Lead Systems Engineer - Cyber Security

Blackburn with Darwen Council
Darwen, UK
8 days ago
Apply on www.collegerecruiter.com
Prepare application

Role details

Contract type
Permanent contract
Employment type
Full-time (> 32 hours)
Experience level
Expert
Working hours
Regular working hours

Tech stack

Microsoft Access Systems Engineering Cyber Security Information Systems Security Architecture Professional Microsoft Security Essentials Software Vulnerability Management Cloud Platform System

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Terms & Conditions: 37 Hours, Full time, Permanent

Department: IT

Closing Date: 29th August 2026

Shortlisting: w/c 31st August 2026

Interviews: w/c 7th September 2026

Are you passionate about cyber security and ready to lead a team that protects critical services while shaping the future of secure digital delivery?

We’relooking for an experienced Lead Systems Engineer (Cyber Security) to take a leading role in our Cyber Security function, combining hands-on technicalexpertisewith people leadership and strategic thinking. This is a fantastic opportunity to influence how cyber security services are delivered across a large, complex organisation and help drive improvements that genuinely make a difference.

About the role

As our Lead Systems Engineer (Cyber Security),you’llprovide senior technical leadership across the Council’s cyber security services, ensuring systems, data and digital servicesremainsecure,resilientand compliant.

You’ll act as the senior escalation point for complex security incidents and technical issues, lead service improvements, and work closely with other Lead Systems Engineers and the Architecture Team to ensure security is embedded within the design, delivery and operation of the Council’s technology estate.

You’llalso manage and mentor a small team of Systems Engineers, supporting their professional development whilst ensuring high-quality cyber security services are delivered day to day.

Whatyou’llbe doing

  • Leading the operational delivery and continuous improvement of cyber security services, ensuring systemsremainsecure,resilientand protected from emerging threats.
  • Providing expert-level 3rd line support and acting as the senior escalation point for complex cyber security incidents,risksand technical issues.
  • Managing and developing a team of Systems Engineers, coordinating workloads, mentoringstaffand supporting career progression.
  • Leading or supporting cyber incident response activities, including investigation, containment, eradication, recovery, root causeanalysisand lessons learned reviews.
  • Overseeing vulnerability management activities, threat monitoring, security assessments, patchprioritisationand remediation planning.
  • Developing andmaintainingcyber security policies, technical standards, operational procedures,playbooksand supporting documentation.
  • Working closely with the Architecture Team and other technical leads to ensure security is integrated into enterprise technology solutions and strategic initiatives.
  • Leading the technical delivery of cyber security projects and service improvements from planning through to operational support.
  • Supporting compliance against cyber security frameworks, audit recommendations, data protectionrequirementsand organisational policies.
  • Producing meaningful cyber security reports, riskupdatesand service metrics for technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Maintaining strong relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers,partnersand senior leaders to support the delivery of secure and effective services.

Whatwe’relooking for

You’llbring a strong background in cyber security,infrastructureor technical operations, with the confidence to lead both technically and professionally.You’llbe comfortable managing complex security challenges, responding to incidents, communicating risk, and helping shape the organisation’s cyber security posture.

You’llenjoy mentoring others, solving complex problems and working collaboratively to deliver secure and reliable technology services.

Essential knowledge and experience

  • Significant experienceworking within a cyber security,infrastructureor enterprise technology environment.
  • Strong understanding of cyber security principles,controlsand best practices acrosson-premiseand cloud environments.
  • Experience leading cyber security operations, incidentresponseand vulnerability management activities.
  • Experience managing or mentoring technical teams in a service-led environment.
  • Strong understanding of Microsoft security technologies and cyber security monitoring platforms.
  • Experience working with cyber security frameworks, governancerequirementsand audit processes.
  • Ability to communicate technical information and cyber risks clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Experience of supplier management and working collaboratively across multidisciplinary IT teams.

Professional certifications

The successful candidate will hold, or be willing to work towards, one or more of the following recognised cyber security certifications:

  • CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
  • Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100)
  • Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate (SC-200)
  • Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate (SC-300)

Equivalent cyber security qualifications and experience will also be considered.

  • A chance to shape and lead the Cyber Security function, protecting services that support residents,businessesand Council operations.
  • A leadership role with real scope to improve security capability,resilienceand service quality.
  • Opportunities to work closely with Enterprise Architecture and senior stakeholders on organisation-wide initiatives.
  • Exposure to a diverse technology estate spanning cloud, infrastructure,dataand digital services.
  • A supportive environment that values collaboration,learningand continuous improvement.

Additionalinformation

This role includes participation in an on-call rota and out-of-hours support for critical incidents, planned maintenance activities and emergency response requirements.

Requirements

You’llbring a strong background in cyber security,infrastructureor technical operations, with the confidence to lead both technically and professionally.You’llbe comfortable managing complex security challenges, responding to incidents, communicating risk, and helping shape the organisation’s cyber security posture.

You’llenjoy mentoring others, solving complex problems and working collaboratively to deliver secure and reliable technology services.

Essential knowledge and experience

  • Significant experienceworking within a cyber security,infrastructureor enterprise technology environment.
  • Strong understanding of cyber security principles,controlsand best practices acrosson-premiseand cloud environments.
  • Experience leading cyber security operations, incidentresponseand vulnerability management activities.
  • Experience managing or mentoring technical teams in a service-led environment.
  • Strong understanding of Microsoft security technologies and cyber security monitoring platforms.
  • Experience working with cyber security frameworks, governancerequirementsand audit processes.
  • Ability to communicate technical information and cyber risks clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Experience of supplier management and working collaboratively across multidisciplinary IT teams.

Professional certifications

The successful candidate will hold, or be willing to work towards, one or more of the following recognised cyber security certifications:

  • CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
  • Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100)
  • Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate (SC-200)
  • Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate (SC-300)

Equivalent cyber security qualifications and experience will also be considered.

  • A chance to shape and lead the Cyber Security function, protecting services that support residents,businessesand Council operations.
  • A leadership role with real scope to improve security capability,resilienceand service quality.
  • Opportunities to work closely with Enterprise Architecture and senior stakeholders on organisation-wide initiatives.
  • Exposure to a diverse technology estate spanning cloud, infrastructure,dataand digital services.
  • A supportive environment that values collaboration,learningand continuous improvement.

Apply for this position

This job is hosted externally. Click below to view the full posting and apply.

Apply on www.collegerecruiter.com
Prepare application

Good distractions

Talks and stories from around this role — technically off-topic, practically not.

4:11 min

Introduction to cloud-native application developer security

Micah Silverman · World Congress 2022

3:24 min

Testing applications with Microsoft accessibility insights tool

Dennie Declercq · LIVE

4:08 min

Introduction to speakers and model-based systems engineering goals

Daniel Siegl +1 · LIVE

43 sec

Software engineering journey and local Manchester roots

Jonathan Tang · Coffee With Developers

3:09 min

Balancing data science skillings alongside systems engineering rigor

Nico Schmidt · LIVE

3:44 min

Current industry adoption and future security initiatives

Alexander Allmendinger · LIVE

Videos

See all

Related articles

See all