiring for these roles typically look for demonstrated reliability, a clean background, and the ability to follow strict protocols under pressure. Military veterans and candidates with JROTC, volunteer emergency services, or overnight operational roles in any industry often transition successfully into their first watch officer position.
What does the watch officer interview process look like?
Most watch officer interviews include an initial phone or video screen focused on your operational background and availability for shift work, followed by an in-person or panel interview with scenario-based questions. Interviewers typically walk candidates through a hypothetical incident and ask how they would respond, document, and escalate. For roles requiring a clearance, a conditional offer is usually extended before the full background investigation begins, which can add weeks to the overall timeline.
Where can I find and apply to watch officer jobs?
You can find and apply to watch officer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and shift preferences, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
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