Lead Cybersecurity Engineer - Remote First

Placements24; Gauteng; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first work

Generous equity options

Health and wellness benefits

Flexible work schedule

Home office setup budget

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Cybersecurity Engineer for a remote-first role that shapes our security strategy, architectures secure systems, and mentors a global security team. You will oversee threat modeling, incident response, and compliance across cloud environments and any on-prem setups as needed.

You will drive DevSecOps integration, vulnerability management, and proactive threat research while maintaining strong remote collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS, Cybersecurity, or related field.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive cybersecurity experience.
• Experience designing security solutions in cloud environments.
• Expertise in IAM, cryptography, network and application security.
• Strong programming and scripting skills (Python, Bash, PowerShell).
• Experience with SIEM, SOAR, vulnerability management.
• Leadership experience in security teams and projects.
• Familiarity with ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS.
• Excellent communication for remote collaboration.
• Certs like CISSP/CCSP/OSCP advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and deploy enterprise security solutions (firewalls, IDS/IPS, SIEM, endpoint security).
• Lead threat modeling and risk assessments.
• Develop and implement security policies and procedures.
• Oversee incident response and post-incident analysis.
• Mentor a team of cybersecurity engineers.
• Collaborate with dev and ops to embed security in CI/CD.
• Conduct security research to stay ahead of threats.
• Automate security tasks using scripting.
• Evaluate new security technologies.
• Ensure compliance with security standards.

Skills

Security architecture

Threat modeling

Cloud security (AWS/Azure/GCP)

SIEM/SOAR

IAM

Network security

Application security

Scripting (Python/Bash/PowerShell)

Incident response

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

Cryptography

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Cybersecurity

Master's degree preferred

Tools

SIEM platforms

SOAR platforms

Vulnerability management tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Python

PowerShell

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an exceptional Lead Cybersecurity Engineer to spearhead our security initiatives in a fully remote-first environment. This role is critical for designing, implementing, and managing advanced security solutions that protect our global operations. As the Lead Engineer, you will be at the forefront of defining our cybersecurity strategy, architecting secure systems, and leading a team of talented security professionals. You will play a crucial role in threat modeling, vulnerability management, and incident response, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our digital assets. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of security for a forward-thinking organization, working from anywhere in the world. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive remote culture, enabling you to achieve your best work without geographical constraints. Join us and make a tangible impact on our security posture from your home office. The Tembisa region is just one of the many places our team members call home.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and deploy enterprise-level security solutions, including firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, SIEM, and endpoint security.
• Lead threat modeling and risk assessment activities for new and existing systems and applications.
• Develop and implement security policies, standards, and procedures in alignment with industry best practices and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee incident response efforts, including investigation, containment, eradication, and post-incident analysis.
• Manage and mentor a team of cybersecurity engineers, fostering their professional growth and technical expertise.
• Collaborate with development and operations teams to embed security into the CI/CD pipeline (DevSecOps).
• Conduct security research to stay ahead of emerging threats and vulnerabilities, recommending proactive measures.
• Automate security tasks and processes using scripting and programming languages.
• Evaluate and recommend new security technologies and solutions.
• Ensure compliance with relevant security standards and regulations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in cybersecurity engineering and architecture.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing complex security solutions in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Expertise in network security, application security, cryptography, and identity and access management (IAM).
• Strong programming and scripting skills (e.g., Python, Bash, PowerShell).
• Demonstrated experience with SIEM, SOAR, and vulnerability management tools.
• Experience leading security engineering teams and managing projects.
• Excellent understanding of security frameworks and compliance standards (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS).
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking abilities.
• Superior communication and collaboration skills, adept at working in a remote team setting.
• Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, or OSCP are a significant advantage.

Benefits

This remote-first position offers a highly competitive salary, generous equity options, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, a flexible work schedule, and a dedicated budget for home office setup and professional development. Our client values work-life balance and provides a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative virtual work environment. You will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge security challenges, influence strategic decisions, and grow your career within a globally distributed team. This role is ideal for a motivated engineer who thrives in a remote setting and is passionate about cybersecurity innovation. Travel opportunities may be available for team meetups.