Detection Engineer - Cloud

Position Description

Valiant Solutions is seeking a Secret-cleared Detection Engineer (Cloud) to join our rapidly growing and innovative cybersecurity team!

The Detection Engineer will be responsible for the design, development, and implementation of advanced detection capabilities within a Cybersecurity Service Provider (CSSP) environment. The candidate will focus on creating and managing IDS/IPS signatures, log correlation rules, and other detection tools based on indicator lifecycle analysis.  The Detection Engineer collaborates with Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO) Watch Analysts and other teams to ensure timely and effective threat detection, adhering to CJCSM 6510.01B reporting requirements and supporting the CSSP’s mission to protect data across a wide spectrum of sources and locations.

Named one of the Washington Business Journal’s Best Places to Work every year since 2014, Valiant is proud of our employee-centric culture and commitment to excellence. If you are interested in learning more about Valiant and this opportunity, we invite you to apply now!

Location: This position is 100% onsite in Charleston, SC.

Clearance Required:  Active Secret 

Education Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree Area(s) of Study of relevant discipline and 5 years of experience.  OR,at least 8 years of experience working in a CSSP, SOC, or similar.

Certification Required: DoD 8570 IAT Level II and DoD 8140 CSSP-specific certification.

Required Experience:

• 5+ years of experience working in a Cloud CSSP, SOC, or similar environment.
• 2+ years of experience with signature development, detection logic creation, and optimization on multiple platforms.
• Technical expertise in major cloud provider security models, services, and logs (Gov. Cloud, AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.).
• Experience working with and developing signatures for Splunk and Elastic.
• Experience with threat intelligence platforms and indicator management.
• Proficient knowledge of detection creation and implementation processes.
• Expertise in IDS/IPS solutions, including signature development and optimization.
• Strong understanding of the indicator lifecycle, including initial discovery, development, operational maturity, and long-term sustainment.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to solve complex problems independently.
• Preferred certifications: AWS Certified Security, Azure Security Engineer Associate, GCP Professional Cloud Security Engineer, or equivalent SANS GIAC certifications.

Responsibilities:

• Acting as the primary SME for cloud log sources, designing efficient detections across multi-cloud environments (Gov. Cloud, AWS, Azure, GCP, etc).
• Designing and implementing detection logic (KQL, EQL, and/or SPL) tailored to cloud-native threats and cloud infrastructure (e.g., containers like Kubernetes, Docker, etc.).
• Analyzing threat intelligence to create and refine detection mechanisms tailored to the customer’s environment.
• Validating and testing detection rules to ensure accuracy, minimize false positive and benign positive matches, and enhance threat identification capabilities.
• Collaboration with DCO Watch Analysts to integrate detection mechanisms into monitoring and incident response workflows.
• Maintaining and updating detection tools and signatures in response to evolving threats, ensuring compliance with CJCSM 6510.01B and other applicable directives.
• Compiling and maintaining standard operating procedure (SOP) documentation for detection creation and implementation processes.
• Performing log analysis of Splunk and Elastic to support detection development and validation.
• Coordinating with reporting agencies and subscriber sites to align detection strategies with operational needs and threat intelligence.
• Participation in program reviews, product evaluations, and onsite certification evaluations to assess detection tool efficacy.
• Overtime may be required to support detection implementation or incident response actions (Surge).
• Up to 10% travel may be required

About Valiant Solutions

Valiant Solutions delivers cybersecurity and IT services to federal civilian, defense, and national security customers nationwide. We support the full cyber lifecycle, from secure system design and accreditation through AI-enabled operations, threat emulation, and continuous improvement, across classified and unclassified environments. Our work is independently certified for quality and security, including CMMI, CMMC, and ISO certifications.

Valiant is a multi-year Washington Business Journal Best Places to Work winner, and our growth and cyber leadership have been recognized by Washington Technology, Northern Virginia Technology Council, and the Triangle Business Journal. We offer strong benefits, rewards for earning industry certifications, and room to grow your career as we grow. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, our distributed workforce supports customers from coast to coast. We go where the stakes are highest, and the margin for error is zero. If you want meaningful work alongside talented professionals, apply today.

Benefits Snapshot

Valiant takes care of the people who support our customers, with real choices in coverage and real investment in your career. Eligible full-time employees receive:

• A choice of medical plans, from an affordable HSA option to a full-featured PPO, with generous company contributions
• Dental and vision coverage for you and your family
• Company-paid life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance
• Optional supplemental life, accident, and critical illness coverage to round out your protection
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off that grows with your years of service, plus paid federal holidays
• Paid certifications, professional development, and the Valiant University training portal
• Flexible spending accounts and a wellness and fitness program
• Referral bonuses when you help us bring great people to Valiant 

Benefit eligibility and plan details are subject to the terms of each plan and may change from time to time.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $120,000 - $130,000. This range reflects Valiant Solutions' good-faith estimate of the base salary reasonably expected for this position upon hire, at the time of posting. The range has been established based on the scope of the role, market rates, and internal equity. Where a candidate falls within the posted range will depend on job-related factors, including relevant skills, experience, qualifications, achievements, education, geographic location, applicable security clearance requirements, additional corporate responsibilities, and other legitimate, non-discriminatory business considerations. The posted range does not guarantee an offer at any particular salary. In addition to base salary, this position includes the benefits described above. 

Remote Work Policy (Remote and Hybrid Positions Only)

Remote work necessitates a high level of trust in our employees. To ensure that employee performance does not suffer in a remote work environment, all employees who telecommute are expected to have a quiet and distraction-free workspace with adequate internet, dedicate their full attention and availability to their job duties during working hours, and maintain a schedule during core business hours that aligns with those of their coworkers and Valiant's clients. In alignment with Valiant's inclusive and engaging environment, cameras are encouraged and can be required to be on during virtual video conferences. Additionally, in alignment with the Office of the Inspector General’s effort to eliminate conflicting employment, all Valiant employees are required to disclose any current or future outside employment engagements. During onboarding and throughout employment, employees must disclose any current activities or intent to engage in outside employment or other professional activities and obtain written approval.  Employees may not solicit or conduct any outside business during core business hours for Valiant Solutions and our clients.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Valiant Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Valiant Solutions provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact [email protected].

Physical Demands

Sitting or standing at a desk for prolonged periods and consistently operating a computer. Frequent communication and exchanging of accurate information via electronic communication, phones, and in person. Occasionally lift and/or move moderate amounts of weight, typically less than 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Authorization to Share Resume and Personal Information

By submitting your resume for this position, you authorize Valiant Solutions to share your resume, as well as personal information included on the resume, with its subsidiaries, affiliates, and teaming partners for the purpose of considering you for this position and other available positions requiring comparable skills, education, and experience. Should Valiant Solutions or its affiliates and teaming partners wish to initiate pre-employment discussions, you will be asked to complete an employment application and related employment documents.

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