Cyber Defense Analyst-ISSO (Onsite) (DoD Secret Clearance)

In this role, you will lead ISSO-level activities under the oversight of the ISSM, ensuring systems remain compliant, audit-ready, and aligned with program requirements. You will assist with continuous monitoring, system auditing, inspection readiness, and risk identification, while reviewing and processing data transfers, user access requests, and system changes through Change Control Boards (CCBs). 

This role provides a hands-on, advanced cybersecurity opportunity, offering exposure to assessment and authorization processes, regulatory compliance, and operational cybersecurity practices in a high-assurance environment. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to apply cybersecurity controls consistently across technical, physical, and operational environments.  

** This position is onsite in Richardson, TX **

What YOU will do:

• Serve as the lead ISSO for assigned information systems, coordinating ISSO-level cybersecurity activities across the system. 

• Prepare systems for inspections, audits, and assessments by ensuring documentation, controls, and processes are compliant and inspection-ready. 

• Review and approve data transfers and user access requests within assigned scope, ensuring adherence to security policies, authorization boundaries, and contractual requirements. 

• Conduct advanced system auditing and log analysis to identify trends, recurring issues, and potential security risks, and recommend mitigations to the ISSM. 

• Develop, validate, and maintain cybersecurity documentation, authorization artifacts, and compliance reports to ensure systems remain audit-ready. 

• Manage and track Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms) within ISSO responsibility, ensuring timely remediation of findings from inspections, audits, or continuous monitoring. 

• Participate in Change Control Boards (CCBs), reviewing proposed system changes for security impact, authorization implications, and risk considerations. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (IT, Facilities, Industrial Security) and enterprise cybersecurity stakeholders to ensure consistent application of ISSO responsibilities across technical and operational environments. 

• Monitor system metrics, vulnerability trends, and continuous monitoring data to support risk reporting and operational decision-making. 

• Communicate system security posture, inspection readiness, and ISSO-level findings to the ISSM and other senior cybersecurity personnel. 

Qualifications YOU Must Have:

• Typically requires a University Degree and minimum 5 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 3 years of experience.

• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

• Active DoD Secret Security Clearance required on day one. 

• IAM Level I certification compliant with DoD 8570 / DoD 8140  

• Experience performing cybersecurity monitoring, detection, auditing, and continuous monitoring activities in an enterprise or DoD environment. 

• Working knowledge of cybersecurity principles, including network security, system logging, access management, and incident detection. 

• Experience analyzing security alerts, logs, and network traffic to identify anomalous or malicious activity and escalate appropriately. 

• Ability to document findings, audit results, and response actions in accordance with established procedures. 

• Familiarity with cybersecurity tools such as SIEMs (Splunk preferred), IDS/IPS, endpoint protection, vulnerability scanning, and network monitoring platforms. 

• Experience participating in Change Control Boards (CCBs) and reviewing proposed system changes for security impact and risk. 

• Familiarity with DoD or other regulated environments, including RMF, JSIG, NIST, NISPOM, and DAAG guidance. 

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Advanced experience using SIEM platforms such as Splunk for log analysis, alert triage, event correlation, and reporting. 

• Working knowledge of enterprise network protocols, architectures, and advanced attack techniques. 

• Experience supporting inspection and assessment readiness, including trend analysis of security events and POA&M tracking. 

• Exposure to vulnerability management processes and tools, including evaluation of findings and mitigation tracking. 

• Ability to analyze system metrics, identify trends, and communicate risk and mitigation strategies to senior analysts or leadership. 

• Experience coordinating with IT, Facilities, and Industrial Security teams to ensure consistent application of cybersecurity controls.

What We Offer:

Some of our competitive benefits packages include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees.

• Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate. employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option.

• Tuition reimbursement program.

• Student Loan Repayment Program.

• Life insurance and disability coverage.

• Optional coverages you can buy pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection.

• Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits.

• Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning.

• Adoption Assistance.         

• Autism Benefit.

• Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions.

• Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program.

• Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits.

• Bright Horizons, child, and elder care services.

• Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program.

•  And more! 

Learn More & Apply Now!

Do you want to be part of a new, exciting initiative to combine foundational IT with new digital technologies?  Our Digital Technology team is driving business efficiencies and a better customer experience by connecting technologies, people, information and processes. From making aircraft more electric, intelligent and integrated to building new software platforms such as Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, there’s no better place to be right now than in digital. If you’re an agile thinker who enjoys utilizing modern technology to make big improvements, then you’re a perfect fit for this team. Join Collins Aerospace to help us revolutionize the aerospace industry today!

Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions — whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you’ll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today.

WE ARE REDEFINING AEROSPACE.

* Please consider the following role type definitions as you apply for this role.

Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.

Regardless of your role type, collaboration and innovation are critical to our business and all employees will have access to digital tools so they can work with colleagues around the world – and access to Collins sites when their work requires in-person meetings.

At Collins, the paths we pave together lead to limitless possibility. And the bonds we form – with our customers and with each other -- propel us all higher, again and again.

Apply now and be part of the team that’s redefining aerospace, every day.