Principal Cyber Security Engineer

The University of Portsmouth is a global employer of choice where exceptional people create, share and apply knowledge that makes a difference.

Experience the pride of being part of a select group - one of only four universities in the south‑east of England to achieve a prestigious Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework. Additionally, we proudly rank among the top 140 universities globally in the Times Higher Young University World Rankings.

Ambition, Responsibility and Openness drive our every endeavour. Join our esteemed institution with a proven track record of success, and where dedication to excellence is key. We want people to make their mark in a professional community that truly values people, innovation, and achievement.

To play a key role in designing, improving and maintaining the University's technical cyber security and information security defences. The postholder will be responsible for ensuring the health, optimisation, and continuous improvement of cyber security tooling, including SIEM, endpoint protection, vulnerability management, and cloud security controls. The role will focus on technical implementation of cyber controls, such as maintaining log ingestion pipelines, improving alert fidelity, and ensuring security systems are effectively integrated across the University's hybrid infrastructure.

This role will support and act as a technical subject matter expert on incident response, working to identify, contain, and remediate threats, while contributing to lessons learned that drive measurable service improvements. The postholder will work closely with colleagues across Information Services, ensuring security tooling and processes support operational needs while maintaining high levels of protection. This role will contribute to the delivery of the University's Cyber Security Roadmap, aligned to the Cyber Security Strategy, and focus on the operationalisation of security controls and the improvement of cyber resilience across all services.

This is an engineering role requiring practical delivery of improvements, proactive health monitoring, and the ability to drive operational enhancements across the University's security environment, ensuring tooling and processes remain effective and aligned with best practice and emerging threats.

Whilst there is a need to be in Portsmouth a few days a week, hybrid working is available for this role.

If you have any queries regarding this position, please contact Sam Roberts - Cyber Security Operations Manager at

• Competitive salary, including incremental progression within your scale.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Generous leave entitlement of 32‑35 days a year, plus bank holidays, and an additional Christmas closure.
• Family‑friendly policies supporting flexible working.
• Staff discounts and loyalty schemes.
• Staff car parking and discounted public travel.
• Excellent training and development opportunities.
• Staff wellbeing programmes.
• Recreation facilities, including discounted gym membership, food on campus schemes, use of the Library and staff social activities.
• Discounted learning.
• Start‑up business mentoring from expert entrepreneurs via our Entrepreneurs in Residence programme.
• The perks don't stop there – click 'apply' for further information on My Reward and Benefits.

Prior to submitting your application, kindly ensure that you can either demonstrate or acquire the necessary right to work in the UK. If you currently do not possess the right to work in the UK, please be aware that our offer of employment is conditional upon you obtaining it.

We are committed to upholding the University's values of being ambitious, open and responsible, in an inclusive working environment that promotes dignity and respect. Please note that this vacancy may be closed earlier than advertised, so early applications are advised.