Security Operations Manager

McKinsey & Company, Inc.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 174,000 - 178,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

McKinsey & Company, Inc. is seeking a senior security leader to drive incident response in our Americas SOC. You will manage a team of analysts, act as the incident commander for major events, and oversee end-to-end cyber remediation across endpoints, networks, and clouds.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in security operations, strong cloud and EDR/SIEM expertise, and proven leadership to mentor a high-performance team while communicating effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications

• US Citizenship is required for this role.
• 5+ years hands-on experience in Security Operations, Cyber Defense, Incident Response, or Threat Detection.
• 2+ years in a people-management or team-lead capacity.
• Strong understanding of security monitoring and incident response across enterprise and multi-cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP) and AI/LLM-related security risks.
• Hands-on experience with EDR/XDR, SIEM, and cloud security tools; knowledge of Microsoft Defender EDR and Cortex XSIAM preferred.
• Proficiency in using AI/LLM tools to build automations and scripts; ability to mentor team on secure use.
• Strong people-leadership skills to coach and develop a security analysts team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead incident response operations within our SOC for the Americas time zones.
• Own end-to-end management of cybersecurity incidents.
• Act as incident commander for high-impact security events.
• Direct log analysis across endpoint, network, and cloud environments.
• Influence threat-hunting activities and SOC process improvements.

Skills

Security Operations

Incident Response

Team leadership

Cloud security (AWS/Azure/GCP)

EDR/XDR, SIEM

Microsoft Defender EDR

Cortex XSIAM

AI/LLM automation

Mentoring teammates

US Citizenship

Communication skills

Tools

EDR/XDR

SIEM

Microsoft Defender EDR

Cortex XSIAM

Job description

Do you want to do work that matters, alongside supportive leaders who will help you grow faster than you ever thought possible? Are you a creative problem-solver who is energized by challenges? You’ve come to the right place.

YOUR IMPACT

You will lead incident response operations within our Security Operations Center (SOC) for the Americas time zones, supporting the McKinsey Restricted environment. You will be accountable for the performance and development of a team of security analysts while owning the end-to-end management of cybersecurity incidents. You will act as the incident commander for high-impact security events, direct log analysis across endpoint, network, and cloud environments, and influence threat-hunting activities. Your work will be critical in driving the continuous improvement of our detection capabilities and SOC processes, personally directing the response to complex incidents and representing the SOC to internal stakeholders. You will be part of our Security Operations Center team.

YOUR GROWTH

You are someone who thrives in a high-performance environment, bringing a growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to tackle meaningful challenges that have a real impact. In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we’ll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities to help you quickly broaden your expertise, grow into a well-rounded professional, and contribute to work that truly makes a difference. When you join us, you will have:

• Continuous learning:Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey.
• A voice that matters:From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You’ll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes.
• Global community:With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm’s diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Exceptional benefits:On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well-being for you and your family.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• US Citizenship is required Due to the nature of this role supporting McKinsey RE incident response engagements
• Industry certifications such as GCIH, GCFA, GCFE, CISSP, CEH, or equivalent are preferred
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in Security Operations, Cyber Defense, Incident Response, or Threat Detection
• 2+ years in a people‑management or team‑lead capacity
• Strong understanding of security monitoring, incident response across enterprise and multi‑cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP), and AI/LLM‑related security risks
• Hands‑on experience with EDR/XDR, SIEM, and cloud security tools; strong working knowledge of Microsoft Defender EDR and Palo Alto Cortex XSIAM is preferred
• Proficiency in using AI/LLM tools to build automations and scripts, with the ability to mentor team members on their secure use
• Strong people‑leadership skills with the ability to coach and develop a team of security analysts
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical findings to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders

FOR U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Certain US jurisdictions require McKinsey & Company to include a reasonable estimate of the salary for this role.To help you understand what you can expect, the salary range for new joiners in this role in United States, including all office locations where the job may be performed, is $173,900 - $178,000 USD gross per year. This reflects our best estimate of the lowest to highest[salary/hourly wages] for this role at the time of this posting, ensuring you have a clear picture right from the start, though it's importantto remember that actual salaries may vary. Factors like your office location, your unique blend of experience and skills, start date and our currentorganizational needs all play a part in determining the final figure. Certain roles are also eligible for bonuses, subject to McKinsey's discretionand based on factors such as individual and/or organizational performance.

Additionally, we provide a comprehensive benefits package that reflects our commitment to the wellness of our colleagues and their families.This includes medical, mental health, dental and vision coverage, telemedicine services, life, accident and disability insurance, parental leave and family planning benefits, caregiving resources, a generous retirement contributions program, financial guidance,and paid time off.

FOR NON-U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. For additional details regarding our global EEO policy and diversity initiatives, please visit our McKinsey Careers and Diversity & Inclusion sites.