Leidos logo

Exploitation Specialist

Leidos

Reston, VAJob$92–167K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.

You apply on the employer's site, with no Olive account needed.

Watch jobs like this.

Don't just apply. Show up ready.

Olive works from this exact posting.

At a glance

Compensation
$92–167K/yr
Location
Reston, VA
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

TS/SCI clearance

Job overview

Leidos seeks a Media Exploitation Specialist to support an Intelligence Community customer in the National Capital Region. The role collects, evaluates, processes, and enriches open-source and emerging-technology information, then analyzes findings and produces intelligence reports. Focus areas include AI, large language models, quantum computing, telecommunications, energy, and advanced computing. The position requires active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph and U.S. citizenship.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Open-Source Intelligence GatheringSocial Media ExploitationDigital Media ResearchPublic Information AnalysisSource Discovery and ValidationWeb ScrapingInternet Search MethodologiesBoolean Search LogicDigital Information DiscoveryResearch and Source EvaluationInformation Analysis and SynthesisWritten ReportingArtificial IntelligenceGenerative AILarge Language ModelsAdvanced ComputingGlobal Media EnvironmentsEmerging Technology AnalysisAnalytical ThinkingProblem SolvingOrganizationTime ManagementAttention to DetailMultitaskingWritten CommunicationVerbal CommunicationAnalytical Writing and EditingNatural Language ProcessingAI-Assisted User ExperiencesMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft PowerPointInterpersonal SkillsCritical Thinking

Qualifications

Active TS/SCI Clearance With PolygraphU.S. CitizenshipBachelor's in STEM or Master'sBachelor's+8 Years or Master's+6 Years3+ Years Research and Reporting ExperienceOpen Source Enterprise ExperienceEmerging Technology Research ExperienceCross-Organization Collaboration ExperienceDynamic Team Environment Experience

Benefits

Paid Time Off
401(k) Match

Full job description

Description

Media Exploitation Specialist (Open Source Intelligence | Emerging Technologies)

The Mission Support Operation is seeking experienced Media Exploitation Specialists to support an Intelligence Community (IC) customer in the National Capital Region (NCR) through an open-source services contract.

This role focuses on collecting, evaluating, processing, and enriching open-source and emerging technology information to support intelligence requirements and identify actionable insights. Candidates will conduct research, assess validated sources, analyze trends, create and maintain structured data, synthesize findings, and produce high-quality intelligence reports in accordance with customer standards and data management plans.

Key Highlights

✅ Location: National Capital Region (NCR)

✅ Clearance Required: Active TS/SCI with Polygraph

✅ Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship Required

✅ Focus Areas: Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), Emerging Technologies, AI, GenAI, LLMs, Quantum Computing, Telecommunications, Energy, and Advanced Computing

Primary Responsibilities

Open Source Collection & Research

  • Monitor, evaluate, and exploit internet-based media and open-source information related to emerging technologies.

  • Conduct comprehensive open-source research, source discovery, and source assessments .

  • Identify and analyze emerging trends, patterns, relationships, and developments relevant to customer missions.

Analysis & Intelligence Production

  • Collect, analyze, synthesize, and summarize qualitative and quantitative information .

  • Produce timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence products .

  • Apply analytical methodologies to identify: Significant trends Information reliability Strategic insights Mission impacts

Emerging Technology Expertise

Research and evaluate developments in:

  • Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)

  • Large Language Models (LLMs)

  • Quantum Computing

  • Telecommunications

  • Energy & Energy Storage

  • Semiconductors

  • Data Centers

  • Financial Technology (FinTech)

  • Rare Earth Minerals

  • Other mission-critical technology sectors

Data Management & Reporting

  • Develop and maintain structured datasets and research baselines .

  • Ensure information is: Accurate Consistent Accessible Compliant with customer data management plans

  • Prepare and publish: Intelligence assessments Open-source intelligence reports Analytical summaries Customer-directed research products

Customer Support & Collaboration

  • Respond to customer-directed collection and research requirements.

  • Collaborate with customer stakeholders and team members.

  • Communicate findings and address intelligence gaps.

  • Maintain awareness of: Evolving mission priorities Emerging threats Technological developments

Required Clearance

Must Have

  • Active TS/SCI Clearance with Polygraph

  • U.S. Citizenship

Basic Qualifications

Education & Experience

  • Requires a bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) related field with 8 – 12 years of prior relevant experience or Masters with 6 – 10 years of prior relevant experience. Additional years of

8 – 12 years of prior relevant experience or Masters with 6 – 10 years of prior relevant experience.

  • 3+ years of demonstrated experience conducting research, evaluating sources, analyzing information, synthesizing findings, and producing written reports in accordance with established standards, or equivalent education or training in a relevant discipline.

Technical Knowledge

Strong knowledge of:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • Generative AI (GenAI)

  • Large Language Models (LLMs)

  • Advanced Computing

  • Global Media Environments

  • Emerging technology trends and developments

OSINT & Digital Research

Experience with:

  • Open-source intelligence gathering

  • Social media exploitation

  • Digital media research

  • Publicly available information analysis

  • Source discovery and validation

Research Tools

  • Web scraping tools

  • Advanced internet search methodologies

  • Boolean search logic

  • Digital information discovery techniques

Professional Skills

  • Ability to work both independently and within embedded customer teams

  • Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities

  • Excellent organizational and time-management skills

  • High attention to detail

  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Communication Skills

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Ability to communicate: Research findings Intelligence assessments Complex technical information Strategic recommendations

Preferred Qualifications

Highly Desired Experience

  • Experience supporting the Open Source Enterprise (OSE) environment

  • Experience researching and analyzing emerging technology topics

  • Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, user-friendly communications

  • Strong analytical writing and editing skills

AI & Advanced Technology Experience

Experience with:

  • Large Language Models (LLMs)

  • Generative AI tools

  • Natural Language Processing (NLP)

  • AI-assisted user experiences

Software Proficiency

  • Microsoft Word

  • Microsoft Excel

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

  • Intermediate to advanced proficiency preferred

Collaboration & Leadership

  • Experience working across multiple organizations, offices, and agencies

  • Strong interpersonal skills

  • Demonstrated success in dynamic, team-oriented environments

  • Ability to effectively organize and prioritize competing requirements

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate combines:

  • Strong OSINT and research expertise

  • Knowledge of emerging technologies and AI

  • Experience producing intelligence-quality written products

  • Advanced analytical and critical-thinking skills

  • TS/SCI Poly clearance

  • A passion for understanding how emerging technologies impact national security and intelligence missions

Top Keywords

OSINT | Media Exploitation | Intelligence Analysis | Emerging Technologies | AI | GenAI | LLMs | Quantum Computing | Research | Data Analysis | Open Source Enterprise | Technical Writing | TS/SCI Poly

#MSBA

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

November 6, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com .

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits .

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [email protected] .

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/) .

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

REQNUMBER: R-00196459

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. Leidos will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment in accordance with relevant Laws. Leidos is an equal opportunity employer/disability/vet.

How this job compares

Set against the 757 open Intelligence Analyst jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 8, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$92–167K/yr
  • Virginia median$100–150K/yr183 salary ranges
  • US median$91–150K/yr580 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $130K, is close to the Virginia median midpoint ($127K) — in the middle half of Intelligence Analyst salary ranges in Virginia.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 215 open Intelligence Analyst jobs in Virginia and 757 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Virginia
Experience
This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience; Intelligence Analyst postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (640 postings).
Education
220 of the 757 open Intelligence Analyst jobs (29%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 8, 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.

Prepare for this role

You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.