IT Security Specialist 2 (Cybersecurity Analyst 2 (02-6529))

Job Description

This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our

residency definition

to determine if you qualify.

What You Will Be Doing

Protect the State of Alaska by safeguarding the systems that keep government running.

Join the State Security Office’s Security Operations Team as an IT Security Specialist, where you will play a critical role in defending the State’s executive branch against cyber threats. As one of three Cybersecurity Analysts, you’ll work at the frontline of statewide cybersecurity—monitoring threats, responding to incidents, and administering enterprise-level security tools that protect thousands of users, devices, and services.

This position is one of three advanced-level security analyst positions on the Security Operations team and is expected to apply knowledge of a wide range of principles, concepts, and practices in information systems security to independently complete all levels of assignments including the most complex.

This is a mission-driven role with direct impact. You’ll help protect essential government operations, sensitive data, and citizen-facing systems relied on every day.

In this role, you will:

Serve as the lead email and identity security analyst, monitoring and triaging threats across the State’s enterprise email and identity platforms—an essential safeguard for devices, user accounts, and data.

Work independently to complete complex assignments.

Closely monitor identity-based threats and perform remediation actions as needed.

Devise methods and processes to analyze and resolve problems that require deviation from routine or available solutions for resolution.

Administer and support key security technologies such as Endpoint Detection and Response, Secure Email Gateway, Secure Web Gateway, DNS security, SOAR platforms, IDS/IPS, SIEM, firewalls, identity protection solutions, and other enterprise security systems.

Conduct daily cybersecurity alert analysis and incident response, using advanced defensive tools to determine severity, mitigate threats, and restore secure operations.

Perform log searches and analysis across diverse sources to support investigations, respond to internal and external requests, and support audit and compliance needs.

Participate in week-long rotations as part of the 24/7 on-call cybersecurity team, responding to urgent threats and incidents that impact statewide systems.

Analyze security reports, audit findings, and technical data to provide accurate recommendations, documentation, and solutions to the Security Operations Manager.

Travel when needed to datacenters or State offices to perform on-site troubleshooting, remediation, or emergency response using State-owned vehicles.

Working in the State Security Office requires successful completion of a background check and security clearance through the Division of Public Safety, including fingerprinting.

If you want to advance your career in cybersecurity, contribute to protecting critical public infrastructure, and work with enterprise-scale tools and technologies, this is your opportunity to lead, safeguard, and grow in Alaska’s cybersecurity frontline.

Our Organization, Mission, and Culture

Our Vision: One Government, empowered by innovative technical collaboration.

Collaboration is a fundamental underpinning for ensuring the State of Alaska's information technology services and solutions meet cybersecurity requirements and protect Alaskan citizens entrusted information.

SSO Mission:

The mission of the State Security Office (SSO) is to reduce risks to the information assets of the State of Alaska and its citizens.  The SSO is authorized and empowered to create, train, and enforce security policies and standards that protect Alaska’s information and technology resources.  The SSO strives to prevent security incidents, assist with the recovery from adverse events, and improve compliance with State and Federal laws as well as State policies, standards, regulations, and procedures.

The Benefits of Joining Our Team

Work on the Security Operations Team is exciting and presents team members with new challenges on a daily basis as well as a variety of training and professional advancement opportunities.

The State of Alaska offers a diverse training platform in many areas in support of your career goals, and a team dedicated to developing training plans to help you meet those goals.

The State of Alaska offers a competitive salary a solid benefit package that includes retirement plans (with employer contributions), health insurance for medical/dental/vision (with employer contributions), and group-based insurance benefits such as term life, short/long-term disability, pet insurance, and much more. Click on the Benefits tab of this posting to learn more.

The Working Environment You Can Expect

While the OIT SSO offices are primarily located in downtown Juneau, 5th Floor State Office Building and in Anchorage, the Bayview Building on Ship Creek Ave, this position is suitable for up to 100% (in-state) telework if all job duties and expectations are able to be met.

The working social environment will center around telework. Regular attendance at daily/weekly meetings will be essential to stay abreast of ongoing activities and projects.

Who We Are Looking For

We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:

Incident Management: Knowledge of the tactics, technologies, principles, and processes to protect, analyze, prioritize, and handle incidents.

Vulnerabilities Assessment: Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools for assessing vulnerabilities, and developing or recommending appropriate mitigation countermeasures.

Identity Management: Knowledge of methods and controls to validate the identity of individuals to verify access approval.

Minimum Qualifications

Competency Based Minimum Qualifications Instructions

This job class uses competency based minimum qualifications.

Please ensure your application

(through work history, volunteer experience (duties summary), training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports how you have gained the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors (competencies) and that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.

Competency Description

The competency description(s) listed below have been designed to promote a common understanding of the essential elements of the job class. They highlight the more general and customary knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), tasks, and behaviors used to describe the competency. They typically list expectations, as opposed to specific tasks, and are to be used only as parameters and guidelines. A competency’s description is not intended to exclusively define every KSA, task, and behavior needed to successfully meet the competency, but rather to provide the manager/agency with a broad reference of options as to how an applicant can meet the job expectation.

Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in:

Computer Network Defense:

Knowledge of defensive measures to detect, respond, and protect information, information systems, and networks from threats.

Information Assurance:

Knowledge of methods and procedures to protect information systems and data by ensuring their availability, authentication, confidentiality, and integrity.

Information Systems/Network Security:

Knowledge of methods, tools, and procedures, including development of information security plans, to prevent information systems vulnerabilities, and provide or restore security of information systems and network services.

Systems Testing and Evaluation:

Knowledge of principles, methods, and tools for analyzing and developing systems testing and evaluation procedures and technical characteristics of IT systems, including identifying critical operational issues.

Web Technology:

Knowledge of the principles and methods of web technologies, tools, and delivery systems, i