About Coalfire

Coalfire is on a mission to make the world a safer place by solving our clients’ hardest cybersecurity challenges. We work at the cutting edge of technology to advise, assess, automate, and ultimately help companies navigate the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. We are headquartered in Chicago, Illinois with offices across the U.S. and U.K., and we support clients around the world.

But that’s not who we are – that’s just what we do.

We are thought leaders, consultants, and cybersecurity experts, but above all else, we are a team of passionate problem-solvers who are hungry to learn, grow, and make a difference.

We're looking for a technically strong, self-starter Consultant to join our FedRAMP Assessment team. This role is for someone who can open a configuration file, command output, log extract, scan report or network diagram and understand what it actually shows and who, when they encounter an unfamiliar product, service, or setting, independently researches the vendor documentation to determine what it means for the control being assessed. The Consultant will apply that technical depth to FedRAMP assessments and, with mentoring from senior assessors, develop into a FedRAMP Assessor.

What You'll Do

Work collaboratively with a team of assessors on federal compliance assessments (e.g., FedRAMP, NIST 800-171, FISMA) and assist with the planning of assessment for clients
Review technical artifacts at a detailed level – configuration files and exports, system and console settings, command-line output, logs, vulnerability scan results, firewall rulesets, and network/boundary/data flow diagrams – and determine whether they demonstrate the stated control implementation
Review infrastructure as code templates, CI/CD pipeline configurations, and deployment scripts to validate configuration management, change control, and enforcement of secure baselines
Use scripting to parse and analyze large artifact sets (e.g., configuration exports, logs, inventories, and scan data) to support control testing
Independently research unfamiliar technologies, products, and configuration settings using vendor documentation, knowledge bases, and hardening guides to determine what a setting does, what the secure configuration is, and how it relates to the control requirement
Analyze how network traffic flows and how common services (e.g., DNS, NTP, directory services, authentication, SSH, TLS, email, logging, load balancing, proxy, VPN) are implemented within the client environment, and identify gaps between documentation and actual implementation
Evaluate whether artifacts are complete, current, and in scope for the authorization boundary; appropriately mark artifacts requiring follow-up or additional clarification
Identify when an artifact is insufficient and clearly explain to clients what specific evidence is needed and why
Review and assess information system security plans to ensure control implementation statements are accurate and supported by technical evidence
Autonomously leads interview and inquiry walkthroughs, including technical walkthroughs with client engineers and system administrators, to determine the conformity of environments against stated requirements
Pursue and corroborate conclusions derived from inquiry procedures with client while ensuring diligent interview notes are captured
Execute, examine, interview and test procedures in accordance with the appropriate control
Assess security vulnerabilities against the appropriate security frameworks
Draft audit observations that sufficiently address both the required objectives of the regulatory body and the complexity of the client environment
First-level reviewer of drafted audit planning and reporting materials
Prepare and review assessment reports
Develop toward FedRAMP Assessor responsibilities by progressively taking ownership of control families and assessment workstreams under the guidance of senior assessors
Educate and interpret compliance activities for clients
Manage priorities and tasks to achieve delivery utilization targets
Ensure quality products and services are delivered on time per Coalfire quality standards
Continuous professional development; maintain industry specific certifications, depth of knowledge, credentials, and designations
Collaborate with project managers, quality management and/or other delivery team members to drive customer satisfaction and meet project deliverables
Establish and maintain positive collaborative relationships with clients and stakeholders
Identify upsell and cross sell opportunities; escalate to appropriate leadership
Understand how to apply quality standards and adhere to a minimum benchmark for quality assurance throughout the documentation of each work product or deliverable
Provide advice to customers on issues affecting the scope of work in a manner that provides additional value
Develop documentation and author recommendations associated with findings on how to improve the customer’s security posture in accordance with appropriate controls

What You'll Bring

Minimum 2-3 years of experience in a technical IT role (e.g., systems or network administration, infrastructure engineering, security engineering, or security operations)
Demonstrated ability to read and interpret technical artifacts at a detailed level, including configuration files, command-line output, logs, and system settings
Self-starter who independently researches configurations and vendor documentation to answer technical questions without needing direction
Strong understanding of networking fundamentals, including TCP/IP, subnetting, routing, VLANs and segmentation, NAT, firewalls and ACLs, and ports and protocols
Working knowledge of common infrastructure services and how they are secured, such as DNS, DHCP, NTP, directory services/LDAP, authentication and MFA, SSH, TLS and certificates, SMTP, SNMP, syslog, load balancers, proxies, and VPN
Working knowledge of Linux and Windows operating system configuration
Experience with infrastructure as code (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible) and the ability to read IaC templates to determine how resources are actually configured
Experience with CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps, Jenkins), including how code changes are reviewed, approved, tested, and deployed
Scripting experience (e.g., Python, PowerShell, Bash) sufficient to read and understand scripts and to parse or analyze configuration and log data
Read and interpret firewall rulesets and network/boundary/data flow diagrams
Ability to review vulnerability scan output and understand the affected components, severity, and remediation
Familiarity with NIST Special Publications 800-37 Revision 2, 800-53 Revision 5, and 800-53A Revision 5
Ability to independently research a technical topic and develop logical testing approaches to validate 800-53 control implementations
Ability to assist team members with proper artifact collection and provide clients examples of artifacts that will satisfy assessment requirements
Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to explain technical matters to a non-technical audience
Strong personal initiative to appropriately manage time and meet deadlines
Strong consulting skills; ability to advise and challenge the status quo while building strong relationships
Ability to build high-trust relationships and credibility quickly
High attention to detail
Ability to facilitate meetings to small or large groups
Diplomatic and broad minded
Strong technical researcher
Bachelor's degree (four-year college or university) in IT or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and work experience
Travel up to 20%

Bonus Points

Hold networking, systems, or cloud security focused certifications (e.g., CompTIA Network+/Security+, CCNA, AWS, Azure, CCSK)
Experience working with technologies hosted in cloud computing environments (e.g., AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure)
Experience reviewing Nessus or other vulnerability scanner output
Prior experience with FedRAMP, FISMA, NIST 800-171, or other security frameworks

Why You’ll Want to Join Us

At Coalfire, you’ll find the support you need to thrive personally and professionally. In many cases, we provide a flexible work model that empowers you to choose when and where you’ll work most effectively – whether you’re at home or an office.

Regardless of location, you’ll experience a company that prioritizes connection and wellbeing and be part of a team where people care about each other and our communities. You’ll have opportunities to join employee resource groups, participate in in-person and virtual events, and more. And you’ll enjoy competitive perks and benefits to support you and your family, like paid parental leave, flexible time off, certification and training reimbursement, digital mental health and wellbeing support membership, and comprehensive insurance options.

At Coalfire, equal opportunity and pay equity is integral to the way we do business. 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. Coalfire is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact our Human Resources team at [email protected].