Senior Cyber Analyst

Payments Canada; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 88,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial organization in Ottawa seeks a Senior Cyber Analyst to enhance cybersecurity measures and lead a team in incident response. This role requires expertise in information security, with a focus on mentoring junior staff and developing security programs. A post-secondary education in computer science or a related field, along with at least five years of relevant experience, is expected. The role offers a competitive compensation package, including flexible work options and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Flexible work environment

Competitive compensation package

Comprehensive health and dental benefits

Paid time off

Maternity and parental leave top-up

Professional development opportunities

Access to gym facilities

Qualifications

• Minimum five years experience in information security or related roles.
• Experience in security operations and incident response.
• Ability to work outside regular hours and participate in on-call rotation.

Responsibilities

• Lead advanced cyber intrusion detection and forensic analysis.
• Develop comprehensive security assessments and incident response playbooks.
• Mentor junior analysts and conduct group analysis sessions.

Skills

Information security

Incident response

Threat hunting

Python scripting

PowerShell scripting

Cybersecurity trends awareness

Mentoring

Education

Post-secondary education in computer science or related fields

Job description

Payments Canada, 800-350 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada •

Job Description

Posted Friday, February 13, 2026 at 5:00 AM | Expires Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 4:59 AM

Payments Canada is at the forefront of the Canadian payment ecosystem. Our purpose is to make payments easier, smarter and safer for all Canadians. Every day we are working diligently to ensure your payments are cleared and settled. In 2024 alone, our systems cleared approximately $107 trillion or $424 billion each business day! If you are passionate about payments and want to help ensure that these financial transactions in Canada are carried out safely and securely, working with us is for you!

Who we are

We are a public purpose, non-profit organization situated at the centre of Canada’s payment ecosystem. We own and operate payment systems that process hundreds of billions of dollars worth of payment transactions every business day. We convene ecosystem participants to discuss their multiple and diverse interests and ideas and to navigate industry-level challenges. We adhere to a set of values that are our north star: Inspire trust, build community and enable change.

Payments Canada — where our country connects:

Payments Canada — Who we are

With our people in mind we have created a culture that fosters authenticity, collaboration, innovation and development. We empower one another, make meaningful contributions that not only impact the organization, but our country! We develop and nurture meaningful connections that drive innovation in our ecosystem. We are Payments Canada!

Do you want to make payments easier, smarter and saferfor Canada? Join us today!

You need to work here if

• You love working with passionate, ambitious and collaborative colleagues.
• You want to be challenged and lead unique initiatives.
• You want to grow, develop and become a subject matter expert in your field.
• You want your work to make an impact in your community and country.

Come and join us — where payments meet purpose!

What we are looking for

The Senior Cyber Analyst is a critical role that blends front-line defense with strategic insight to safeguard Payments Canada's systems and the broader Canadian payment ecosystem. This position is responsible for leading advanced cyber intrusion detection, forensic analysis, and comprehensive security assessments to proactively manage and assist with the resolution of security incidents.

As the Senior Cyber Analyst, you are the technical lead and primary escalation point for the Security Monitoring and Response team. Your strong technical acumen and excellent analytical skills will lead the team as we transition to a modern technology suite. With a natural ability to lead with kindness and patience, you will mentor a team of analysts, breaking down complex security challenges into actionable insights. Your attention to detail and ability to pivot rapidly will allow you to tackle complex challenges while explaining them in a way that is easily understood. You will be tasked with developing strong partnerships with inter-agencies and other organizations, while maintaining a strong pulse on cyber trends and practices. You will act with integrity and thought leadership to respectfully challenge the status quo to shape the future.

A day in the life

Responsibilities of the Senior Cyber Analyst includes but is not limited to:

• Develop and embed the Payments Canada’s overall cyber security program: Partner with IT and business risk owners, develop requirements, strategies, and robust frameworks to enhance the overall cyber security program.
• Provide guidance, leadership, and education/awareness regarding security initiatives to support business risk owners to embed security management processes.
• Provide advisory services to IT and business areas, and assist in the writing and review of organizational security policies to support internal control (access management, contingency planning and testing, security awareness, intrusion detection, patch management, anti-virus, etc.).
• Mentor junior and intermediate analysts and lead group analysis sessions.
• Support the cybersecurity leadership team with complex analysis of current cyber trends and response.
• Cyber surveillance and analysis: Perform advanced cyber intrusion detection/analysis and forensic review, recommending areas requiring further investigation and remediation.
• Prepare reports and briefing notes to support the Manager, Security Monitoring and Response.
• Prepare reports and briefing notes to support the Manager, Security Monitoring and Response and Chief Information Security Officer in developing and maintaining trusted relationships with Financial Institutions, Financial Market Infrastructures, regulators, government agencies, utilities, and other relevant organizations.
• Enhance existing, and create new, incident response playbooks.
• Leverage automation and artificial intelligence in the support of detection response.
• Collaborate with Payments Canada member Financial Institutes to resolve cyber security issues or policy violations.

What you will need to be successful

• Post-secondary education, or equivalent experience in computer science, information systems, or related fields.
• Minimum five (5) years experience in a combination of information security, information risk management, or information systems related roles.
• Experience in security operations, incident response and threat hunting.
• Experience with Python and powershell scripting.
• Knowledge of and experience in cyber information sharing and analysis networks.
• Ability to work outside of regular working hours based on operational requirements.
• Ability to participate in on-call rotation.
• Government of Canada Level II Secret Clearance or eligibility to obtain.
• Occasional overnight travel outside of the Ottawa area is required.

You will really stand out with

• Industry certifications (GCIA, GCIH, OSCP, CISSP, CISA, etc.) are considered assets.
• Experience in secure procurement of security technologies and architecture is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of federal government priorities in relation to financial sector policy is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of international issues respecting the financial services sector is considered an asset.
• Familiarity with the Criminal Code of Canada as it applies to cyber issues is an asset.
• Knowledge of the Canadian financial services industry is considered an asset.
• Bilingualism (English and French) is considered an asset.

Salary range

Based on qualifications and experience: $88,500 to $118,000

Please submit your application by February 27, 2026

What's in it for you?

• Flexible, hybrid (remote/office) environment.
• Competitive compensation package, including annual variable bonus and defined contribution pension plan with employer matching percentage (if eligible).
• Comprehensive health and dental benefit coverage, including mental health coverage, life insurance and a health spending account for you and your dependents (Permanent and temporary employees with contracts 12 months and over).
• Paid time off: minimum four weeks paid vacation, sick and personal days, December holiday shutdown and cultural holiday observance days.
• 26 weeks of paid maternity and parental leave top-up.
• Rewards and recognition program.
• Access to office gym facilities.
• Internal and external professional development opportunities.

At Payments Canada, we are dedicated to fair, transparent and inclusive hiring. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. Our recruitment process uses automated tools, but not generative AI, to objectively screen and evaluate applications and confirm that a candidate’s qualifications meet job requirements.

It is important to remember that these tools support, but do not replace, human decision-making. Our trained recruitment professionals and hiring managers always make the final hiring decisions.

Our diversity, inclusion and equity commitment

At Payments Canada, we are committed to making everyone feel they can be themselves and thrive at work. We will continue to build on a foundation of respect and appreciation for diversity in all forms and collectively create an inclusive and equitable culture where our differences are valued.

We are committed to employment equity and actively encourage applications from women, Aboriginal people, persons with disabilities and visible minorities. If selected for an interview, please advise us if you require special accommodation by emailing [e-mail].

We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.