Cybersecurity Engineer

The University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law; Vermillion (SD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of South Dakota is seeking an experienced Cybersecurity Engineer to join its enterprise security program in Vermillion. You will engage in security operations, engineering, and automation to protect university systems and data.

Reporting to the CISO, you will develop and optimize defenses, craft automated workflows, and coordinate remediation across endpoints, identities, networks, and cloud services.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of IT or cybersecurity experience, with at least three years in hands-on operational work.
• Practical experience investigating and responding to incidents in an enterprise environment.
• Hands-on experience with Defender XDR or comparable EDR tech.
• Experience using a SIEM to investigate events, correlate data, and analyze threats.
• Ability to investigate technical security problems and implement remediation.
• Experience with vulnerability management and risk-based remediation.
• Knowledge of security scripting, APIs, or automation technologies.

Responsibilities

• Security Operations: Investigate and respond to incidents using Defender XDR, Sentinel, Cisco XDR, and related tech.
• Security Engineering: Configure and optimize enterprise security controls across endpoints, identities, networks, cloud, and data.
• Automation and AI: Develop automated investigation and response workflows with scripting and APIs.
• Threat Detection and Hunting: Develop detection rules, KQL queries, alert correlations, dashboards, and procedures.
• Vulnerability Management: Identify, prioritize, and coordinate remediation across enterprise systems.
• Identity and Data Protection: Support security controls with Entra ID, Purview, and M365.
• Incident Response: Work with IT and partners to investigate, contain, and remediate incidents.
• Continuous Improvement: Strengthen configurations, integrate tech, and reduce manual effort.

Skills

Cybersecurity operations

Incident response

Automation scripting

Threat hunting

Security engineering

Tools

Microsoft Defender XDR

Microsoft Sentinel

KQL

PowerShell

Python

Job description

Logo Institution: The University of South Dakota
Working Title: Cybersecurity Engineer
Posting Number: CSA02866P
Department: USD - Information Technology Services
Physical Location of Position (City): Vermillion

The University of South Dakota is seeking an experienced, hands‑on Cybersecurity Engineer to join its established enterprise cybersecurity program.

This position is ideal for a cybersecurity professional who enjoys solving complex technical problems, investigating security threats, engineering security solutions, and using automation and artificial intelligence to improve security operations.

Working directly with the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), the Cybersecurity Engineer will play an important role in operating, optimizing, and advancing the university’s cybersecurity capabilities.

USD operates a modern, integrated security environment built around Microsoft Defender XDR, Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Purview, Microsoft 365, and Cisco security technologies. The university is also advancing AI‑enabled security operations, integrating automation and intelligent security agents into threat detection, investigation, and response.

What You’ll Do

• Security Operations: Investigate and respond to security incidents using Microsoft Defender XDR, Microsoft Sentinel, Cisco XDR, and related security technologies.
• Security Engineering: Configure, maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize enterprise security controls across endpoints, identities, networks, cloud services, and data environments.
• Automation and AI: Develop automated investigation and response workflows using scripting, APIs, orchestration tools, and emerging AI‑enabled security technologies.
• Threat Detection and Hunting: Develop and refine detection rules, KQL queries, alert correlations, dashboards, and investigation procedures.
• Vulnerability Management: Identify, prioritize, and coordinate the remediation of security vulnerabilities across enterprise systems.
• Identity and Data Protection: Support technical security controls within Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft Purview, and Microsoft 365.
• Incident Response: Work with internal IT teams and external security partners to investigate, contain, and remediate cybersecurity incidents.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to strengthen existing security configurations, integrate technologies, and reduce manual operational effort.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking an experienced engineer who has already worked directly with enterprise security technologies and can independently execute technical security responsibilities.

Required Qualifications

• Five or more years of relevant professional IT or cybersecurity experience, including at least three years in hands‑on cybersecurity operations or engineering.
• Practical experience investigating and responding to cybersecurity incidents in an enterprise environment.
• Hands‑on experience administering or operating Microsoft Defender XDR or comparable enterprise endpoint detection and response technologies.
• Experience using a SIEM platform to investigate security events, correlate data, and analyze threats.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate technical security problems and implement effective remediation.
• Experience with vulnerability management and risk‑based remediation.
• Working knowledge of security scripting, APIs, or automation technologies.
• Ability to independently manage technical assignments, troubleshoot security issues, and collaborate with infrastructure and application teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands‑on experience with Microsoft Defender XDR, Microsoft Sentinel, and Kusto Query Language (KQL).
• Experience with Microsoft Purview, Entra ID, Conditional Access, and Microsoft 365 security.
• Experience with Cisco Secure Access, Cisco XDR, or related Cisco security platforms.
• Experience using PowerShell, Python, Power Automate, Logic Apps, or security orchestration technologies.
• Familiarity with AI‑enabled cybersecurity tools, Microsoft Security Copilot, Copilot Studio, or agent‑based security automation.
• Experience integrating multiple security technologies through APIs or automated workflows.
• Experience working with managed detection and response providers.
• Certifications such as Microsoft SC-200, Security+, CySA+, CISSP, or equivalent.

Why Join USD Cybersecurity?

Work with modern technology. Gain extensive hands‑on experience with integrated Microsoft and Cisco security platforms, security automation, and emerging AI‑driven security operations.

Make a direct impact. Work within a small security team where your expertise and technical contributions directly influence the institution’s security posture.

Engineer solutions, not just tickets. Take ownership of technical investigations, security improvements, automation, and operational engineering.

Work directly with security leadership. Collaborate closely with the CISO on priorities, technical solutions, and continuous security improvement.

Be part of an evolving security operation. Help advance an established cybersecurity program that is actively incorporating automation, AI‑assisted investigations, and intelligent security agents.

The University of South Dakota offers a collaborative higher education environment and an opportunity to apply advanced cybersecurity skills in support of education, research, and public service.

The position may require occasional after‑hours work and participation in an on‑call rotation. Must be authorized to work in the U.S. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

USD is committed to fostering a dynamic and welcoming working and learning environment for all. USD provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to ideological, political, or sectarian opinions or perspectives; or race, color, creed, religion, sex, ancestry, disability, national origin or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. USD is committed to the principles of free expression and encourages the timely and rational discussion of topics in an environment that is intellectually and ideologically diverse.