About the role

Lead Cyber Security Engineer

Microsoft Security | Technical Leadership | Security Architecture

Strong on Microsoft security? Ready to take ownership, lead from the front and help shape an organisation's security architecture and strategy?

This is an opportunity for an experienced Cyber Security Engineer who enjoys being hands-on with technology but is ready for greater leadership responsibility, technical autonomy and influence over security direction.
Our client needs someone who can step up, make decisions, coordinate people and take ownership of security outcomes. Just as importantly, you'll have the opportunity to develop your architectural capability and contribute directly to the organisation's evolving cyber security strategy.

The Company

Our client is an established New Zealand organisation with a nationwide operating environment and a strong commitment to improving its technology and security capabilities.
Their technology function is collaborative, with a practical approach to solving problems and a genuine willingness to invest in the right people, technologies and security improvements.
The Role & RequirementsWorking closely with the Enterprise Architect, you'll become a key technical leader within the technology team, taking ownership of day-to-day cyber security operations while helping shape the organisation's future security architecture.

This is not a role where you'll simply identify issues and pass them to someone else. You'll be expected to understand the problem, engage the right people, coordinate the response and see matters through to resolution.
Your responsibilities will include:

• Taking technical ownership of the Microsoft security environment, particularly Entra ID, Conditional Access, Defender and Sentinel.
• Leading security incident response, coordinating internal teams, external vendors and technical specialists through investigation, mitigation and remediation.
• Monitoring security events, investigating threats and improving detection and response capabilities through Sentinel.
• Managing vulnerabilities, maintaining security risk registers and ensuring remediation activities are followed through.
• Reviewing security products, identifying architectural gaps and recommending practical improvements.
• Contributing to the development of cyber security architecture, strategy and future technology investment.
• Providing technical guidance, mentoring and leadership across the wider technology team.

You'll have the autonomy to make decisions, prioritise security activities and keep initiatives moving without requiring constant direction.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who brings a balance of technical engineering capability, operational ownership and confident leadership.

We're particularly interested in candidates who have taken sole ownership of cyber security within a large, geographically distributed organisation. Someone accustomed to managing the security environment, identifying vulnerabilities, responding to incidents and driving improvements without layers of specialist teams around them. Our client needs a proactive, hands-on security professional who takes accountability, engages the right people and delivers outcomes. Someone who has owned the estate personnally. 

Ideally, you'll offer:

• Strong hands-on experience across Microsoft security technologies, with particularly sound knowledge of Entra ID, Conditional Access and identity security.
• Practical experience with Microsoft Sentinel or comparable SIEM technologies, including security monitoring, alert investigation and incident response.
• Experience managing endpoint security, vulnerability remediation and broader enterprise security controls.
• The confidence to lead security incidents, communicate clearly and coordinate technical resources through to resolution.
• An understanding of security architecture principles, with the ability to identify gaps, assess solutions and recommend improvements.
• Experience engaging with vendors, managed service providers and internal technology stakeholders.
• A proactive approach to security, with the ability to anticipate risks, establish priorities and take responsibility for outcomes.

You don't need to be the loudest person in the room, but you do need the confidence to take charge when circumstances demand it.

We're particularly interested in engineers who have worked close to the technology, understand how security controls operate and enjoy solving problems themselves.

What's On Offer

This is where the opportunity becomes particularly interesting.

Beyond the technical responsibilities, you'll work directly with an experienced Enterprise Architect who will provide exposure to broader architectural thinking, strategic planning and technology decision-making.
You'll have the opportunity to move beyond security operations and play a meaningful role in developing the organisation's security architecture and future security strategy.

You'll also benefit from:

• Genuine autonomy and ownership of the security function.
• Direct involvement in security architecture, technology reviews and strategic recommendations.
• The opportunity to develop your technical leadership and architectural capabilities.
• Flexible working arrangements, including working from home.
• Employer-funded professional training and certifications.
• A collaborative technology environment where your expertise and recommendations will be valued.
• And a very attractive salary relevant to the skills and experience sort. 

Next Steps

If you're a capable Cyber Security Engineer who enjoys being hands-on but wants greater ownership, leadership responsibility and the opportunity to influence security architecture, we'd welcome a conversation.

Apply now or contact Barry Hardy on 027 654 4653 for a confidential discussion.