Senior Threat Detection Engineer - Cybersecurity

COGNNA; Riyad Al Khabra; On-site; SAR 299,000 - 375,000; Full time

Job summary

A cybersecurity firm in Saudi Arabia seeks a Senior Threat Detection Engineer to design detection strategies, build automation, and enhance SOC operations. Collaborating with teams across various domains, you'll mentor junior engineers and ensure high-quality security measures. Candidates should have a Bachelor's in a relevant field, 4+ years of experience, and advanced skills in SIEM, EDR, and scripting. Join a culture of growth and innovation in Riyadh.

Benefits

Access to certifications and training

ESOP program

On-site collaboration in Riyadh

Qualifications

• 4+ years in Threat Detection or SOC Engineering.
• Hands-on expertise in developing detection use cases.
• Strong understanding of attacker behavior and IR fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Design high-impact detection strategies.
• Automate detection testing and maintain quality.
• Collaborate with intel teams for threat detection.

Skills

SIEM queries expertise

EDR tools knowledge

Packet analysis skills

Advanced Python scripting

Cloud security monitoring

Threat intelligence application

Incident response fundamentals

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Cybersecurity

Tools

Wireshark

Python

PowerShell

Job description

As a Senior Threat Detection Engineer at COGNNA, you’ll design high-impact detection strategies, build powerful automation, and elevate SOC operations to a world-class standard. You’ll also mentor rising cyber talent and collaborate with teams across threat intel, incident response, and platform engineering.

🔐 Advanced Threat Detection Engineering

• Build high-fidelity correlation rules and behavioral detections within the COGNNA security platforms.
• Translate adversary TTPs (MITRE ATT&CK), threat intel, and vulnerability data into actionable logic.
• Identify detection gaps and introduce new data sources to cover evolving threat landscapes.
• Automate detection testing and maintain detection quality over time.

⚙️ Platform Engineering & Optimization

• Lead architecture and optimization of XDR, SIEM, and SOC tech stacks for scale and resilience.
• Streamline log ingestion pipelines — from parsing to normalization and enrichment.
• Build scripts and automations (Python, PowerShell) to enhance SOC efficiency.
• Integrate tools across the SOC stack to enable seamless workflows and response.

🕵️♂️ Threat Hunting & Incident Response

• Collaborate with intel and IR teams to enrich detection use cases and support threat hunts.
• Provide Tier-3+ support for incident investigations and post-mortem analysis.

👥 Mentorship & SOC Maturity

• Mentor junior engineers, review detection logic, and provide hands‑on training.
• Improve SOC playbooks, SOPs, and detection engineering workflows.
• Stay updated on global and regional threats — and evolve detection accordingly.
• Ensure compliance alignment (e.g., NCA ECC, SAMA CSF).

Requirements

🎓 Education

• Bachelor’s in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field.

💼 Experience

• 4+ years in Threat Detection, SOC Engineering, or Advanced SecOps.
• Hands‑on expertise in developing and maintaining complex detection use cases.
• Strong understanding of attacker behavior, IR fundamentals, and digital forensics.

🔧 Technical Skills (You’re a Power User!)

• SIEM : Expert in SIEM queries (SPL, KQL, Lucene), rule tuning, UEBA, and scaling.
• EDR : Deep knowledge of EDR tools and endpoint detection tactics.
• Network Security : Pro at packet analysis (Wireshark), IDS / IPS, and NetFlow.
• Scripting : Advanced skills in Python and / or PowerShell for automation and integration.
• OS Internals : Mastery of Windows / Linux / macOS logging, artifacts, and forensic value.
• Threat Intelligence : Skilled in turning threat intel into real‑time detection logic.
• Cloud Security : Strong command of monitoring IaaS / PaaS / SaaS environments.

🏅 Certifications (Highly Preferred)

• 🎓 SANS GIAC (GDAT, GMON, GCIA, GCTI, GCIH)
• 🐉 Offsec (OSDA)
• 🏫 INE (eCTHP, eCIR)
• 🧩 (ISC)² CISSP, CSSLP

🤝 Soft Skills

• Exceptional analytical thinking and creative problem‑solving.
• Excellent communication (English & Arabic), including technical reporting.
• Strong mentorship abilities and a collaborative spirit.
• Self‑motivated, focused, and passionate about cyber defense.
• Capable of juggling priorities under high‑pressure situations.

Benefits

🚀 Impact that Matters – Build products that shape the future of cybersecurity and protect organizations globally.

🏢 On‑Site Collaboration – Be at the heart of innovation in our Riyadh office, working side by side with passionate experts.

💡 Continuous Growth – Access to certifications, trainings, and opportunities to sharpen your expertise.

📈 Ownership Mindset – Benefit from our ESOP program and grow with COGNNA’s success.

🤝 Culture of Trust – We empower talent, encourage ownership, and celebrate real outcomes.