Lead, Cyber Security Operations

Prudential Annuities Distributors (PAD); Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 124,000 - 204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Paid Time Off (PTO)

401(k) with match

Pension plan

Wellness programs

Education benefits

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Prudential is seeking a Lead in the Cyber Security Operations Center to manage triage, event handling, and initial threat assessment for the enterprise. You will collaborate with teams to strengthen capabilities through data-driven insights, automation, and orchestration.

Responsibilities include leadership of shift operations, alert triage, escalation, and mentoring junior analysts, with a strong focus on continuous improvement and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a cybersecurity-focused role with at least 2 years in security operations.
• Strong knowledge of security event handling processes, detection methodologies, and SOC operations.
• Strong understanding of enterprise technologies including operating systems, networking appliances, identity access management, and cloud/SaaS platforms.
• Hands-on experience with SIEM, SOAR, XDR/EDR, IDS/IPS, and other security tools.
• Ability to analyze security data across networks, systems, and applications to identify anomalies, validate alerts, and distinguish real threats from false positives.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to learn new skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis.
• Analytical thinking and experience in Agile environments.
• Experience driving automation and orchestration efforts.

Responsibilities

• Provide shift-level operational leadership, monitoring active security events and threats.
• Coordinate and optimize alert intake, triage, and prioritization within SLAs.
• Lead security event escalation with validated, context-driven prioritization.
• Maintain event handling quality control and documentation standards.
• Drive continuous improvement of runbooks, SOPs, and processes to reduce inefficiencies.
• Stay current on threats and industry trends to enhance capabilities.
• Communicate and collaborate with cybersecurity and IT professionals and stakeholders.
• Mentor junior analysts and share best practices.

Skills

5+ years cybersecurity

2+ years security operations

SOC operations

Security event handling

Agile environments

Threat intelligence

Communication

Automation & orchestration

GIAC GCIH

GSOC

GCFA

GNFA

Tools

SIEM

SOAR

XDR/EDR

IDS/IPS

Job description

Job Classification: Technology - Information Security Are you interested in using capabilities that enable the organization to operate with innovation, speed, agility, scalability, and efficiency? The Global Technology team takes great pride in our culture where digital transformation is built into our DNA! When you join our organization at Prudential, you’ll unlock an exciting and impactful career – all while growing your skills and advancing your profession at one of the world’s leading financial services institutions.

Your Team and Role

As a Lead in the Cyber Security Operations Center, you will play a key role in securing the enterprise and advancing the maturity of Prudential’s Cyber Defense & Response organization. Working with a high degree of independence, you will be responsible for managing triage, event handling, and initial threat assessment operations to safeguard the Prudential Financial enterprise. In this role, you will collaborate with stakeholders across the Cyber Defense and Response organization to strengthen team capabilities through data‑driven insights, automation, and orchestration. Your expertise and observations will directly contribute to enhancing secure architecture and advancing global cyber resiliency across the enterprise.

Here is What You Can Expect on a Typical Day :

• Provide shift‑level operational leadership, maintaining awareness of active security events and emerging threats, while dynamically adjusting resources to meet business risk and operational demands.
• Coordinate and optimize alert intake, triage, and prioritization, ensuring that alerts are acknowledged and processed within defined SLAs
• Lead and coordinate security event escalation activities by validating all proposed escalations to ensure accurate, appropriately prioritized, and supported by sufficient analytical context before engaging downstream teams.
• Maintain event handling quality control and documentation standards, ensuring all events are accurately recorded, tracked, and handled consistently.
• Drive continuous improvement of event handling runbooks, SOPs, and operational processes to identify gaps, reduce inefficiencies, enhance operations, and advance automation.
• Continuously build technical expertise and stay current on threats, attack methods, and industry trends to enhance the organization’s capability.
• Professionally communicate and collaborate with other cybersecurity and IT professionals, as well as business stakeholders, to coordinate responses and implement security improvements and risk burndown.
• Mentor junior analysts by reviewing their work, sharing best practices, and helping them strengthen analytical and reporting skills.

