Cyber Defense Engineer- Threat Intelligence

We are looking for engineers familiar with Cyber Threat Intelligence/Threat Hunting tools and procedures. Secondary skills in other areas listed below are highly desirable. We want team members who will take ownership of issues and drive them to resolution, not simply perform tasks as assigned. You will work with and act as a subject matter expert (SME) on at least one specialization within the Cyber Defense Operations domain. You will participate in investigations into security incidents and violations, and will thus be responsible for sensitive information relevant to employees, contractors, and vendors, etc.. As such, you will be expected to have the ability to pass a detailed background investigation, and maintain impeccable standards of confidentiality, morality, and ethics. You must have a passion for learning new technologies, not simply working with what you already know. You will be provided with the tools to produce your own career success, but are expected to seize them and create that success. You will be challenged in a fast-paced environment, but success in handling these challenges will not go unnoticed or unrewarded.

Responsibilities:

• You will be a key player on a team responsible for all aspects of Cyber Defense. You will be a SME in at least one area listed below, and are expected to have full professional knowledge of security concepts and company objectives to resolve a wide range of issues in effective and sometimes creative ways, in all of the following domains. As an advanced engineer, you are expected to do these things with little technical direction and with only general guidance on new assignments:
• Incident response (to include triage, playbooks, investigation, write-ups, escalations)
• Forensic analysis
• Malware analysis
• Protocol analysis
• Endpoint protection
• Data loss prevention
• Email security
• Cyber threat intelligence
• Threat research and creation of compensating controls
• Assist in developing and maintaining cyber security policies, standards, processes and workflows.
• Provide suggestions to team lead/manager in creating your professional development and training plan.
• Prioritize taskings and projects assigned based on importance to accomplishment of business objectives. Occasionally assist junior teammates with maintaining proper prioritization.
• Solve diverse and complex issues where analysis of situations and data requires in-depth evaluation of identifiable factors. Provide escalation support and technical guidance to teammates in areas where you are a SME.
• Work on projects assigned to you, in effort to advance partnership opportunities between Cyber Defense Operations (CDO) team and other business areas.
• Work with senior engineers to define cyber security requirements for current and future state end-to-end architectures and platforms to advance security controls and the security posture of the business.
• Assist senior engineers in collaborating with development and engineering teams to prioritize security risks, provide mitigation or remediation recommendations, and implement compensating controls.
• Perform risk quantification and third-party risk management reviews as required.
• Perform cyber security platform testing, and work with other teams to ensure vulnerability remediation and operating system hardening to reduce attack surface.
• Assist in performing proof-of-concept testing for cyber defense solutions under consideration for purchase and implementation.
• Work with senior engineers in identifying cyber security products and technologies that can enhance mission by providing appropriate protection for all data in our environment, or sent or received to/from various public or private clouds, or the Internet at large.
• Consistently demonstrate Leadership Principles for Cyber Defense Operations team.

Requirements:

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor s degree in related field, Master s preferred, or equivalent experience
• 5 years of related experience with Bachelor s, 3 years with Master s
• Experience with at least one major SOAR and one major SIEM product
• Familiarity with operation of other security devices (firewall, proxy server, VPN, IPS, etc.)
• Advanced knowledge of TCP/IP protocols

Certification/Licenses:

• Must have: At least one entry-level vendor-neutral certification in the Information Security arena or equivalent experience
• Preferred: At least one non-entry-level vendor-neutral certification in the Information Security arena (CISSP, CISM, GISP, etc.) or equivalent experience

Salary/Rate: $70-$80/HR (depends on experience level). This is a contract position with candidates expected to work 40 hours/ week.

About The Company

Peterson Technology Partners (PTP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a transparent, inclusive, and human-centered hiring experience.

For more than 28 years, PTP has operated as one of the top IT staffing and recruiting firms in the USA built on trust, long-term partnerships, and technical excellence.

Based in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, IL, our team of more than 500 employees and consultants is dedicated to:

Helping every client make the best hiring decisions possible

Matching professionals with the right IT jobs and career opportunities

As part of that commitment, we believe in providing clear information about how our hiring technologies work and how your data is used. The following section outlines our AI-assisted interview process and your rights as a candidate.

AI-Assisted Interview Experience (Pete & Gabi Rebecca)

To provide a consistent, fair, and flexible experience for all candidates, we use AI-assisted tools to support parts of the interview process. This includes our proprietary AI platform Pete & Gabi, which includes AI recruiter Rebecca.

These AI hiring tools help us:

• Transcribe interviews
• Summarize candidate responses
• Generate job-related insights
• Streamline communication and scheduling

Please note that:

The AI does NOT make hiring decisions; all decisions are made by our human recruiters, hiring managers, or client partners.

The AI does not evaluate facial expressions, emotions, or physical traits; it is used only to support fairness, consistency, and efficiency.

If you prefer a non-AI interview format, we will gladly provide an alternative.

Technical or Case Interviews (Role-Dependent):

When applying for certain tech jobs, you may participate in:

• A technical interview
• A coding challenge
• A case study
• A client-specific assessment

We will always explain what to expect in advance so you can prepare with confidence.

Human Review & Selection:

Every candidate's profile including interviews, conversations, and assessments is reviewed by experienced recruiters and hiring leaders.

AI insights may assist with organization and evaluation, but final decisions are always human-driven.

Your Rights as a Candidate:

At PTP, every candidate has the right to:

Request a non-AI interview path

Ask how your data is being used

Request access to transcripts or interview recordings

Request deletion of your AI-recorded interview

Receive clear, timely communication

Our goal is to ensure you feel respected, informed, and supported throughout your experience.

Our Commitment:

For more than 28 years, PTP has focused on putting people first candidates, consultants, employees, and clients.

We're committed to a hiring process that is:

• Transparent
• Compliant
• Equitable
• Powered by innovative technology that enhances not replaces human judgment

Welcome to the future of hiring at Peterson Technology Partners.

We're excited to learn more about you.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Peterson Technology Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.