Alexandra Mattika
Details
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Cybersecurity Engineer
Captures, stores, and processes network and host data from penetration test and live capture events to conduct cyber defense performance analysis and threat hunting
Explores, reduces, models, analyzes, and visualizes data using Python, Galaxy, Splunk, Wireshark, and other evaluative tools to assess performance of cybersecurity control mechanisms and overall attack surface of systems
Develops cyber defense metrics in conjunction with Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Performs data visualization for analysis presentation and to guide analysis
Presents a summary of analytical findings to customer
2021 : 2022
Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC)
Cybersecurity Engineer and Tools Developer
Internship with Cyber Defense Engineering and Research (CDER) Group
Performed penetration testing of a virtualized AMMOS ground system via Kali Linux and its component software
Prepared a final vulnerability assessment presentation and report that included attack narrative, attack surface enumeration, and remediations for AMMOS development team
2021 : 2021
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Cybersecurity Engineering Intern
Conducted small satellite cybersecurity research, software development, penetration testing, and cyber hardening on Raspberry Pi and Circuit Python-based satellite systems for a government customer.
Documented and cataloged processes and findings for reporting to customers.
2019 : 2021
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Research Assistant
Provided subject matter expertise and communicated technical concepts to executive leadership.
Developed cybersecurity strategy and policy and generated cyber posture analysis for USASMDC enterprise.
Liaised with contractors and government partners on security development.
2019 : 2020
Space Missile Defense Command, US Army
Cybersecurity Strategist Intern, Chief Information Security Office
About
Hi! I’m Alex. I love writing code, especially in Python. I also really like figuring out how to break into things (with permission).
Currently, I specialize in cybersecurity forensics and evaluation in cloud-like critical systems, tool development, analytical methods, and a sprinkling of data engineering and data science.
Much of my work experience is with government customers so I can't tell you about many of my projects (it's one of those if-I-told-you-I'd-have-to-kill-you things). Some cool accomplishments I can talk about, though, include being a National Science Foundation Cybercorps scholar; penetration testing a digital twin of NASA's Mars 2020 ground system; researching cyber threat impacts on small satellites; publishing a paper on IoT forensics in the Journal of Digital Forensics, Security, and Law; riding US Navy vessels while underway for firing events; shadowing red teams as a white and purple team member; and managing a $750,000 public art project for the city of Huntsville, AL in my pre-tech life.
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