Manager - Security Engineer Incident Management and Automation

The Manager - Security Engineering, Incident Management and Automation is responsible for the implementation, operation and continuous improvement of security controls, monitoring capabilities and automation solutions within the Security Operations Centre. The role drives incident management and security engineering activities to strengthen MTN’s detection, response and operational resilience capabilities while ensuring alignment with established security standards and operational requirements.

Context

MTN's Ambition 2030 strategy is focused on leading digital solutions for Africa's progress by accelerating platform growth, advancing digital and financial inclusion, enabling sustainable connectivity, and building a resilient, future-fit organisation. As MTN continues its evolution into a digital platform business, Information Security plays a critical role in safeguarding customer trust, protecting digital services, enabling innovation, and ensuring operational resilience across MTN's diverse markets.

The Group Information Security function must therefore ensure the successful delivery of its mandate in the context of:

• Supporting MTN's Ambition 2030 vision to be the leading platform business and digital solutions provider for Africa.

• Accelerating digital transformation, cloud adoption, AI enablement, fintech expansion, digital services, and platform ecosystems across the Group.

• Protecting MTN's rapidly expanding digital assets, customer data, financial platforms, and critical technology infrastructure.

• Managing the geographic complexity of MTN's footprint across Africa and the Middle East, encompassing varying regulatory, political and cyber risk environments.

• Maintaining stakeholder confidence by meeting the expectations of customers, shareholders, regulators, partners, and communities.

• Enabling sustainable growth through secure digital innovation and the adoption of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence.

• Achieving operational excellence through standardised security processes, automation, intelligence-led decision-making, and continuous improvement.

• Addressing an increasingly sophisticated and rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape targeting telecommunications operators, financial services, digital platforms, and critical infrastructure.

• Ensuring business continuity, cyber resilience, and operational stability across a highly interconnected technology ecosystem.

• Delivering integrated cyber defence capabilities across network, cloud, IT, digital, financial services, and enterprise environments.

• Strengthening proactive threat intelligence, threat hunting, detection, response, and cyber risk management capabilities.

• Supporting regulatory compliance and data protection requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

• Enhancing MTN's reputation as a trusted, secure, and responsible digital operator.

• Leveraging automation, machine learning, and AI-driven security capabilities to improve cyber defence effectiveness and operational efficiency.

• Embedding a culture of security awareness, accountability, and resilience across MTN Group and its Operating Companies.

   

In this environment, the Information Security function is required to provide timely, actionable, and business-relevant intelligence that enables MTN to anticipate emerging threats, proactively manage cyber risks, and support the achievement of Ambition 2030 objectives.

Values

We at MTN are a purpose and value-led organization. At MTN, we believe that understanding our people’s needs and aspirations is key to creating experiences that delight you at work, everyday. We are committed to fostering an environment where every member of our Y’ello Family is heard, understood and empowered to live an inspired life. 

Our values keep us grounded and moving in the right direction. Most importantly, they keep us honest. It is not something we claim to be. It is in our DNA.

As an organisation, we consider it our mission to create an exciting and rewarding place to work, where our people can be themselves, thrive in positivity and ignite their full potential. A workplace that boosts creativity and innovation, improves productivity, and ultimately drives meaningful results. A workplace that is built on relationships and achieving a purpose that is bigger than us. 

Our commitments go beyond an organisational promise. It is in our leadership and managerial ethos to meaningfully partner with our employees, customers and stakeholders with a vision to realise our shared goals.

Live Y’ello

• Lead with Care

• Can-do with Integrity

• Collaborate with Agility

• Serve with Respect

Act with Inclusion

The Manager - Security Engineering Incident Management and Automation will be responsible for the following:

Security Operations

• Manage and maintain the technical effectiveness of SOC platforms, including SIEM, SOAR, EDR/XDR, NDR, email and cloud security technologies.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of security monitoring use cases, detection content, correlation rules and alerting aligned to the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
• Provide technical leadership and engineering expertise during security incident investigations, containment and remediation activities.
• Drive the integration, optimisation and lifecycle management of security tools and log sources to enhance detection and response capabilities.
• Partner with MSS providers and internal stakeholders to improve incident detection, response effectiveness and operational resilience.
• Ensure SOC platforms, workflows and monitoring capabilities remain aligned to evolving business, threat and operational requirements.