The Skills & Expertise You Bring

• 5+ years of experience in a cybersecurity‑focused role with at least 2 years in security operations
• Strong knowledge of security event handling processes, detection methodologies, and SOC operations.
• Strong understanding of enterprise technologies including operating systems, networking appliances, identity access management, and cloud/SaaS platforms.
• Hands‑on experience with SIEM, SOAR, XDR/EDR, IDS/IPS, and other security tools.
• Ability to analyze security data across networks, systems, and applications to identify anomalies, validate alerts, and distinguish real threats from false positives.
• Excellent problem‑solving, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Ability to learn new skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis through self‑initiative and tackling challenges.
• Analytical thinking: The ability to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable components to identify threats, understand attack patterns, and pinpoint root causes.
• Experience working in Agile or iterative environments.
• Time management and prioritization: The ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize critical incidents over low‑priority alerts, and streamline work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to effectively leverage diverse ideas, experiences, thoughts, and perspectives to the benefit of the organization
• Experience driving automation and orchestration efforts to improve efficiency.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., GIAC GCIH, GSOC, GCFA, GNFA) are a plus.

What we offer you:

Prudential is required by state specific laws to include the salary range for this role when hiring a resident in applicable locations. The salary range for this role is from $123,700.00 to $204,100.00. Specific pricing for the role may vary within the above range based on many factors including geographic location, candidate experience, and skills. Market competitive base salaries, with a yearly bonus potential at every level.

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, Paid Time Off (PTO), and leave of absences, such as parental and military leave.
• 401(k) plan with company match (up to 4%).
• Company‑funded pension plan.
• Wellness Programs including up to $1,600 a year for reimbursement of items purchased to support personal wellbeing needs.
• Work/Life Resources to help support topics such as parenting, housing, senior care, finances, pets, legal matters, education, emotional and mental health, and career development.
• Education Benefit to help finance traditional college enrollment toward obtaining an approved degree and many accredited certificate programs.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan: Shares can be purchased at 85% of the lower of two prices (Beginning or End of the purchase period).
• Eligibility to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program is subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.
• Some of the above benefits may not apply to part‑time employees scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week.

Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States is not affiliated with Prudential plc. which is headquartered in the United Kingdom.

Prudential is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability, marital status, age, veteran status, domestic partner status, medical condition or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please email [e-mail]. If you are experiencing a technical issue with your application or an assessment, please email [e-mail] to request assistance.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2023, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help make lives better and create financial opportunity for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for 150 years. For more information please visit news.prudential.com.

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace Prudential Financial, Inc. serves its customers in more than 40 countries and territories, and we seek talented, creative individuals from a variety of backgrounds, worldviews, and life circumstances to work with us. We are focused on creating a fully inclusive culture, where all employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. We don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it. At Prudential, employees have a unique opportunity to build their career path by owning their development, their career, and their future. We encourage employees to hone their skills and explore continued opportunities within Prudential.

PGIM, the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), is a global investment manager with US $1.3 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2023. With offices in 18 countries, PGIM’s businesses offer a range of investment solutions for retail and institutional investors around the world across a broad range of asset classes, including public fixed income, private fixed income, fundamental equity, quantitative equity, real estate, and alternatives. For more information about PGIM, visit pgim.com.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI) of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom, or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom. For more information please visit news.prudential.com.

PGIM Inc. (PGIM) is the principal asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI), a company incorporated and with its principal place of business in the United States. PFI of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom.

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace Prudential Financial, Inc. serves its customers in more than 40 countries and territories, and we seek talented, creative individuals from a variety of backgrounds, worldviews, and life circumstances to work with us. We are focused on creating a fully inclusive culture, where all employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. We don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it. At Prudential, employees have a unique opportunity to build their career path by owning their development, their career, and their future. We encourage employees to hone their skills and explore continued opportunities within Prudential.

We encourage employees to hone their skills and explore continued opportunities within Prudential.