Security Operations

HEAnet – Security Operations Engineer – 18mth ftc

HEAnet is Ireland’s National Research and Education Network, providing internet connectivity and ICT shared services across all levels of the Irish education system, reaching in excess of 1,000,000 end users. We connect learners and researchers across all of Ireland to education resources and to fellow national educational and research networks in Europe, and the rest of the world.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Security Operations (SecOps) Engineer to join our Security Operations team on an eighteen (18) month fixed term contract basis.

This role is primarily based at our Dublin 1 offices, but we are pleased to offer a flexible remote working arrangement. This allows you to work from home up to three (3) days a week. You will be expected to work at least two (2) days a week in the office, giving you the opportunity to enjoy a balanced and dynamic work environment.

What the Security Operations Team does

Our Security Operations (SecOps) team is a dedicated group within our broader Technical Services function, focused on helping clients stay ahead of cyber threats. Since launching our SOC & SIEM service in early 2023, the team has grown in function and capability across threat detection, response, and operational security.

We work closely with clients to identify, investigate, and respond to security threats in near real time, while tracking the evolving threat landscape for the education and research sector.

With several new services in development, our SecOps team is looking to grow and expand further to continue to meet our clients growing demand for managed security services and support.

What the Security Operations Engineer does

The SecOps Engineer will play a key role in supporting, maintaining, and enhancing the Security Operations team’s infrastructure to deliver security services for our higher education and research clients.

Reporting to the Security Operations Manager, this technical role will primarily operate within the Security Operations Team while collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders, including Systems, Networks, and Technical Architecture teams.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Security Architect and other security specialists to strengthen and secure systems while driving overall improvements in the security posture of HEAnet and our clients.

Key Responsibilities will include:

- Work with the Security Architect in the implementation and support of HEAnet Shared Services Security Platforms, including the integration of platforms for correlating security event information
- Analyse system logs, NetFlow, and PCAPs to detect threats and support client security incident investigations
- Work with security specialists to run security scans, interpret results and advise technical teams on remediation work as required
- Contribute to the development of security policy, controls and processes
- Collaborate with security and technical specialists on asset-based threat modelling and attack path mapping
- Support the rollout of security services for our clients

How we do it

Our company values underpin how we do things in HEAnet. We believe in and live by our values and understand they are integral to making HEAnet a great place to work.

COLLABORATION - EQUALITY & FAIRNESS - FUTURE FOCUSED - POSITIVE IMPACT

For further information about who we are and our core values, see https://www.heanet.ie/who-we-are

What you get from us

We promote a healthy work/life balance, and we take the care of our team members mental health seriously. Work outside of standard hours is rare andagreedin advance.

We value knowledge sharing and communication. We have frequent team meetings combined with regular 1:1 catch-ups to make sure no one is hitting any roadblocks.

We encourage critical thinking and the exploration of new ideas. We often form cross-team special interest groups for specific topic discussions, both ongoing and for fixed projects.

Company Benefits

- Hybrid Working
- Flexible start/finish times
- Health insurance for employees
- Defined contribution pension scheme
- On-going well-being initiatives
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Tax Saver Ticket scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Professional education support
- Comprehensive group and individual training & development initiatives

What we need from you

- Postgraduate qualification in Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field, OR equivalent demonstrable knowledge gained through experience in Sysadmin, System Engineer, SOC, or equivalent technical roles.
- Hands-on experience with bare metal server and hypervisor builds
- Proficiency with server security hardening
- Experience/ Working Knowledge of CI/CD DevOps methodology
- Scripting ability (ideally python)
- Good knowledge of security principles, standards, frameworks and best practices
- Good knowledge of the threat landscape including understanding of threat actors and common attack vectors
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Good communication skills, both written and verbal
- Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with clients, vendors and other stakeholders
- Ability to work in a busy work environment, to adapt to changing situations and divergent client environments

Bonus points:

We don’t expect you to have experience in all of the following areas, but it would be a plus if you do:

- Good knowledge of NIST Cyber Security Framework and/ or ISO27001
- Experience with any IDP, SIEM, EDR and Vulnerability Management Solutions
- Experience with Tenable/Nessus vulnerability scanner
- Experience with Splunk SPL
- Experience with NetFlow and PCAP analysis
- Any foundational Cyber Security Certification, such as CompTIA Security +, GIAC, ISACA
- Experience with GitLab
- ITIL certification
- Experience with projects integrating systems or correlating across datasets
- Previous experience or knowledge of Higher Education and Research Sector
- Previous experience in Managed Security Services

More important information

At HEAnet we celebrate diversity and understand how important it is to our ongoing success. We would like to hear from candidates who are great at what they do and whose values align with ours.

If you need any adjustments made to the application or selection process so you can do your best, please let us know.

HEAnet are delighted to be awarded with the Ibec Keep Well Mark. We take pride in developing, maintaining and enhancing our culture of wellbeing and continue to focus on this in 2025 and beyond.

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