This position is designated as an Intermediate-level Access Network Operator (DCWF Work Role 321) and is not designated as Key Personnel. The individual performs independent penetration testing and red team operations in support of OPTEVFOR Cyber Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E) activities. The role supports cyber survivability assessments across planning, preparation, execution, and post-test phases and provides technical direction to basic-level operators when required.

Qualifications

The Intermediate Access Network Operator must meet all qualification requirements of a Basic Access Network Operator in addition to the following:

Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) or equivalent offensive cybersecurity certification

Minimum of three (3) years of experience performing penetration testing, red teaming, and/or exploitation development

Proficiency with multiple offensive cyber tools, including:

Metasploit

Cobalt Strike

Core Impact

Burp Suite

Nessus

SharpHound

Demonstrated ability to detect malicious program activity using dynamic analysis techniques

Ability to independently plan and execute penetration testing and red team activities to accomplish assigned test objectives

Key Responsibilities

Policy, Procedures, and Tooling

Become proficient in OPTEVFOR Cyber T&E CONOPS, SOPs, policies, and guidance

Maintain and contribute to the development of 01D SOPs and technical documentation supporting DCAT authorization in accordance with DoDI 8585.01

Research, review, prioritize, and submit operational requirements for acquisition of cyber tools and capabilities in accordance with the 01D tool approval process

Support development and execution of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for penetration testing and red team operations

Research adversary cyber actors’ TTPs, organizational structures, capabilities, personas, and operating environments and integrate findings into cyber survivability test planning and execution

Test Planning

Participate in OPTEVFOR cyber test planning activities, including:

Conducting open-source research and reviewing system-under-test (SUT) documentation to understand mission, architecture, interfaces, and critical components

Identifying attack surfaces and threat vectors

Participating in cyber test planning meetings

Guiding development of cyber test objectives

Reviewing test plans to ensure objectives are feasible and executable

Participating in test planning site visits

Test Preparation

Support preparation activities for cyber OT&E events, including:

Participation in site pre-test coordination visits and delivery of test site in-briefs

Reviewing approved test plans

Adding relevant artifacts and research to the test library

Conducting in-depth SUT research and presenting findings to the red team

Preparing OPTEVFOR Red Team (OPTEV-RT) test assets

Test Execution

Execute assigned cyber test events, including Cooperative Vulnerability Penetration Assessments, Adversarial Assessments, and Cyber Tabletop exercises, in support of Operational Testing, Developmental Testing, risk reduction efforts, and other assigned events

Employ OPTEVFOR-provided and NAO-approved commercial and open-source cyber assessment tools, including:

Core Impact, Nmap, Burp Suite, Metasploit, Nessus

Apply ethical hacking techniques to exploit discovered vulnerabilities and misconfigurations across:

Operating systems (Windows, Linux, Unix)

Network protocols and services (HTTP, FTP, DNS, PKI, HTTPS)

Execute testing activities independently and provide technical guidance and oversight to Basic-level operators

Ensure all testing is conducted safely, in accordance with approved test plans and OPTEVFOR policies

Adhere to JFHQ-DoDIN deconfliction procedures

Verify accuracy and completeness of collected test data

Post-Test and Continuous Improvement

Participate in the post-test iterative process, including development of deficiency and risk documentation

Document test execution lessons learned and support continuous improvement initiatives

Generate and update documentation required to maintain DCAT authorization in accordance with DoDI 8585.01

Participate in capture-the-flag events, cyber off-sites, red team huddles, and technical exchange meetings; develop supporting products and materials

Attend OPTEVFOR-required meetings in support of OT&E activities

DCWF Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Tasks (KSATs)

In addition to meeting all KSAT requirements for a Basic Access Network Operator, the Intermediate operator demonstrates the following:

Skills

Assessing existing tools to identify capability gaps and improvement opportunities

Testing and evaluating cyber tools for operational implementation

Knowledge management and technical documentation (e.g., wiki-based documentation)

Processing exfiltrated data for analysis and dissemination

Evaluating and validating locally developed tools for operational use

Knowledge

Active defense methodologies and system hardening techniques

Encryption algorithms and cyber tools (e.g., TLS, PGP)

Evasion strategies and exploitation techniques

Forensic implications of operating system structures and processes

Host-based security products and their impact on exploitation

Network administration, construction, and topology

Security hardware and software options and their effects on exploitation artifacts

Security implications of software configurations

Digital forensics fundamentals to extract actionable intelligence

Cryptologic capabilities, limitations, and contributions to cyber operations

Unix/Linux and Windows operating system internals (process management, directory structures, installed applications)

Network collection procedures, including decryption techniques and tools