Lead Systems Engineer - Cyber Security

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is seeking an experienced Lead Systems Engineer (Cyber Security) to provide senior technical leadership across cyber security services and mentor a small team. You will design secure solutions, drive improvements, and ensure resilience and compliance within the Council's technology estate.

You will lead incident response, vulnerability management, and security operations, communicating risks to technical and non-technical audiences while advancing

Qualifications

• Significant experience in cyber security, infrastructure or enterprise technology environments.
• Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or related field or relevant industry certifications (e.g., CompTIA Network+, Microsoft Certified, Cisco CCNA).
• GCSEs including English and Maths.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational delivery and continuous improvement of cyber security services, ensuring resilience and protection.
• Act as senior escalation point for complex security incidents and technical issues.
• Manage and develop a team of Systems Engineers and mentor staff.
• Lead cyber incident response activities including investigation, containment, eradication and lessons learned.
• Oversee vulnerability management, threat monitoring, and remediation planning.
• Develop and maintain cyber security policies, standards, procedures, and playbooks.
• Ensure security is embedded in design and delivery across technology estate.
• Deliver cyber security projects from planning to operational support.

Skills

Cyber security expertise

Incident response

Vulnerability management

Team leadership

Microsoft security technologies

Security frameworks

Clear communication

Supplier management

Education

Degree in Computer Science/Information Technology

Industry certifications (e.g., CISSP, CCNA, CompTIA)**

Tools

Microsoft Defender / Defender for Endpoint

Azure Sentinel / SIEM tooling

Patch management tools

Security monitoring platforms

Job description

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’re looking for an experienced Lead Systems Engineer (Cyber Security) to take a leading role in our Cyber Security function, combining hands-on technical expertise with 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’ll provide senior technical leadership across the Council’s cyber security services, ensuring systems, data and digital services remain secure, resilient and 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’ll also 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.

Responsibilities

• Leading the operational delivery and continuous improvement of cyber security services, ensuring systems remain secure, resilient and protected from emerging threats.
• Providing expert-level 3rd line support and acting as the senior escalation point for complex cyber security incidents, risks and technical issues.
• Managing and developing a team of Systems Engineers, coordinating workloads, mentoring staff and supporting career progression.
• Leading or supporting cyber incident response activities, including investigation, containment, eradication, recovery, root cause analysis and lessons learned reviews.
• Overseeing vulnerability management activities, threat monitoring, security assessments, patch prioritisation and remediation planning.
• Developing and maintaining cyber security policies, technical standards, operational procedures, playbooks and 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 protection requirements and organisational policies.
• Producing meaningful cyber security reports, risk updates and service metrics for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Maintaining strong relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, partners and senior leaders to support the delivery of secure and effective services.

Qualifications

Significant experience working within a cyber security, infrastructure or enterprise technology environment.

Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field OR Relevant industry certifications (e.g., CompTIA Network+, Microsoft Certified, Cisco CCNA)

GCSEs (or equivalent) including English and Maths

Required Skills

• Strong understanding of cyber security principles, controls and best practices across on-premise and cloud environments.
• Experience leading cyber security operations, incident response and 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, governance requirements and 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.

Preferred Skills

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.

Additional Information

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

Equal Opportunity Statement