---
title: 'Cyber Lead Auditor / Test Lead at Ardent'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/cyber-lead-auditor-test-lead-ardent-atlanta-d0sw4watvha6'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-18'
---

# Cyber Lead Auditor / Test Lead at Ardent

- **Company:** Ardent
- **Location:** Atlanta, GA / Tallahassee, FL
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-09-17
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-18
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/ardentmc/jobs/8210885?gh_jid=8210885

## Job description

Ardent is seeking a Cyber Lead Auditor / Test Lead to join our team.

This is a remote position with expected travel to Tallahassee, FL.

Position Description:

Ardent is seeking a Cyber Lead Auditor / Test Lead to provide independent technical and assurance leadership for a cybersecurity assurance program for the state of Florida. This role converts OCIG objectives into audit-defensible testing strategies and step-by-step procedures, supervises evidence collection and analysis, and verifies that factual findings are sufficiently supported and traceable to applicable criteria across a potentially broad multi-agency environment.

Responsibilities and Duties:

- Lead ingestion and analysis of agency documentation, including risk assessments, remediation plans, prior findings, corrective actions, inventories, and strategic plans.
- Direct development of the Agency Risk Understanding Memorandum, including environmental summaries, agency-specific risks, assumptions, documentation gaps, and impacts on testing priorities.
- Design the Ground-Truth and Ad Hoc Testing Strategies and approve detailed procedures defining objectives, systems, controls, access points, tools, sampling, scripts, evidence, thresholds, stop conditions, and escalation paths.
- Map procedures and results to NIST CSF DE.AE, DE.DP, PR.AC; Rule 60GG-2, F.A.C.; and the applicable approved criteria.
- Ensure testing remains within written OCIG authorization, avoids duplication of operational testing, and complies with agency-specific Rules of Engagement.
- Review evidence for relevance, reliability, sufficiency, attribution, timestamps, chain of custody, and reproducibility.
- Validate that reports accurately state procedures performed and factual results without an audit opinion; ensure advisory recommendations are distinctly labeled.
- Conduct independent QA reviews of technical deliverables not authored solely by the reviewer and document sign-off.
- Lead technical briefings, workshops, job aids, and knowledge transfer so OCIG and OIG staff can understand and reuse procedures.
- Support urgent analysis of logs, timelines, after-action reports, remediation evidence, and incident-specific control issues when directed.

Requirements:

- Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, information assurance, audit, information systems, or related discipline.
- Active Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
- Proof of relevant professional certifications such as CISSP, CISA, PMP, CEH, or other relevant certifications.
- 10 years of progressive cybersecurity experience, including security operations, incident response, vulnerability management, intrusion analysis, adversary simulation, technical assessment, or audit support.
- 5 years supporting or conducting audits, compliance reviews, independent assessments, or assurance work in government or similarly regulated environments.
- Demonstrated ability to design defensible test procedures, evaluate control performance, distinguish fact from opinion, and communicate technical results to senior stakeholders.
- Working knowledge of professional auditing or assurance standards and evidence requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Purple-team or adversary-emulation leadership using MITRE ATT&CK and threat-informed kill chains.
- Government incident-command experience.
- CISA, CIA, or other audit credential.
- Experience with Active Directory, cloud platforms, APIs, web applications, databases, endpoints, SIEM/EDR, vulnerability scanners, and evidence repositories.

Due to the nature of the work we support, all candidates in consideration for this role must be willing to undergo the government issued background investigation process.

Ardent is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other basis protected by state, local, or federal law.

## About Ardent

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Ardent Management Consulting delivers digital transformation, geospatial intelligence, and data science solutions to federal civilian agencies and the Department of Defense.
- **Entity Type**: Private (subsidiary of Mission1st Group, Inc.)
- **Headquarters**: Vienna, Virginia, United States
- **Founded**: 2006
- **Founders**: Not publicly available (parent company Mission1st was founded by Richard Zareck II)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Government technology services, digital transformation, geospatial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
- **Target customers**: B2G – U.S. federal agencies (Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Social Security Administration), state/local entities, and commercial/non-profit sectors.
- **Mission or purpose**: “All In” – delivering mission-critical solutions at the speed of the mission, with a collective service mindset to serve clients, colleagues, and community. [ardentmc.com](https://www.ardentmc.com/)

## Products & Services
- **Digital Transformation**: Modernizing legacy systems, cloud migration (FedRAMP environments), and enhancing user experiences.  
- **Geospatial Intelligence**: Spatial data science, Esri dashboarding, location-based applications, and GIS platform support.  
- **Data Science & Analytics**: Robotic process automation (RPA), machine learning, actionable insights, and data platform engineering.  
- **Cybersecurity & IT Support**: Security patch management, FISMA green scores, helpdesk, and system assessment/authorization.  

Source: [ardentmc.com](https://www.ardentmc.com/)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue – $23.3 million (as of 2026) [linkedin.com/company/ardent-mc](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ardent-mc)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent company Mission1st Group, Inc.; clients include U.S. Air Force, DHS, and Social Security Administration. Certifications: ISO 9001:2015, CMMI-Dev V2.0 Maturity Level 3, ISO 27001:2013, ISO 20000-1:2018. [cbinsights.com/company/ardentmc](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ardentmc)
- **Growth Signals**: Awarded first-ever DoD contract (U.S. Air Force Geospatial Support IDIQ, Dec 2024). Named Top Workplace 2026. HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion Award 2025. Headcount of 84 employees with international presence (6 countries). [ardentmc.com/about-us](https://www.ardentmc.com/about-us/)

## Competitive Advantages
- Nearly 20 years of federal mission experience, especially within DHS and civilian agencies.
- Proven track record of rapid delivery (e.g., enterprise vaccination data solution built in two weeks).
- Deep expertise in Esri geospatial technology, cloud platforms, RPA, and AI/ML.
- Comprehensive compliance certifications (FedRAMP, FISMA, CMMI, ISO) reducing risk for government clients.
- Strong veteran-friendly culture and recognition (HIRE Vets Platinum, 2025).

## Strategic Focus
- Expanding footprint in the Department of Defense following the 2024 Air Force IDIQ award.
- Investing in AI/ML innovation under CTO Mireille Estephan (former AWS Head of Engineering).
- Pursuing strategic ventures and M&A through Chief Ventures Officer Ryan Jennings.
- Continued emphasis on geospatial intelligence and data-driven automation for federal clients.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “All In” mission-first mindset; collaborative, fast-paced environment where insights and innovation are valued. Recognized as a Top Workplace 2026.
- **Benefits**: Full medical coverage, $50/month gym & lifestyle stipend, annual professional development stipend, tuition reimbursement, flexible PTO, and 11 federal holidays off. [ardentmc.com/careers](https://www.ardentmc.com/careers/)
- **Remote/Hybrid**: Not explicitly stated; headquarters in Vienna, VA, with offices in India, Puerto Rico, UAE, South Sudan, and Pakistan. Likely hybrid for some roles.
- **Engineering culture**: Led by a CTO with AWS experience; emphasis on cloud, AI/ML, and geospatial technologies. Mentorship and thought leadership encouraged.
- **Equal opportunity employer**: Veterans and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

## Sources
1. [ardentmc.com/careers](https://www.ardentmc.com/careers/)
2. [ardentmc.com](https://www.ardentmc.com/)
3. [ardentmc.com/about-us](https://www.ardentmc.com/about-us/)
4. [linkedin.com/company/ardent-mc](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ardent-mc)
5. [cbinsights.com/company/ardentmc](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ardentmc)

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