ACAS Operator

SMS is seeking an experienced ACAS Operator to support the Air Force 26 NOS.

We offer proven solutions in engineering, operations, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. With expertise in modernizing and optimizing legacy infrastructure and systems, ensuring operational efficiency, and designing, implementing, and managing secure environments, SMS supports business and mission goals with proficiency, quality, and integrity.

SMS has been serving the advanced information technology needs of the federal government since 1976, delivering talented teams and innovative, cost-effective solutions and services to support our customers’ missions for more than 40 years. SMS is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with offices and on-site operations at customer locations throughout the United States. For additional information on SMS, visit www.sms.com.

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The AFINC II contract supporting the 26^th Network Operations Squadron (26NOS) is searching for qualified candidates for a position of Junior or Mid-Level ACAS Systems Operator I or II (depends upon experience). Seeking an individual for vulnerability assessment analysis and administration role with cybersecurity oriented principles to protect and defend information systems and networks. If you are seeking a challenging place to work, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications. If you don’t meet all of the qualifications, a candidate may still be considered depending on your level of experience.

• Operate the security and compliance baseline configuration, inventory, and best practices for the vulnerability management solution (VMS) deployed across multiple unclassified and classified network locations supporting the implementation for Tenable products within Assured Compliance Assessment Solution (ACAS) including .SC (SecurityCenter™) and Nessus® scanners; Also 2.0 Architecture Components: Nessus Networking Monitor (NNM), Nessus Manager and Nessus Agents use cases
• Conduct assessments of threats and vulnerabilities; determines deviations from acceptable configurations, enterprise or local policy
• Ability to assess the level of risk, develop or recommend meaningful insights about the context of an organization threat environment to improve its risk management posture; measure effectiveness of systems/networks/endpoints that deviate from acceptable configurations, enclave or local policy
• Work in concert with other Tenable operators, integrator and IA personnel responsible for operating and maintaining the ACAS program in multiple enclaves
• Candidate will coordinate system activities such as deploying, configuring, monitoring, tuning, upgrading, and troubleshooting Tenable components spanning local, remote and complex environments
• Must have experience setting up and executing Tenable Nessus scans, review scan data, assess reports and trends through SC interface; determine whether a completed scan provide valid results, and ensure reports/dashboards meet customer needs and expectations
• Record configurations, conduct assessments and submit suggestions to scan schedule(s), scanners scan zones, repository management, chart Credentials >Assets >Scans >Reports >Dashboards
• Ability to analyze and document Department Information Systems Agency (DISA) Security Technical Implementation Guidelines (STIGs) applicable to each Non-classified or Secret Internet Protocol (IP) Router Network (NIPRNet, SIPRNet) environment for all ACAS implementations
• Responsible for acquiring, configuring and ensuring external deliverables: DISA/Continuous Monitoring and Risk Scoring (CMRS), importing vulnerability and security audit plug-ins, DoD Patch Repository Defense Asset Distribution System (DADS), build/maintain vulnerability and audit repositories
• Assist mapping scan zones, scanners, subnets to include leveraging enterprise network application tools such as Forescout, SolarWinds Orion, McAfee Endpoint Security Solutions (ESS) and/or Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM)
• Continuously assesses current ACAS implementations for scans, assets, analysis and permissions
• Assist with validation and sustainment of documentation such as System Security Plans, Network Address Declaration (NAD), security groups/roles/permissions and/or zones/credentials/scans
• Document steps required to design/engineer ACAS systems for each network to include IP address, Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), DNS entries, Role Based Access Controls (RBAC), service accounts, certifications, licenses and physical/virtual location of each component
• Create network diagrams of the designs with Microsoft Visio (include specialty requirements)
• Implement/create report dashboard designs, automated custom email report notifications, report repositories for each environment that are specific to the following audiences: Leadership & Executives; Cybersecurity Staff; System Administrators; Application Maintainers
• Ensures networks receive periodic updates from AFCYBER-released software patches, updates, and upgrades via Time Compliance Technical Orders (TCTO), Time Compliance Network Orders (TCNO), Maintenance Tasking Order (MTO) and Notices to Airman (NOTAMs)
• Responsible to assist/troubleshoot schedule scans are covering 100% of intended targets ensuring timely and accurate scanning and reporting per PMO, IA and DoD policies and orders.
• Maintain the Nessus scanners connectivity with the associated Tenable.sc (formerly SecurityCenter)
• Provide cyber security staff scanning capability and system administration continuity
• Maintain effective communications with other external and internal teams essential to ACAS operations
• Create/maintain/implement custom security policies in line with DISA ACAS best practice guidance
• Assist AF Cyber personnel with the DISA Information Assurance Vulnerability Management (IAVM) programs, cybersecurity toolsets, and Operation Order (OPORD)/Fragmentary Order (FRAGO) support
• Perform systems analysis, design review, integration of complex system applications
• Ensures external networks receive cybersecurity inventory reporting for compliance data via ACAS to DISA CMRS and DoD Enterprise Logging Ingest and Cyber Situational Awareness Refinery (ELICSAR) Big Data Platform (BDP) and update Plan of Actions, Milestones (POAMs) documentation
• Participate in all phases of the Vulnerability Management (VM) life cycle with emphasis on the scan, patch, rescan, mitigation factors and reporting phases
• Assist in the installation/maintenance of configuration files, custom security policies, plug-ins, signatures, certificates, DISA STIGs and checklist configuration audits and other such files necessary to add vulnerability discovery capabilities into the ACAS system
• Rack and provision government furnished equipment (GFE) servers when applicable
• Candidate will report to the 26^th NOS Information Assurance (IA) team leadership