AI, Automation & Security Engineering

•  Support the implementation and operationalisation of approved AI-enabled security capabilities and automation initiatives across MTN.
• Drive the development and optimisation of SOAR playbooks, APIs, integrations and automation workflows to improve operational efficiency and response times.
• Contribute to evaluation and deploymen of emerging security technologies, including AI-driven detection, response and security copilot capabilities.
• Ensure AI-enabled security solutions are deployed and governed in accordance with approved security standards, risk requirements and architectural principles.
• Identify opportunities to automate repetitive SOC activities, reduce manual effort and improve detection and response outcomes.
• Provide technical input into integration activities of AI and automation capabilities into the Cyber Defence technology ecosystem.

Security Project Delivery & Engineering

• Support technical delivery of Cyber Defence projects and security engineering initiatives.
• Provide engineering expertise during the evaluation, design and deployment of new SOC technologies and security capabilities.
• Develop engineering designs, implementation guidelines and technical documentation
• Work closely with MTN entities, technology teams, MSS providers and vendors to ensure successful implementation and operationalisation of security capabilities.

Governance, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across incident management, security engineering, monitoring and automation capabilities.
• Develop and report on SOC engineering, detection, automation and incident management performance metrics.
• Ensure security controls, monitoring capabilities and operational processes comply with MTN policies, standards and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain awareness of emerging threats, technologies and industry best practices, translating relevant developments into actionable improvements for Cyber Defence.
• Provide technical input into strategic planning and roadmap development  for SOC engineering, automation and incident response capabilities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Cybersecurity or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).

• One or more relevant industry certifications (as per below)

Certifications:

• CISSP, CISM or equivalent security certification advantageous

• GIAC certifications (e.g. GCIA, GCIH, GMON, GPEN) or OSCP / CEH.

• Microsoft Security certifications (SC-200, AZ-500).

• Cloud security certifications (CCSP, AWS or Azure security specialty).

Experience:

• 4–6 years' experience in information security, cybersecurity operations or a related technology environment.

• Experience in the following areas: Security Monitoring, Incident Response, Security Operations, or Security Tool Administration.

• Experience supporting the implementation and operation of security automation solutions within enterprise environments

• Experience operating in large, complex enterprise environments; telecommunications experience is an advantage.

Technical competencies:

• Strong knowledge of SIEM and SOAR platforms (e.g. Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk) and EDR/XDR tooling (e.g. Microsoft Defender).

• Proficiency in scripting and automation (Python, PowerShell, KQL) and integration via REST APIs.

• Practical knowledge of cloud security across Azure, AWS and/or GCP.

• Familiarity with AI/ML and LLM security concepts, agentic AI, and secure AI adoption.

• Working knowledge of security frameworks: MITRE ATT&CK, MITRE ATLAS, NIST CSF, OWASP, Zero Trust and CIS.

• Sound understanding of networking, operating systems and enterprise infrastructure.

Behavioural competencies:

• Analytical, structured problem-solver with strong attention to detail.

• Self-driven and able to work independently and lead initiatives end-to-end.

• Strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills across technical and business teams.

• Excellent written and verbal communication.

• Comfortable with ambiguity and a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

• Committed to continuous learning, innovation and knowledge sharing.

MTN Group is committed to Employment Equity and, as such, preference will be given to candidates from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998.

As part of MTN’s recruitment process, your personal information may be processed using secure Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to assist with the shortlisting of candidates. This is done in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). By applying for this position, you consent to the processing of your personal information for recruitment purposes. All data will be handled securely and used solely for evaluating suitability for the role.

We are a purpose and value-led organization.

At MTN, we believe that understanding our people’s needs and aspirations is key to creating experiences that delight you at work, everyday. We are committed to fostering an environment where every member of our Y’ello Family is heard, understood and empowered to live an inspired life.

Our values keep us grounded and moving in the right direction. Most importantly, they keep us honest. It is not something we claim to be. It is in our DNA.

As an organisation, we consider it our mission to create an exciting and rewarding place to work, where our people can be themselves, thrive in positivity and ignite their full potential. A workplace that boosts creativity and innovation, improves productivity, and ultimately drives meaningful results. A workplace that is built on relationships and achieving a purpose that is bigger than us. This is what we want you to experience with us!

Our commitments go beyond an organisational promise. It is in our leadership and managerial ethos to meaningfully partner with our employees, customers and stakeholders with a vision to realise our shared goals.

We are delighted that you are considering us as your career partner to make a mark in the world. We look forward to your application!