
Principal Cyber Security Analyst
Applied Research Associates, Inc.
Fort Belvoir, VA · HybridJob$220–240K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today
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At a glance
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Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
The Principal Cyber Security Analyst serves as a technical subject matter expert for cyber development efforts, applying requirements capture and full-lifecycle knowledge to complex IT and cyber challenges. The role integrates existing products, architectural methodologies, and emerging technologies. It provides cyber management services to government agencies and may support Cyberspace Operations exercises or develop and deliver customized software training and documentation.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Description
The Principal Cyber Security Analyst serves primarily as a technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) for cyber development efforts. This engineer has a strong understanding of the requirements capture process and the full lifecycle of technical cyber development initiatives. Execution of these responsibilities requires the ability to develop effective solutions by synthesizing mission strategy, industry standards, processes, emerging technologies, and creative approaches to achieve program objectives.
The successful candidate will join a multi-disciplinary, distributed team and will integrate existing products, industry-standard architectural methodologies, and emerging technologies to address complex IT and cyber challenges for our customers.
Principal Cyber Security Analyst Responsibilities:
The Principal Cyber Software Analyst will provide cyber management services to government agencies related to threats in Cyberspace Operations. The role includes managing all technical aspects of cyber development projects using Agile software development methodologies, ensuring an effective balance between user requirements and technical constraints.
This role may involve supporting government exercises focused on Cyberspace Operations in support of military operations. Additionally, this position may also develop and deliver customized training and documentation for software products.
Principal Cyber Security Analyst Requirements:
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MUST have a Top Secret clearance and be eligible for SCI eligibility (TS/SCI)
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Minimum of 12 years experience with a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related field, or 20 years of equivalent experience
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This position requires residency within 45 miles of Fort Belvoir, VA
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This is a hybrid position consisting of work in the office and occasional telework
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Travel is estimated at 5 to 7 days a month
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Completion of one of the following U.S. Government Cyberspace Operations courses is highly preferred: RIOT, COTC, or FORGE
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Equivalent commercial training such as GIAC GPEN, GXPN, or GRTP is desired
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Experience leading or providing technical oversight for complex cyber or IT development efforts
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Experience with Windows, Linux, and core networking concepts (e.g., protocols, switching, routing, VPNs)
Principal Cyber Security Analyst Preferences:
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Experience supporting cyber operations or mission-focused environments (e.g., SOCs, fusion centers)
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Experience with scripting or object-oriented programming for cybersecurity or automation
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Understanding of cybersecurity frameworks and best practices (e.g., NIST, MITRE ATT&CK, Zero Trust)
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Experience delivering technical briefings and demonstrations to senior leaders and large technical audiences
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Experience with integration, architecture, or interoperability of cyber capabilities
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Familiarity with cyber test and evaluation
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Experience supporting cyber exercises or training events
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Knowledge of containerization, virtualization, or cloud environments
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Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
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Experience applying Agile development methodologies
Anticipated salary range: $220k-$240k. Offer may vary depending on experience and skill set.
Who is ARA?
Do you want to work for a purpose? Applied Research Associates, Inc. (aka ARA) is an employee-owned international research and engineering company. We have been providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences since 1979. ARA has over 2,230 employee-owners and continues to grow rapidly. Together, our offices throughout the U.S. and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense, civil, and health technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.
ARA also prides itself, on having a challenging culture where innovation & experimentation are the norm. The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience.
To find out more about what the Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Division has to offer, visit our website at: https://www.ara.com/benefits
Qualifications
Education
Preferred
- Bachelors or better in Computer Science
Experience
Required
- 12 years: Relevant Work Experience
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
How this job compares
Set against the 1,052 open Cybersecurity Analyst jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 31, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$220–240K/yr
- Virginia median$99–159K/yr104 salary ranges
- US median$101–148K/yr765 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $230K, is 75% above the Virginia median midpoint ($131K) — in the top quarter of Cybersecurity Analyst salary ranges in Virginia.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 145 open Cybersecurity Analyst jobs in Virginia and 1,052 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Virginia
- ARSIEM13 open
- General Dynamics Information Technology10 open
- Accenture9 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 12 years of experience — more than three in four Cybersecurity Analyst postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 861 postings).
- Education
- 243 of the 1,052 open Cybersecurity Analyst jobs (23%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 31, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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