Principal Security Operations Engineer

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.

Microsofts 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.

• 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.

• • Embody our Cultureand Values

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 Masters 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 Bachelors 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 candidates citizenship will be verified with a valid passport. Lawful permanent residents refugees and asylees may verify status using other documents where 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 Masters 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 Bachelors 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.

#Quantum #QuantumCareers #MDQCareers #Security

Security Operations Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142800 - $274800 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 $188000 - $304200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
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.

Required Experience:

IC