Senior Cybersecurity Engineer – Security Engineering & Security Operations
City of Tacoma WA
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Senior Cybersecurity Engineer – Security Engineering & Security Operations
Salary
$122,096.00 – $171,953.60 Annually
Location
Tacoma, WA
Job Type
Non-Classified
Remote Employment
Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number
T0330-26B
Department
Information Technology
Opening Date
08/21/2026
Closing Date
9/4/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
Description
Benefits
Questions
Position Description
Are you passionate about protecting critical public services and the systems that support them Do you want to join a mission-driven cybersecurity team that values technical excellence, collaboration, and service to the community If contributing to the security and resilience of a modern city appeals to you, this may be the opportunity you’re looking for.
The City of Tacoma is hiring up to two Senior Cybersecurity Engineers through a single, unified recruitment and interview process. Candidates will be considered for either the Security Engineering track or the Security Operations track based on their strengths, experience, and interests. You do not need to be an expert in both domains; we value depth in one track and collaboration across both. Candidates will not only need to be technically gifted but will require essential skills of communication, collaboration, mentorship, and teamwork.
Senior Cybersecurity Engineers safeguard the technology, information systems, and critical services that keep the City running. These roles strengthen cybersecurity maturity aligned with the Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls and the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) while supporting compliance obligations such as CJIS, HIPAA, PCI DSS, NERC CIP, and applicable RCW requirements.
Working collaboratively with Information Technology teams and business units, these positions enhance cybersecurity visibility, engineer reliable controls, reduce vulnerabilities, manage threats, and ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of City assets.
Key Responsibilities:
Security Engineering Track
Conduct secure design reviews and threat modeling for new systems and major changes; identify risks, propose controls, and document decisions.
Engineer, deploy, integrate, and maintain cybersecurity tools such as SIEM pipelines, endpoint protection, identity security systems, and network security controls.
Develop and maintain secure configuration baselines across operating systems, cloud platforms, and network infrastructure; monitor drift and drive remediation.
Improve vulnerability management through engineering, ensuring scanning accuracy, coverage, asset associations, and workflow automation.
Define and strengthen identity security requirements, including MFA, privileged access pathways, and conditional access policies.
Perform cyber supply chain risk assessments for vendors, cloud services, data flows, and procurement processes.
Produce compliance evidence and publish technical standards to support CJIS/HIPAA/PCI/NERC CIP/RCW requirements.
Guide and mentor junior analysts and engineers in Security Engineering
Promote a customer service-oriented approach to Security Engineering.
Security Operations Track
Design, tune, and manage SIEM/SOAR detection logic to improve alert fidelity and reduce false positives.
Lead incident response and event triage, classifying, investigating, containing, and coordinating remediation of security events.
Conduct proactive threat hunting across logs, endpoints, identities, and networks.
Own operational vulnerability management including scanning, validation, prioritization, ticketing, and reporting against SLAs.
Maintain and tune security tools including EDR, SOAR, email security filters, and log pipelines.
Onboard log sources and verify telemetry quality, collaborating with IT owners to resolve data gaps.
Develop SOC procedures and operational standards, producing reports and compliance evidence.
Guide and mentor junior analysts and engineers in Security Operations
Promote a customer service-oriented approach to Security Operations.
Qualifications
Minimum Education*
Bachelor’s degree in information technology, cybersecurity or directly related field
Minimum Experience*
4 years of progressively responsible information technology experience related to assignment
*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education
Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements:
Security+ or related certification (CISSP, SANS, GIAC, COMTIA)
As Assigned: Washington State Driver’s License; some positions may require the ability to pass additional background checks and / or obtain additional certifications, with maintenance thereafter
On-call participation is required
Ability to obtain CJIS/HIPAA/PCI/NERC CIP access
Knowledge & Skills
Security Engineering Skills:
Secure design review and threat modeling
Security tool engineering (SIEM pipelines, identity systems, endpoint agents)
Configuration baselines and secure hardening
Vulnerability engineering and automation
Cyber supply chain assessment and vendor risk analysis
CIS/NIST RMF implementation
Scripting & Automation familiarity (Python/PowerShell)
Security Operations Skills:
SIEM/SOAR administration and detection tuning
Endpoint security administration
Security investigations and incident response
Threat hunting and MITRE ATT&CK familiarity
Scripting familiarity (Python/PowerShell)
Communication, customer service, and collaboration skills
Selection Process & Supplemental Information
This recruitment is being managed by Kim Susee, if you would like to be notified of similar opportunities or stay connected with things going on at Tacoma Public Utilities and the City of Tacoma, connect with me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-susee-359ab5119/) !
Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details:
Hourly: $58.70 – $82.67
Annual Salary: $122,096.00 – $171,953.60
Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma (https://tacoma.gov/government/departments/human-resources/employee-benefits/)
The Department
The Information Technology Department supports the City’s technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, application development, and innovation efforts across all City departments. The Cybersecurity Operations Team is part of the IT Department’s Information Assurance line of business and is responsible for protecting the City’s digital assets through the use of best practice controls and methodologies.
Joining the City of Tacoma’s cybersecurity team means doing meaningful work that protects critical public services relied upon by hundreds of thousands of residents every day. You’ll be part of a collaborative, mission-driven environment where technical excellence, integrity, and service to the community truly matter. Whether your strengths are in Security Engineering or Security Operations, you’ll work alongside peers who value curiosity, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to directly shape the maturity, reliability, and resilience of the City’s technology landscape. We offer complex challenges, support for professional growth, and flexible hybrid-remote work, and the chance to leave a lasting impact on a modern municipal environment.
A Commitment to Equity & Diversity
At the City of Tacoma, we’re on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.
If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.
The Community
Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.
Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma’s geographic area. Downtown’s Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America’s Car Museum.
With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!
View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=2n5MWl8KFvI
Application Process
Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process. Applicants who have the strongest backgrounds related to the responsibilities of this position may be invited to participate in the interview process, which may include a work problem. Appointment is subject to passing a background check.
Get Assistance
For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.
For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.
Communication with the City of Tacoma
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.
Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees’ Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.
Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.
Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.
Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.
Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.
Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.
Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees’ Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees’ Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.
Other Employment Information
Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.
Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.
Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.
Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
01
Which best describes your highest level of education
High school or GED
Associate’s degree
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
PhD or other
None of the above
02
What field is your degree in
03
How many years of progressive cybersecurity experience do you have
Less than 2 years
2 years but less than 3
3 years but less than 4
4 years but less than 5
5 years but less than 6
6 years but less than 7
7 years but less than 8
8+ years
04
Which of the following certifications do you have (Check all that apply)
CompTIA (Sec+)
GIAC/SANS
ISC2 (CISSP)
None of the above
05
This position requires the ability to pass and maintain background check requirements associated with CJIS, NERC-CIP, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and RCW obligations. Are you able to meet this requirement
Yes
No
06
This position requires participation in an on-call rotation. Are you able to meet this requirement
Yes
No
07
The following questions are designed to help the hiring panel understand your relevant experience across both cybersecurity engineering and cybersecurity operations. Please provide detailed, contextual responses where applicable. Have you supported cybersecurity functions in regulated environments such as CJIS, NERC-CIP, HIPAA, PCI DSS, RCW, or similar frameworks
Yes
No
08
If yes, please describe your experience and your role in meeting or maintaining required controls.
09
Please describe your experience performing cybersecurity engineering and/or cybersecurity operations work. Include examples related to: – SIEM/SOAR – EDR – Configuration baselines or secure hardening – Threat modeling or design reviews – Incident response or threat detection – Logging pipelines or identity security systems
10
Please describe your experience with vulnerability management. Include relevant details such as: – Engineering-level work (scan coverage, asset mapping, automation, baseline drift remediation) – Operations-level work (scan scheduling, validation, prioritization, SLA tracking, reporting)
11
Please describe your hands-on experience with security tools such as SIEM, SOAR, EDR, identity security platforms, or logging pipelines. In your response, describe whether your work was focused more on engineering (integration, pipeline development, tuning inputs) or operations (triage, tuning detections, investigations).
12
Please describe any experience you have with incident response, threat detection, or threat hunting. Include examples such as: – Investigations you have led or supported – Detections you have created or improved – Hunting methods or analytic techniques you have used
13
Please describe your experience performing secure design reviews, threat modeling, secure architecture assessments, or developing secure configuration baselines. Include examples of technologies, systems, or patterns you’ve evaluated.
14
Senior-level positions require collaboration, mentorship, and customer service with business units and IT teams. Please describe how you have collaborated with cross-functional teams or mentored junior staff in previous cybersecurity roles. Include examples of guiding team members, supporting investigations, or helping non-technical stakeholders understand security requirements.
15
How have you helped create a work environment where employees feel they have equal access to resources, opportunities to grow, and a strong sense of belonging in your previous roles
16
Please tell us how you learned about this job opening.
Job Interest Card notification
Internet search
Professional organization
Community organization
Military organization
Union job posting
City of Tacoma employee
Online job board posting
Word of mouth
Other
17
Please provide specific information regarding how you learned about this job opening. Thank you, your feedback will be used to evaluate our success reaching the public and refine our methods for future job postings.
Required Question
Employer
City of Tacoma
Address
Human Resources Department 747 Market Street Tacoma, Washington, 98402-3764
Phone
253-591-5400
Website
http://www.tacoma.gov
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