Principal Security Researcher

Posted Yesterday
Be an Early Applicant
2 Locations
In-Office
94K-162K Annually
Expert/Leader
Software • Quantum Computing • Metaverse • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
The Role
Conduct deep threat analysis across on-premises and cloud environments, identify attacker activity, notify customers, and recommend mitigations. Build threat-hunting tools and automations, drive security product improvements, investigate complex issues, and share research-driven guidance. The role requires expertise in cybersecurity, threat intelligence, malware, identity-based attacks, forensic analysis, security logs, and query or scripting technologies.
Summary Generated by Built In
Overview
 
The Cloud & AI organization accelerates Microsoft’s mission and bold ambitions to ensure that our company and industry is securing digital technology platforms, devices, and clouds in our customers’ heterogeneous environments, as well as ensuring the security of our own internal estate. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create life-changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world. Microsoft is one of the largest enterprise service companies in the world.
 
Do you have a passion for helping Microsoft’s clients defend themselves against targeted exploitation? Are you interested in being intimately involved in the latest, cutting-edge developments in the security industry and having a direct impact on the security of all Microsoft customers? Do you want to be on the front lines of helping our customers go toe-to-toe against advanced adversaries? 
Are you interested in a fast-paced job full of new opportunities? If that resonates, consider joining us as a  Principal Security Researcher on the Tip of the Spear team. 

Responsibilities
  • Performing deep analysis of attacker activity in on-premises and cloud environments
  • Identifying potential threats, allowing for proactive defense before an actual incident
  • Notifying customers regarding imminent attacker activity
  • Providing recommendations to improve customers’ cybersecurity posture going forward and performing threat intelligence knowledge transfer to prepare customers to defend against today’s threat landscape
  • Building proof-of-concept and prototype threat hunting tools, automations, and new capabilities
  • Driving product and tooling improvements by conveying learnings from threat hunting and incident response at scale to engineering partner teams
  • Identifying, prioritizing, and targeting complex security issues that cause negative impact to customers. Creating and driving adoption of relevant mitigations and providing proactive guidance
  • Working with others to synthesize research findings into recommendations for mitigation of security issues. Sharing across teams. Driving change within team based on research finding.

Qualifications
Required/minimum qualifications:
  • Batchelors, Masters Degree or PHD in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Security, or related field AND experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat analysis or modeling, cybersecurity, vulnerability research, and/or anomaly detection OR equivalent experience.
Additional or preferred qualifications
  • Proven knowledge of security fundamentals across Microsoft platforms (Client, Server, Cloud)
  • Strong understanding of malware and the modern threat landscape, especially identity-based attacks
  • Familiarity and understanding of SQL or Kusto Query Language (KQL) queries (or experience with large database/SIEM query languages such as Splunk/Humio/Kibana, etc.)
  • Familiarity and understanding of Jupyter Notebooks, or building equivalent threat hunting automations with scripting languages
  • Experience with sophisticated threat actor evidence including familiarity with typical Indicators of Compromise (IOCs), Indicators of Activity (IOAs) and Tools, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs)
  • Use of forensic analysis tools such as X-Ways Forensics®, WinHex®, Encase®, FTK®, etc
  • Experience with various forensic log artifacts found in SIEM logs, web server logs, AV logs, protection logs such as HIDS and NIDS logs 
 

Security Research IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across United Kingdom is £ 93,500.00 - £ 161,800.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/corporate-pay/united-kingdom-corporate-pay.html


Security Research IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across United Kingdom is £ 93,500.00 - £ 161,800.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/corporate-pay/united-kingdom-corporate-pay.html


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.

Skills Required

  • Bachelor's, master's degree, or PhD in statistics, mathematics, computer science, computer security, or a related field, or equivalent experience
  • Experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat analysis or modeling, cybersecurity, vulnerability research, and/or anomaly detection
  • Knowledge of security fundamentals across Microsoft client, server, and cloud platforms
  • Strong understanding of malware and the modern threat landscape, especially identity-based attacks
  • Familiarity with SQL, Kusto Query Language, or large database and SIEM query languages such as Splunk, Humio, or Kibana
  • Familiarity with Jupyter Notebooks or equivalent threat-hunting automations built with scripting languages
  • Experience analyzing sophisticated threat actor evidence, including IOCs, IOAs, and TTPs
  • Experience using forensic analysis tools such as X-Ways Forensics, WinHex, EnCase, or FTK
  • Experience with forensic log artifacts from SIEM, web server, antivirus, HIDS, and NIDS logs

Microsoft Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Microsoft and has not been reviewed or approved by Microsoft.

  • Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage is described as comprehensive, with U.S. plans covering preventive care at 100% and limiting annual out-of-pocket costs. Mental-health counseling, employee assistance, and wellbeing resources are also emphasized.
  • Parental & Family Support — Parental leave, family-caregiver leave, childcare assistance, and family concierge services are highlighted as core elements. These supports are presented alongside parenting and family-planning resources.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth — Vacation, holidays, and flexible work schedules are emphasized, with generous time-away policies noted. Leave options extend beyond standard vacation to include caregiver and parental programs.

Microsoft Insights

Am I A Good Fit?
beta
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

The Company
HQ: Redmond, WA
206,870 Employees
Year Founded: 1975

What We Do

At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our mission is grounded in both the world in which we live and the future we strive to create. Today, we live in a mobile-first, cloud-first world, and the transformation we are driving across our businesses is designed to enable Microsoft and our customers to thrive in this world.

Similar Jobs

NBCUniversal Logo NBCUniversal

Assistant Manager, Architecture & Engineering Design

AdTech • Cloud • Digital Media • Information Technology • News + Entertainment • App development
Hybrid
Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, GBR

Wise Logo Wise

Data Analyst

Fintech • Mobile • Payments • Software • Financial Services
Hybrid
London, Greater London, England, GBR
9000 Employees

Navan Logo Navan

Director, Field Marketing EMEA

Fintech • Information Technology • Payments • Productivity • Software • Travel • Automation
Easy Apply
Hybrid
London, Greater London, England, GBR
5000 Employees

Palantir Technologies Logo Palantir Technologies

Security Engineer

Artificial Intelligence • Software
Hybrid
London, Greater London, England, GBR
4400 Employees

Similar Companies Hiring

Ford Energy Thumbnail
Automotive • Software • Energy • Utilities • Manufacturing • Renewable Energy
US
Revel Thumbnail
Aerospace • Hardware • Robotics • Software
Marina Del Rey, California
70 Employees
Blee Thumbnail
Artificial Intelligence • Marketing Tech • Software
New York, New York
33 Employees

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account