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Western Governors University

Staff IT Security Analyst - Incident Response

Western Governors University
🇺🇸United States$161K–$250K/yrJust now
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Role Snapshot

This lead-level, highly technical role leads complex cyber incident response, threat detection, and remediation while shaping the security tools, automation, and capabilities that strengthen WGU's defenses. The position serves as a hands-on escalation point for the IT Security team.

Key Responsibilities: Lead incident response and forensic investigations, build MITRE ATT&CK-aligned detection content, develop cloud threat analytics and continuous compliance checks across AWS and other platforms, and design SOAR and security automation.
Skills & Tools: Deep technical expertise in incident response, threat detection, log correlation, cloud security, and security automation, plus strong investigative instincts and the ability to collaborate with security, infrastructure, engineering, and business partners.
Qualifications: The posting does not fully list education or experience requirements in the provided text, but the role implies substantial hands-on security experience at a senior or lead level. Verify full requirements in the complete posting.
Location: United States
Compensation: $161K–$250K/yr

Job Description

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets

  • experience and training
  • licensure and certifications
  • and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Technical 411 Pay

Range: $161,000.00 - $249,500.00 Job Description This is a lead-level, highly technical security role for someone who thrives at the center of complex cyber incidents. You will help lead incident response, threat detection, investigation, and remediation while also shaping the tools, automation, and security capabilities that strengthen WGU’s defenses. You will serve as a hands-on technical leader and escalation point for the IT Security team, working alongside security, infrastructure, engineering, and business partners. The right person brings deep technical expertise, strong investigative instincts, and the ability to turn emerging threats and real-world incidents into better detections, faster response, and stronger controls. What You'll Do Lead complex incident response and investigation efforts, including technical analysis, evidence and data collection, forensic support, containment, remediation, and identification of opportunities to strengthen defenses. Lead security content and detection use-case development aligned to the MITRE ATT&CK Framework, researching attacks, identifying Indicators of Compromise (IOCs), analyzing large data sets, and developing detection logic for malicious, suspicious, and abnormal activity. Architect and build cloud threat analytics using log correlation, AI, and machine learning capabilities, while developing continuous security and compliance checks across AWS and other cloud platforms. Design and implement SOAR and security automation that improves security configuration management, compliance enforcement, investigation workflows, and remediation of malicious activity. Build and automate security capabilities across cloud infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, data security, DLP, encryption, and security tooling. Identify gaps in the security model and lead technical solutions from requirements and architecture through implementation, integration, and ongoing operation, including integrations with ServiceNow. Act as a technical lead and mentor for other analysts, researching emerging threats and techniques, developing team capabilities, and providing hands-on guidance during demanding security situations. What You'll Bring Bachelor's Degree in IT Security, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field 7 years of Information Security experience, including understanding of all security domains Hands-on experience implementing MITRE ATT&CK Framework Working experience creating, designing, and implementing SIEM content security rules to detect malicious, suspicious, and/or abnormal events Hands-on experience maintaining cloud resources using infrastructure-as-code (CloudFormation, CDK, etc.) Expert scripting language experience (Bash, Python, etc.) with strong working knowledge of automation Experience with open-source security tools (i.e. Kali, Nessus, Fortify, AppScan, Nexpose, SAINT, Burp, NMap, Metasploit, Meterpreter, Wireshark, Kismet, Aircrack-ng, Eramba, etc) Hands-on experience with AWS APIs, Lambda. DynamoDB, EC2, VPC, CloudFront, CloudTrail, CloudWatch, IAM Relevant security certifications (CISSP, GIAC, ISACA, CEH, etc.) Knowledge and experience with Cloud and Data security, including advanced understanding of core AWS compute, network, storage, database, and identity services Hands-on experience integrating security into the various stages of a CI/CD pipeline Expertise in SaaS, PaaS, enterprise cloud architecture, and mixed-technology security solutions Ability to lead in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment while using a methodical, data-driven approach to security and risk analysis Excellent analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills, with the ability to turn complex security challenges into practical solutions Understanding of information security regulations, policies, and privacy requirements, including GDPR and CCPA Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager. Bonus Points 15 years of Information Security experience, including understanding of all security domains Strong experience with distance education and distance learning students What to Expect At WGU, our mission drives everything we do, including how we hire. Our interview experience is designed to give qualified candidates the opportunity to show their best work through meaningful conversations and collaboration. We thoughtfully review every application and invite forward the candidates whose experience and potential best align with the role and our mission. Talent Partner introductory call Hiring Leader Interview Executive Leadership Interview Work Location This is a full-time, in-office position requiring five days per week in our Salt Lake City, Utah or Raleigh, North Carolina office, designed to foster the collaboration and connection that fuel our best work. Visa Sponsorship While we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, WGU is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this role. Travel Requirement This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements. #LI-AW2 Position & Application Details Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses

  • medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare
  • health savings account and flexible spending account
  • basic and voluntary life insurance
  • disability coverage
  • accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages
  • legal and identity theft coverage
  • retirement savings plan
  • wellbeing program
  • discounted WGU tuition
  • and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law. In 1997, a coalition of 19 U.S. governors founded

Western Governors University with a singular vision: to make higher education more accessible by offering full degree programs online. Starting small, we quickly expanded. Today, we’re one of the largest accredited online universities in the U.S.

Click on the links below to learn more: Enrollment Counselor Evaluator Field Experience Roles (Part-time & Intermittent) Program Mentor Service Desk Technician Mexico Team

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