General Description:

We are looking for a skilled threat actor communications and engagement professional to support GuidePoint’s Digital Forensics and Incident Response practice within the GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team (GRIT). The primary function of this role will be threat actor communications (also known as threat actor engagement, or ransomware negotiations) for GuidePoint’s clients, collecting intelligence and advising digital extortion victims of appropriate courses of action aligned to their business needs. This is a client-facing role, requiring tact, professionalism, and a robust understanding of threat actor behavior and organization. The ideal candidate will also support GRIT’s intelligence research efforts, operationalizing threat intelligence data obtained through threat actor engagement and digital forensics efforts.

The Threat Actor Engagement and Intelligence Consultant will be required to demonstrate strong client-facing consulting skills, calm under pressure, communications ability, and initiative under circumstances with unclear or incomplete guidance.  

About the GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team:

GRIT provides managed Threat Intelligence and Exposure Management services, Deep and Dark Web investigations, threat actor engagement, threat briefings, and advisory consulting in CTI operationalization, maturity, and program development. In each of these services, our goal is to better secure and prepare our clients to build, implement, and improve their security and CTI programs through advisory, instruction, assistance, or direct support.

Additionally, GRIT supports GuidePoint’s DFIR practice, providing Threat Intelligence support to active intrusion investigations and response efforts, or informing DFIR advisory efforts and tabletop exercises. GRIT performs independent threat research into Ransomware and the cybercrime threat landscape, contributing to quarterly and annual reports, as well as Requests For Information (RFIs) and media inquiries.

GuidePoint Security’s GRIT service offerings evolve in response to emerging threats and diverse client needs, and your creativity and expertise will assist the GRIT Practice with adapting to this rapidly changing environment. 

Roles and Responsibilities:  

• Lead and conduct Threat Actor Communications engagements, advising clients, legal counsel, and insurance carriers on risks, benefits, and key considerations for communication with threat actors in ransomware and data extortion cases.
• Operate as a technical resource within the Practice and actively participate in DFIR investigations to share and identify actionable intelligence.
• Effective engagement communication, time management, and collaboration with peers and clients. Foster client relationships by providing support, information, and guidance
• Author comprehensive engagement deliverables that are tailored to both technical and managerial audiences; fully detail the technical findings, recommendations, business impact, and realistic remediation strategies.
• Utilize automation, orchestration, and scripting to reduce manual processes, improving overall efficiency while also enabling new capabilities to meet the rapidly changing needs of our clients.
• Contribute to integration of existing and future open-source and commercial tools or automation to help improve GRIT processes and procedures.
• Perpetually strengthen relevant skills, knowledge, and abilities to stay at the forefront of the information security industry.
• Maintain a strong desire to learn, adapt, and improve along with a rapidly growing company.
• Willingness and ability to support a rotating on-call schedule, including possible weekend work as needed to support emergency requirements.

Required Experience and Education: 

• 2 - 4 years prior experience in communicating with threat actors, such as through virtual persona operations, ransomware negotiations, or use of “sock puppet” accounts in Deep and Dark Web collection.
• Two (2+) years of experience performing Threat Intelligence analysis and/or collection
• Prior experience in intelligence sharing relationships and partnerships within the private sector, ISACs, government, and/or private intelligence sharing groups.
• Prior experience in building and developing persona operations, including familiarity with dark web forums and marketplaces, adversary behavior, and trust mechanisms.
• Familiarity with digital forensics and incident response workflows, processes, and deliverables.
• Experience in client-facing, professional services, or consulting roles.
• Experience using emerging technologies, including AI tools, to work smarter, solve problems, and drive better business outcomes.

Preferred Experience and Education

• Familiarity with cryptocurrency tracing and blockchain technology.
• Experience implementing or improving operational processes or procedures in the intelligence lifecycle.
• Proficiency hunting APT data using open source or commercial cyber threat analytic tools or data repositories such as VirusTotal, Passive Total, Threat Miner, or Maltego.
• Experience in scoping and conducting threat research centered on cybercrime, ransomware, and/or nation-state cyber operation.

Travel Requirements:

• Travel not required

Physical Requirements:

• Sedentary work.
• Substantial movement of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers for a minimum of 8 hours a day.
• Required to have close visual acuity to view computer terminal and/or extensive reading for a minimum of 8 hours a day.