Summary
What you’ll impact
The Senior Cybersecurity Engineer will own and build the company's enterprise cybersecurity program, designing detection and response systems and engineering security controls across cloud and endpoint environments. This role combines architectural responsibilities with hands‑on incident response, compliance, and automation in a fast‑moving defense technology startup.
Responsibilities
What you'll do
- Build and operationalize the enterprise cybersecurity program, owning security architecture, detection and response, governance, and automation
- Engineer and manage the security technology stack including Microsoft Defender XDR, endpoint protection platforms, SIEM/MDR solutions, and Azure/M365 security controls
- Lead incident response operations — containment, investigation, remediation — and coordinate with leadership and stakeholders on findings and risk posture
- Perform security audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing to identify and remediate weaknesses across infrastructure, applications, and cloud environments
- Develop and enforce security policies, procedures, and compliance programs aligned to NIST 800-171 and ITAR controls.
- Automate security workflows and build detection logic to improve alert fidelity, operational efficiency, and coverage across the environment
- Establish change control processes, security baselines, and security awareness training programs
Requirements
What you’ll bring
- 8+ years of progressive experience in cybersecurity engineering, with demonstrated ability to build and operate security programs — not just maintain existing ones
- Deep hands-on expertise with the Microsoft security ecosystem including Defender XDR (Endpoint, M365, Identity, Cloud Apps), Entra ID Protection, and Azure/M365 security controls
- Proven experience deploying and managing MDR/SIEM solutions for 24/7 threat monitoring and SOC operations (e.g., Rapid7, Secureworks Taegis XDR, or equivalent)
- Strong background in incident response — containment, investigation, remediation, forensic preservation, and stakeholder communication
- Working knowledge of compliance frameworks including NIST 800-171, NIST CSF, CIS benchmarks, and PCI DSS, with hands-on experience performing audits and control assessments
- Experience conducting vulnerability assessments and penetration testing across infrastructure, applications, and cloud environments
- Proficiency with endpoint protection platforms, Microsoft security baseline configuration, and change control programs
- Demonstrated ability to automate security workflows using AI-assisted tooling, XDR automation, or scripting
- Strong communication skills — able to translate security risks and technical findings for non-technical leadership and cross-functional teams
- Relevant certifications preferred: MCSA, CISSP (in progress acceptable), CompTIA Security+/CySA+, or equivalent