Cyber Security Engineer

In 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the sixth year running.

Job Title:
Cyber Security Engineer

Location:
Manchester City Centre (Hybrid Working 1-2 days in the office)

Salary:
Up to £50,000 per annum

Contract:
Permanent, Full Time

Please note: UK applicants only | No sponsorship available

Outcomes First Group is the UK's largest independent provider of specialist education and care. We deliver personalised, research-led support that helps every child thrive.

As a growing organisation, we continue to invest in our people and services to deliver high-quality outcomes across our sites.

We're looking for a hands-on Cyber Security Engineer to help strengthen the security of our technology estate and deliver key initiatives from our Cyber Security Roadmap.

You'll play a key role in implementing, configuring and continuously improving security controls across our Microsoft-centric environment. This role offers the opportunity to work across Microsoft 365 security, identity and access management, endpoint protection, vulnerability management, infrastructure hardening and security operations.

You'll help ensure our security capabilities remain effective, resilient and aligned to evolving threats while supporting both project delivery and day-to-day security operations.

• Deliver technical work packages from the Cyber Security Roadmap, ensuring solutions are planned, implemented, tested and transitioned into operational support
• Implement, configure and maintain security tooling across the organisation
• Support the delivery of security improvement initiatives that reduce cyber risk and strengthen operational resilience
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, standards, implementation notes and support procedures

• Configure and enhance Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Intune, Entra  Microsoft 365 security and compliance capabilities
• Strengthen security across endpoints, identities, applications, cloud services and infrastructure
• Implement secure configurations and hardening standards in line with industry best practice
• Support vulnerability management activities, ensuring issues are identified, prioritised and remediated effectively

• Support day-to-day security operations, including monitoring, alert review and detection improvement
• Assist with cyber security investigations, incident response, containment and remediation activities
• Work closely with IT teams to address security weaknesses, vulnerabilities and configuration risks
• Help maintain key security controls to ensure ongoing effectiveness and compliance
• Support the maintenance of security standards and accreditations, including Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus and CIS Controls
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve operational efficiency
• Provide practical cyber security guidance to technical teams and project stakeholders
• Maintain awareness of emerging threats and recommend improvements to strengthen security capabilities

• Experience administering and improving Microsoft 365 security controls
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Defender technologies, including Defender for Endpoint and Microsoft 365 Defender
• Experience supporting vulnerability management and remediation activities
• Knowledge of security monitoring, alert triage, incident response and technical investigation
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a practical approach to risk reduction
• Experience working with technical teams and stakeholders to deliver secure technology solutions
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to balance projects, operational activities and security priorities
• Experience configuring or supporting security controls across cloud, endpoint and identity platforms
• Microsoft Security Operations Analyst Associate certification
• Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate certification
• CompTIA Security+, CISSP, SSCP or equivalent certifications
• Experience supporting security frameworks and compliance…