Microsoft Security Automation & Incident Response Engineer – Contract Position

Magnet Forensics Inc.; United States; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Magnet Forensics is seeking a highly skilled Microsoft Security Automation & Incident Response Engineer to accelerate the maturity of our security operations program. The engineer will optimize Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, and related platforms, reducing manual workload and enhancing detection and response capabilities.

The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience with Microsoft Sentinel, Defender suites, automation, and modern security operations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Security Operations, Detection Engineering, or Incident Response.
• Strong Microsoft Sentinel experience.
• Strong Microsoft Defender suite experience.
• Advanced KQL skills and Logic Apps experience.
• SOAR automation and SIEM engineering experience.

Responsibilities

• Security Operations Optimization: analyze alert triage and incident response to reduce bottlenecks and improve efficiency.
• Detection Engineering: tune analytics rules, reduce false positives, and create advanced detections.
• Security Automation: design automation for alert enrichment, routing, and incident workflows.
• Platform Integration: integrate Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, and related Microsoft security stack with ITSM.
• Incident Response Support: improve playbooks, runbooks, and response automation.

Skills

Security Operations

Detection Engineering

Incident Response

Microsoft Sentinel

Microsoft Defender

KQL

Logic Apps

SOAR automation

SIEM engineering

Security operations workflow

Job description

Who We Are; What We Do; Where We’re Going

Magnet Forensics is a global leader in the development of digital investigative software that acquires, analyzes, and shares evidence from computers, smartphones, tablets, and IoT-related devices. We are continually innovating so our customers can deploy advanced and effective tools to protect their companies, communities, and countries.

Serving thousands of customers globally, our solutions are playing a crucial role in modernizing digital investigations, helping investigators fight crime, protect assets, and guard national security.

With employees based around the world, Magnet Forensics has been expanding our global presence. As a part of Magnet Forensics, you can expect to make a difference in the world, no matter what role you play. You’ll be supported through learning and development, not to mention an incredible team with unbelievable talent and integrity.

If you think you would be the right person to join our team working towards this goal, we would love to hear from you!

Role Summary

Magnet Forensics is seeking a highly skilled Microsoft Security Automation & Incident Response Engineer to accelerate the maturity and efficiency of our security operations program.

This resource will be responsible for optimizing and integrating Microsoft's security platform, reducing manual analyst workload, automating repetitive tasks, improving detection coverage, and enhancing incident response capabilities.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with deep experience in Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, automation, and modern security operations.

This is a 3-4 month contract role

What You’ll Do

Security Operations Optimization

• Analyze existing alert triage and incident response processes
• Identify operational bottlenecks and manual activities
• Implement improvements that reduce analyst effort and response times
• Improve overall SOC efficiency and effectiveness

Detection Engineering

• Tune Microsoft Sentinel analytics rules
• Reduce false positives and alert fatigue
• Create advanced correlation rules and hunting content
• Improve quality and fidelity of security detections

Security Automation

Design and implement automation for:

• Alert enrichment
• Incident routing
• Ticket creation
• Escalation workflows
• Investigation support
• Standard response actions

Platform Integration

Optimize and integrate:

• Microsoft Sentinel
• Microsoft Defender XDR
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
• Microsoft Defender for Identity
• Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
• Entra ID
• Zscaler telemetry
• Existing ITSM and ticketing platforms

Incident Response Support

• Improve incident response processes
• Enhance investigation playbooks
• Develop response automation
• Create operational runbooks and documentation

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years in Security Operations, Detection Engineering, or Incident Response
• Strong Microsoft Sentinel experience
• Strong Microsoft Defender suite experience
• Advanced KQL skills
• Logic Apps experience
• SOAR automation experience
• SIEM engineering experience
• Security operations workflow optimization experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft Security certifications
• Threat hunting experience
• Detection engineering background
• Experience integrating third-party security telemetry
• Exposure to Purview and DLP technologies

Indicators of Success

We’re looking for someone who checks off most, but not all, of the boxes listed in “skills and experiences”. It’s more important to us to find candidates who can display indicators of success through skills they have developed and experiences they have been a part of, than to find folks who have “been there, done that”. We want to be part of your development journey, and we’ll learn as much from you as you learn from us.

How We Work

At Magnet Forensics, we take a hybrid-flexible approach to support your productivity and work-life balance. If you’re within a comfortable travel distance to one of our offices, you’ll occasionally join us in person. How often you’ll come in depends on your department and team needs, typically ranging from weekly to monthly. These in-person moments help us build stronger connections, spark new ideas, and celebrate our successes together. Most days, you can choose what works best for you, while staying in tune with your team’s goals.

We’re excited to welcome you to our team and look forward to achieving great things together - both in the office and wherever you work best!

The Most Important Thing

We’re looking for candidates that can provide examples of how they have demonstrated Magnet CODE in their previous experiences:

CARE – We care about each other and our mission to make a difference in the world.

OWN – We are accountable for our results – while never forgetting to act with integrity, empathy, and respect.

DEDICATE – We put our heart and soul into meeting the needs of our customers and helping them serve the people they protect.

EVOLVE – We are constantly innovating and exploring new ways to work together to make an impact with our work.

Here at Magnet Forensics, we are committed to continuous learning and are focused on building a diverse and inclusive workforce. This commitment will be reflected in our hiring processes and embedded in our values and how we treat one another.

Magnet Forensics is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics or any other basis forbidden under federal, provincial, or local law. We are committed to providing an inclusive, accessible recruitment process and work environment. Accommodation is available to all applicants upon request throughout the hiring process. Please contact [e-mail] should you require any accommodations.

All offers of employment at Magnet are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check. All background checks will be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws. Magnet will consider each position’s job duties, among other factors, in determining what constitutes satisfactory completion of the background check. Refusal to consent to a background check may be grounds for revoking an offer of employment.

US Applicants: Magnet Forensics participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Magnet Forensics handles and uses personal data of job applicants in line with itsRecruitment Privacy Policyfound here.