Principal Security Operations Engineer
Microsoft · Washington, United States · 2d ago
Quantum computing has the potential to massively accelerate science and technology innovation. Microsoft Discovery & Quantum is building advanced computing platforms, spanning HPC, AI, and quantum, to realize that future. You will join the Quantum Security & IT Operations (QSIT) team protecting a globally distributed research community and its intellectual property.
As a Principal Security Operations Engineer in QSIT, you will own the response to cybersecurity, external & insider threat incidents affecting Microsoft Quantum, from initial detection and severity assessment through containment, recovery, root-cause analysis, and executive closure working across National Security Team, HR, Legal, Global Trade, and CISO organizations. You will set the technical direction for incident handling, coordinate responders across Quantum and Microsoft security organizations, and ensure lessons learned translate into durable improvements to controls, detections, and operating procedures.
You will also define and drive the requirements for an AI-enabled QSIT Security Operations Center, shaping how AI supports signal enrichment, triage, investigation, response, and analyst decision-making while maintaining strong auditability and data-handling controls.
This role requires broad technical and risk judgment, independent leadership in ambiguous situations, and the ability to influence security strategy across organizational boundaries.
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees, we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
This role is onsite in Redmond, WA.
Responsibilities
Own cybersecurity incidents affecting Microsoft Quantum, establishing severity and response strategy, directing technical investigation and containment, coordinating recovery, and driving incidents to clear, accountable closure.
Manage insider and external threat incident analysis and triage from initial indicators through scoping, forensic review, evidence preservation, case disposition, and root-cause analysis, producing defensible investigative narratives for executive, legal, and compliance review.
Drive changes to systems and processes based on incident and risk learnings that cross and impact other teams.
Lead cross-functional incident response with Quantum engineering, Microsoft CISO organization, National Security Team, HR, Legal, and Global Trade; provide concise executive updates, document decisions and evidence, and ensure post-incident actions are assigned and completed.
Define and drive the requirements, architecture, operating model, and prioritized engineering backlog for an AI-enabled QSIT SOC, covering signal enrichment, triage, investigation, response recommendations, analyst-in-the-loop controls, auditability, and sensitive-data handling.
Translate AI SOC needs into measurable capabilities and acceptance criteria, evaluate first- and third-party solutions, guide implementation, and assess operational effectiveness, risk, and readiness for production use.
Design, implement, and tune insider threat and cybersecurity detections in Microsoft Sentinel and related platforms; onboard and normalize new security data streams; identify visibility gaps; and convert incident findings into improved detections, controls, runbooks, and monitoring coverage.
Qualifications
Required/minimum qualifications
- Doctorate in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field AND 3+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat modeling, cyber security, anomaly detection, Security Operations Center (SOC) detection, threat analytics, security incident and event management (SIEM), information technology (IT), or operations incident response
- OR Master's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field AND 4+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat modeling, cyber security, anomaly detection, Security Operations Center (SOC) detection, threat analytics, security incident and event management (SIEM), information technology (IT), or operations incident response
- OR Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field AND 6+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat modeling, cyber security, anomaly detection, Security Operations Center (SOC) detection, threat analytics, security incident and event management (SIEM), information technology (IT), or operations incident response
- OR equivalent experience.
Other Qualifications
- Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:
- Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
- Citizenship & Citizenship Verification: This role will require access to information that is controlled for export under export control regulations, potentially under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations or Export Administration Regulations, the EU Dual Use Regulation, and/or other export control regulations. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of citizenship, U.S. permanent residency, or other protected status (e.g., under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)) for assessment of eligibility to access the export-controlled information. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate's citizenship will be verified with a valid passport. Lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees may verify status using other documents, where applicable.Additional or
Additional or preferred qualifications
- Doctorate in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field AND 5+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large scale computing, threat modeling, cyber security, or anomaly detection
- OR Master's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field AND 8+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large scale computing, threat modeling, cyber security, or anomaly detection
- OR Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field AND 12+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large scale computing, threat modeling, cyber security, or anomaly detection
- OR equivalent experience.
- CISSP CISA CISM SANS OSCP Security+
- 6+ years of experience in cybersecurity, security operations, incident response, insider threat, threat analytics, security information and event management (SIEM), or equivalent experience.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex security incidents end-to-end, including technical investigation, containment, recovery, root-cause analysis, executive communication, and post-incident remediation.
- Hands-on experience with Microsoft Sentinel (KQL) or an equivalent enterprise SIEM, including detection engineering, data onboarding, investigative analysis, and the ability to set technical direction across ambiguous, high-impact security situations.
- CISSP certification or other relevant (CISA, CISM, SANS GCIA, GCIH, OSCP, Security+).
- Experience collaborating with corporate insider threat, investigations, legal, or trade compliance functions; exposure to dedicated insider threat platforms such as Purview, DTEX, Proofpoint ITM, Magnet Axiom, or Forcepoint.
- Experience designing, deploying, or evaluating agentic AI or LLM-based automation in a security operations context is strongly desired; familiarity with post-quantum cryptography concepts and CNSA 2.0.
- Experience or interest in the specific challenges of protecting strategic research programs from sustained external targeting; familiarity with export control (EAR / ITAR) and government program environments.
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Security Operations Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.