Lead Detection & Response Analyst

Title: Lead Detection & Response Analyst Location: US - VA - Arlington

Location: US - VA - Arlington Employment: Full time

Rapid7’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR) team provides 24/7 security monitoring, threat hunting, and incident investigation for organizations around the world. Our SOC operates with an impact-driven mindset focused on identifying meaningful threats and delivering actionable outcomes for our customers.

About the Team

Rapid7’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Security Operations Center delivers 24/7 continuous monitoring, threat hunting, and sophisticated incident response for global organizations. The team focuses on stopping adversary activity, elevating technical standards, and driving actionable security outcomes.

About the Role

As a Lead Detection & Response Analyst, your primary responsibility will be to serve as a high-level technical lead and driver of technical excellence across global SOC operations. Specifically, your focus will be to:

• Lead the response to high-impact, novel, or highly complex security threats.
• Develop new investigative methodologies for emerging attack vectors where established methods do not exist.
• Serve as the primary technical escalation point for the global SOC, directing containment and remediation strategies.
• Identify systemic visibility gaps and partner with Detection Engineering to prioritize high-fidelity defense capabilities.
• Architect and refine investigative workflows to leverage advanced tooling and automation.
• Author advanced technical intelligence reports and advisories for executive leadership and customers.
• Mentor and grow the technical bench strength of the SOC through high-level coaching and technical workshops.
• Influence product and platform direction by providing expert feedback to engineering teams.

The skills and qualities you'll bring include

• Bring 8+ years of cybersecurity operations, Incident Response, or Digital Forensics experience in a high-maturity SOC/MDR environment.
• Demonstrate expert-level mastery of the MITRE ATT&CK framework to build behavioral detection strategies.
• Apply deep forensic expertise across Endpoint, Cloud, Identity, and Network domains, including log analysis and malware triage.
• Drive complex technical projects from conception to completion across global teams.
• Direct containment strategies efficiently during high-stakes customer compromises to maintain momentum and resolve challenges.
• Articulate complex attacker TTPs and long-term security strategies clearly to technical engineers and C-level executives.
• Build cross-functional alignment with Detection Engineering, Product, and Platform teams to deliver sustainable defense capabilities.
• Mentor and coach analysts across the global SOC, setting clear expectations for investigative quality.
• Adapt to evolving adversary techniques by driving forward-looking investigative practices.
• Hold advanced industry certifications such as GCFA, GCTI, GREM, or OSCP.
• Embody our core values to foster a culture of excellence that drives meaningful impact and collective success.

We know that the best ideas and solutions come from multi-dimensional teams. That’s because these teams reflect a variety of backgrounds and professional experiences. If you are excited about this role and feel your experience can make an impact, please don’t be shy - apply today.

About Rapid7

At Rapid7, our vision is to create a secure digital world for our customers, our industry, and our communities. We do this by harnessing our collective expertise and passion to challenge what’s possible and drive extraordinary impact. We’re building a dynamic and collaborative workplace where new ideas are welcome.

Protecting 11,500+ customers against bad actors and threats means we’re continuing to push the envelope just like we’ ve been doing for the past 20 years. If you ’re ready to solve some of the toughest challenges in cybersecurity, we’re ready to help you take command of your career. Join us.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable national, federal, state or local law.