Sr. Network Security Analyst

Essential Job Functions

• Monitor security alerts, logs, network events, endpoint telemetry, and threat intelligence feeds.
• Analyze suspicious activity, anomalous network behavior, malware indicators, endpoint detections, and SIEM correlation events to determine scope, impact, and required response actions.
• Perform incident triage, investigation, escalation, containment coordination, and documentation in alignment with HHSC security operations procedures.
• Develop, tune, and maintain detection rules, dashboards, alerts, playbooks, and queries to improve visibility across network, endpoint, identity, and cloud environments.
• Support threat hunting activities using KQL, SPL, packet/session analysis, endpoint telemetry, and other investigative techniques.
• Assist with vulnerability, risk, and control assessments for network security infrastructure and enterprise information systems.
• Document findings, prepare incident reports, track corrective actions, and communicate technical information to security leadership and business stakeholders.
• Collaborate with network, infrastructure, cloud, endpoint, and application teams to validate security events and implement risk mitigation measures.
• Maintain awareness of emerging cyber threats, attack techniques, indicators of compromise, and security best practices relevant to healthcare and public-sector environments.
• Support compliance, audit, and reporting activities by providing evidence, metrics, and security operations documentation as requested.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years of experience in cybersecurity, network security, security operations, incident response, or a closely related information security role.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Sentinel, including incident management, analytics rules, workbooks, automation, data connectors, and Kusto Query Language.
• Experience using SIEM for log analysis, alert investigation, dashboarding, correlation searches, and security monitoring.
• Experience with NDR for network traffic analysis, packet/session investigation, threat detection, and incident support.
• Experience with EDR tools, including endpoint alert triage, device investigation, advanced hunting, and response actions.
• Working knowledge of network security concepts, including firewalls, IDS/IPS, proxy logs, DNS, VPN, TCP/IP, segmentation, and secure network architecture.
• Ability to analyze complex security events, correlate data across multiple sources, and produce clear written documentation and recommendations.
• Knowledge of security frameworks, standards, and regulatory considerations such as NIST, CIS Controls, HIPAA, and state information security requirements.
• Strong communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

Preferred Education and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information systems, information technology, or a related field. Relevant experience may be considered in place of education where applicable.
• Microsoft security certifications are strongly preferred, such as Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate, Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert, Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate, or Microsoft 365 Defender-related certifications.
• Additional preferred certifications include CompTIA Security+, CySA+, GIAC security certifications, CISSP, CISM, CISA, Splunk Core Certified Power User, Splunk Enterprise Security Certified Admin, or SentinelOne product certifications.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of SIEM, SOAR, EDR, XDR, network detection and response, log management, and threat intelligence concepts.
• Skill in writing and interpreting KQL, SPL, and security queries to support investigations and reporting.
• Skill in identifying indicators of compromise, attacker tactics, suspicious network patterns, and endpoint-based threats.
• Ability to prioritize alerts, document investigative steps, and escalate incidents based on severity and business impact.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a security operations environment with shifting priorities and time-sensitive incidents.
• Ability to communicate cybersecurity risks, findings, and recommended actions to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Work Expectations

• Participate in incident response, escalation, and after-action review activities as needed.
• Support enterprise security monitoring for systems that process, store, or transmit sensitive information.
• Follow HHSC policies, procedures, standards, and applicable state and federal security requirements.
• Maintain accurate operational documentation, investigation notes, metrics, and leadership-ready summaries.
• May be required to provide support outside normal business hours during high-priority security incidents or planned maintenance activities.