Cyber Security Engineer (SOC)
Indexed description
Job Summary
We are MHCLG
Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we’re all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you’re thinking of joining us, there’s never been a more exciting time.
Join the frontline of cyber defence and help protect the systems, services and data that support communities across the UK. As a SOC Engineer, you'll play a key role in enhancing the department's security monitoring and detection capabilities across a modern multi-cloud environment spanning Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365 and AWS. Working within the Cyber Security Operations Centre, you'll design and improve detections, onboard new data sources, develop security automations, support threat hunting activities, and help ensure visibility across critical services and platforms.
You'll work with industry-leading technologies such as Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR and cloud-native security tooling to strengthen the department's cyber resilience. While you'll occasionally support the investigation of security incidents and emerging threats, the primary focus of the role is to continuously improve the SOC's ability to detect, monitor and respond to cyber risks through engineering, automation and operational excellence. Whether you're refining detection logic, integrating new services, developing automation workflows, or enhancing monitoring coverage, you'll help shape the future of cyber defence within MHCLG.
Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.
Job Description
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving complex security challenges, building detection capabilities, automating operational processes and continuously improving cyber defence within a modern cloud-first environment.
As a Cyber Security Engineer (SOC), You'll:
- Be responsible for enhancing and maintaining the department's cyber monitoring and detection capabilities across Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365 and AWS
- Develop, tune and maintain security detections, analytics rules and alerting use cases within Microsoft Sentinel and associated security platforms
- Onboard new data sources and services into the SOC monitoring estate, ensuring effective visibility and coverage across cloud and on-premises environments
- Design and implement automation and orchestration solutions to improve SOC efficiency and reduce manual effort
- Conduct proactive threat hunting activities to identify malicious, suspicious or anomalous activity across the estate
- Continuously improve security monitoring capabilities by identifying gaps, refining detection logic and enhancing security controls
- Support the engineering, configuration and optimisation of SOC tooling, including SIEM, EDR and cloud security technologies
- Produce operational documentation, detection runbooks and technical procedures to support SOC operations
- Analyse emerging threats, vulnerabilities and attack techniques, translating intelligence into effective monitoring and detection capabilities
- Collaborate with infrastructure, cloud, platform and application teams to ensure new services are designed with appropriate security monitoring and logging requirements
- Provide technical expertise and occasional support during security investigations and incident response activities when required
As a Cyber Security Engineer (SOC), You'll:
- Be responsible for enhancing and maintaining the department's cyber monitoring and detection capabilities across Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365 and AWS
- Develop, tune and maintain security detections, analytics rules and alerting use cases within Microsoft Sentinel and associated security platforms
- Onboard new data sources and services into the SOC monitoring estate, ensuring effective visibility and coverage across cloud and on-premises environments
- Design and implement automation and orchestration solutions to improve SOC efficiency and reduce manual effort
- Conduct proactive threat hunting activities to identify malicious, suspicious or anomalous activity across the estate
- Continuously improve security monitoring capabilities by identifying gaps, refining detection logic and enhancing security controls
- Support the engineering, configuration and optimisation of SOC tooling, including SIEM, EDR and cloud security technologies
- Produce operational documentation, detection runbooks and technical procedures to support SOC operations
- Analyse emerging threats, vulnerabilities and attack techniques, translating intelligence into effective monitoring and detection capabilities
- Collaborate with infrastructure, cloud, platform and application teams to ensure new services are designed with appropriate security monitoring and logging requirements
- Provide technical expertise and occasional support during security investigations and incident response activities when required
As a Cyber Security Engineer (SOC), You'll Have:
- 3 Years experience of monitoring, analysing and investigating security events across cloud and enterprise environments
- Experience in creating, tuning and optimising security detections, analytics rules and monitoring use cases
- Demonstrable experience of onboarding new data sources and services to improve SOC visibility and threat detection coverage
- Experience of developing automation and process improvements to enhance SOC efficiency and effectiveness
- 3 Years experience supporting SOC operations and assisting with security incident response activities
- Experience mentoring and supporting junior analysts, helping to develop cyber security capability across the team
- Experience contributing to the development of an exemplar Government Security Operations Centre through innovation, continuous improvement and operational excellence
At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:
Ability , Behaviours , Experience , Technical
Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.
Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.
Stage 1: Sift (CV)
Experience: Your CV should reference how you meet the criteria set out in the job description.
Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.
Lead sift question (Technical): Describe a time when you responded to a significant cyber security threat or incident across a hybrid cloud environment using technologies such as Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender, Azure and AWS.
Stage 2: Technical Test
Ability: For the second stage, you will be invited to complete a 30 minute technical test (further details provided upon invitation). Candidates who are successful will be asked to attend an interview.
Stage 3: Interview
- Behaviours: "Making Effective Decisions", "Delivering at Pace", "Changing and Improving"
- Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
- Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 7th September 2026 and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.
Group 1 Digital & Data Roles
MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview.
MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only. Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager.
Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability.
Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade.
Senior Executive Officer Group 1 Digital and Data salary
- The basic pay for this role will be between £47,444 - £53,575 (London), £44,004- £50,086 (National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale.
- A digital allowance may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating.
- For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above.
- Applying
- Sifting
- Interview
- Interview Results & Feedback
- Reserve List
- Near Miss
- Civil Service Grades
- We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
- Reasonable Adjustments
- Security Clearance Requirements
- Civil Service Nationality Requirements
- Right to Work
- Artificial Intelligence
- Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
- CV Declaration
- Sponsorships
- Salary and Grade
- Existing Civil Servants
- Conflict of Interest
- Location and Flexible Working
- Fixed Term Contracts
- Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register
- Appeals and Complaints
- Conflict of Interest
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : Digital Data Jobs
- Email : [email protected]
- Email : [email protected]
If You Are Unsure About Any Part Of The Process Or Require Additional Information About The Post To Enable You To Progress Your Application, You Should Speak To The Resourcing Team - [email protected]. Candidates Can Appeal At Any Stage Of The Recruitment Process If They Believe There Has Been:
- a procedural irregularity
- an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy
- exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.
If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: [email protected]
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