Staff Cyber Defense Engineer

Ladders; United States; Remote; USD 156,000 - 261,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and視ion

Flexible work arrangements

Unlimited paid time off

In-house training and mentorship

Security conference attendance

Inclusive and diverse environment

Purpose-driven health outcomes focus

Job summary

Ladders is assisting a leading Healthcare organization hire a Staff Cyber Defense Engineer to strengthen the enterprise and cloud defense posture. The role focuses on scalable detection, threat hunting, and incident response, partnering with security operations, engineering, and IR teams to improve visibility and resilience.

Remote US-based role with compensation of $156,400–$260,600 annually and visa sponsorship not available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline or equivalent experience.
• 8-12 years of related experience, or 5-7 years with a Master’s, or 2-4 years with a PhD.
• Strong experience with SIEM, SOAR, XDR/EDR, NDR, and cloud security technologies.
• Proficient in detection logic, automation, and API integrations using Python, PowerShell, or similar.
• Knowledge of adversary behaviors, threat hunting, and the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
• Experience with automation, AI, or machine learning in security contexts.
• Certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, or GIAC are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain enterprise detection content throughout its lifecycle.
• Implement cyber defense capabilities, including telemetry integrations and response playbooks.
• Conduct proactive threat hunting using threat intelligence and security telemetry.
• Lead complex security investigations and drive risk mitigation efforts.
• Support red and purple team exercises to identify defensive gaps.
• Build scripts and automation to enhance response efficiency.
• Evaluate security telemetry and troubleshoot visibility gaps.

Skills

SIEM/SOAR/XDR

Cloud security

Python/PowerShell

Threat hunting

MITRE ATT&CK

Automation/AI

Security certifications

Detection logic

API integrations

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

Python

PowerShell

REST APIs

AWS/Azure

SIEM

SOAR

XDR/EDR

Threat intel sources

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Staff Cyber Defense Engineer to join the team of a leader in the Healthcare space. This role will help shape and strengthen the organization’s cyber defense posture across enterprise environments and cloud technologies. The position focuses on building scalable detection, hunting, and response capabilities that improve visibility and reduce risk. You will partner closely with security operations, engineering, and incident response teams to advance proactive defense strategies and operational resilience.

Location: Remote - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $156,400 – $260,600 annually

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain enterprise detection content throughout its lifecycle.
• Implement cyber defense capabilities, including telemetry integrations and response playbooks.
• Conduct proactive threat hunting using threat intelligence and security telemetry.
• Lead complex security investigations and drive risk mitigation efforts.
• Support red and purple team exercises to identify defensive gaps.
• Build scripts and automation to enhance response efficiency.
• Evaluate security telemetry and troubleshoot visibility gaps.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline or equivalent experience; Master’s or PhD preferred.
• 8-12 years of related experience, or 5-7 years with a Master’s, or 2-4 years with a PhD.
• Strong experience with SIEM, SOAR, XDR/EDR, NDR, and cloud security technologies.
• Proficient in detection logic, automation, and API integrations using Python, PowerShell, or similar.
• Knowledge of adversary behaviors, threat hunting, and the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
• Experience with automation, AI, or machine learning in security contexts.
• Certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, or GIAC are a plus.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Flexible work arrangements and unlimited paid time off.
• Access to in-house training and career mentorship programs.
• Opportunities to attend security conferences for professional growth.
• Inclusive and diverse work environment that values teamwork.
• Engagement with a purpose-driven community focused on improving health outcomes.

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.