Job Description
Join Texas' premier technology agency safeguarding critical state infrastructure! The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) is seeking a Senior IT Security Specialist to protect our digital ecosystem and advance statewide cybersecurity initiatives. This pivotal role offers competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and the chance to serve 29 million Texans through cutting-edge security protocols.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement enterprise-grade cybersecurity solutions across state agency networks
- Conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration testing on critical systems
- Develop incident response plans and lead breach mitigation efforts
- Monitor security alerts using SIEM platforms (Splunk, QRadar) and analyze threat intelligence
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align security with business objectives
- Stay current with evolving threats and emerging security technologies
- Prepare compliance documentation for NIST, FISMA, and Texas cybersecurity standards
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or related field
- 5+ years of experience in IT security with 2+ years in government/federal sector
- Active CISSP, CISM, or CompTIA Security+ certification required
- Expertise in network security tools (firewalls, IDS/IPS, WAF)
- Hands-on experience with cloud security (AWS, Azure) and encryption technologies
- Strong understanding of risk assessment frameworks and compliance standards
- Excellent communication skills for presenting complex security concepts to non-technical stakeholders