Cybersecurity Research Assistant

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Execute designated security measures across Kubernetes, Linux, databases, and model-serving environments.

• Develop and manage monitoring and detection systems, including metrics, dashboards, log aggregation, and alert routing.

• Conduct regular vulnerability assessments on container images, hosts, and application dependencies; ensure findings are addressed and maintain action plans and milestones.

• Create and sustain Ansible and Python automation for establishing hardening baselines and drift detection.

• Contribute to the management of secrets, network policies, and role-based access control throughout cluster environments.

• Construct deterministic collectors for cluster, policy, scanning, access-control, and database configuration evidence.

• Assist in the development of internal AI tools for control catalog/documentation retrieval, evidence drafting, and scanner output triage.

• Ensure security documentation is consistent with deployed configurations and raise any discrepancies.

• Evaluate controls, alerts, policies, backups, and implementations.

• Document processes for future evaluators.

• Prepare security review and continuous monitoring materials in collaboration with supervisors for evaluators or authorizing officials.

• Collaborate with seasoned engineers on a federal authorization initiative under the joint guidance of the AI technical lead and the lead systems administrator.

⛳️ Requirements

• One to three years of professional experience in IT, systems administration, help desk, network operations, or a similar hands-on technical position.

• Proficiency in the Linux command line.

• Scripting skills in Bash and Python.

• Proven interest in security.

• Capability to obtain and retain a Public Trust Security clearance.

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Information Systems, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience or completion of a technical certification program may be considered in lieu of a degree.

• Practical knowledge of Linux system administration, preferably on RHEL-based systems like Rocky Linux and Ubuntu.

• Basic understanding of networking concepts, including TCP/IP, DNS, TLS, and firewalls.

• Introductory familiarity with containers and a desire to learn Kubernetes.

• Experience with version control and collaborative Git repositories.

• Ability to meticulously follow written procedures and spot errors.

• Strong written communication skills.

• Interest in federal security authorizations, NIST security controls, continuous monitoring, and evidence review.

• Desired: CompTIA Security+, Network+, Linux+, Kubernetes, or cloud certification; coursework in cybersecurity/information assurance; exposure to NIST/security frameworks/compliance; participation in home labs, capture-the-flag events, open-source contributions, or personal projects; experience with Ansible, Terraform, Prometheus, Grafana, Elastic, or other monitoring/logging platforms; curiosity about large language models; NIH/federal agency or federal IT experience.

🏝️ Benefits

• 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees.

• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays.

• 401K match up to 5%.

• Educational Benefits for Career Growth.

• Employee Referral Bonus.

• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

• Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK).

• Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP).

• Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN).

• Axle will sponsor certification exams and study materials.

• Scheduled working hours for certification study.