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Candidate should have 1 to 3 years of years of hands-on experience in:
  • ACAS and/or Tenable.sc (SecurityCenter) or Tenable Nessus products
  • Familiarity using ACAS or Tenable .SC/Nessus best practices
  • Linux-based (RHEL) or Windows operating systems support with experience in mid-to-large enterprise data center environment; familiarity with network patch/update management
  • Experience with virtualized environments (VMware vSphere, ESXi)
• Demonstrate advanced diagnostics, analytical, troubleshooting skills
• System hardening experience strongly preferred
• Any scripting experience: Bash, Perl, PowerShell, Python, Nessus Attack Scripting Language (NASL)
• Disaster Recovery - knowledge in risk reduction, hot/warm site DR architecture
• Knowledge of data communications, local-area networking (LAN), wide-area networking (WAN), VoIP, routers, switches, and firewalls
  • Advanced networking concepts, VLAN, trunking and port channel
  • Thorough understanding of Internet Protocol (IP) routing, switching, and OSI model

Competencies:

• Possess refined critical thinking skills, should be a motivated self-starter, and multi-task capable
• Good communication and interpersonal skills; Ability to follow policies and procedures
• Ability to communicate in a clear speaking voice as well as the ability to respond clearly to questions
• Aptitude to address negative situations and resolve them in a positive manner
• Approach work tasks as diplomatic, adaptive to a dynamic environment, dependable and reliable

Education/Certification(s):

• Technical degree, Associates in Computer Science/Information Systems, Science/Engineering/Math or 2-4 years’ relevant experience in Information Technology preferably within system or application administration is acceptable
• Requires a DoD 8570.01-M Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II certification:
  • CompTIA Security+ CE (Continuing Education)
  • CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) CE
  • (ISC)² Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
  • GIAC Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP)
  • GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)
  • (ISC)² Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
• Requires at least one or more DoDM 8140.03 Computing Environment/Operating System (CE/OS) Defense Cyberspace Workforce Certification (DCWF) requirement(s) (or acquire within 120 days):
  • DISA ACAS Operator and Supervisor Course (current; expires every 3 years)
  • Preferred: sc Specialist Certification; Tenable.sc Expert Certification
  • Recommended: Tenable.sc Introduction and/or Tenable Nessus Fundamentals

Clearance: 

• Active DoD Secret required or ability to complete investigation process for interim with potential to upgrade

SMS is a dynamic systems integrator established in 1976, delivering talented teams and innovative, cost-effective solutions and services to support our customers’ missions for more than 47 years. Our ability to hire and retain quality people in a rapidly evolving IT market is proven through our employee retention rate averaging over 3 years. At SMS, we place a high value on quality of service, customer satisfaction, and best-of-breed policies and practices, resulting in CMMI Level 3 certification and ISO registrations including 9001:2015, 20000-1:2018, and ISO/IEC 27001:2013. SMS is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with offices and on-site operations at customer locations throughout the United States. 

SMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.