Lead Security Engineer: Own Cloud & Incident Response

Understanding Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

London office access

Autonomy and ownership

Exposure to CIO and leadership

Long-term progression

Job summary

Understanding Recruitment is seeking a Lead Security Engineer for a technology business. This hands-on leadership role is to own security strategy while rolling up sleeves to build, operate, and improve controls, reporting to the CIO.

You will drive security across AWS and DevSecOps, integrate Microsoft Sentinel, and mentor engineers to embed security in CI/CD pipelines while shaping the security function from the ground up in a London-based hybrid setup.

Qualifications

• Hands-on security engineering or security architecture experience.
• Deep AWS security knowledge and practices.
• Experience with Microsoft Defender, Entra ID and Purview.
• DevSecOps and CI/CD security experience.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve security architecture across cloud, application, network and data security.
• Drive security across AWS environments and DevSecOps practices.
• Build and tune Microsoft Sentinel into a mature detection and response capability.
• Work with engineering teams to embed security into CI/CD pipelines.
• Lead incident response and continuously improve security posture.
• Shape AI security governance as the business adopts AI technologies.

Skills

Security architecture

AWS security

Microsoft Defender/Entra ID

DevSecOps & CI/CD security

Stakeholder communication

Tools

Microsoft Sentinel

Job description

I'm working with an exciting technology business looking to hire a Security Architect who wants to take ownership of security rather than simply advise on it.

This is a genuinely hands-on leadership opportunity where you'll become the organisation's senior security authority, working directly with the CIO to shape security strategy while rolling up your sleeves to build, improve and operate security controls.

You'll be responsible for:

🔹 Owning and evolving the security architecture across cloud, application, network and data security

🔹 Driving security across AWS environments and DevSecOps practices

🔹 Building and tuning Microsoft Sentinel into a mature detection and response capability

🔹 Working closely with engineering teams to embed security into CI/CD pipelines

🔹 Leading incident response and continuously improving the organisation's security posture

🔹 Helping shape AI security governance as the business continues to adopt modern AI technologies.

What they're looking for:

✔ Hands-on Security Engineering or Security Architecture experience

✔ Deep AWS security knowledge

✔ Experience with the Microsoft security stack (Defender, Entra ID & Purview)

✔ DevSecOps and CI/CD security experience

✔ Someone who enjoys solving technical problems and can communicate effectively with both engineers and senior stakeholders.

What's on offer?

🏡 Hybrid working – 4 days in the London office

📈 The opportunity to build and shape the security function from the ground up

🤝 Direct exposure to the CIO and senior leadership team

🚀 Genuine autonomy, ownership and long-term progression

If you're looking for a role where you can make a real impact, influence security strategy, and work across cloud, DevSecOps and emerging AI technologies, I'd love to hear from you.