AMBG Senior Cyber Defense Architect

What you’ll do:

Thought leadership and market presence

• Develop a clear point of view on unified security operations, Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, MXDR and AI-enabled cyber defence.
• Create compelling client-facing narratives, reference architectures and reusable assets that help position Avanade as a leading Microsoft Security partner.
• Represent AMBG Security in senior client conversations, Microsoft engagements, industry forums and internal leadership discussions.

Sales, solutioning and delivery

• Lead cyber defence solutioning for complex Microsoft Security opportunities, balancing technical quality, delivery feasibility and commercial outcomes.
• Translate client pain points into practical roadmaps covering SIEM and XDR integration, Defender deployment, Sentinel optimisation, automation, use case engineering and managed detection and response.
• Provide delivery assurance for major engagements and ensure architectural decisions support measurable security outcomes.

Offerings and capability development

• Create and evolve repeatable offerings for Sentinel modernisation, Defender XDR integration, MXDR mobilisation, SOC optimisation, attack path-informed detection and managed security services.
• Build the skills, methods and quality standards required for AMBG Security to deliver cyber defence work consistently at enterprise scale.
• Identify new market opportunities created by Microsoft Security platform changes, client consolidation pressures and managed service growth.

Leadership and collaboration

• Influence across a highly matrixed organisation, working with Avanade, Accenture and Microsoft stakeholders to progress strategic opportunities.
• Coach and guide architects and consultants, strengthening technical depth, client presence and commercial confidence across the team.
• Contribute to an inclusive, high-performance culture that attracts, develops and retains strong security talent.

Skills and experiences

• Extensive experience leading Microsoft cyber defence, SOC modernisation, SIEM, XDR, MXDR or managed security services programmes for enterprise clients.
• Deep hands-on and architectural knowledge of Microsoft Sentinel, including data connectors, analytics rules, automation, workbooks, KQL, content management, cost optimisation and operational governance.
• Strong expertise across Microsoft Defender XDR and the Microsoft Defender suite, including Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Identity, Defender for Office 365 and Defender for Cloud Apps.
• Ability to design integrated SIEM and XDR architectures that improve detection, triage, investigation, response, hunting and reporting across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Credible experience with SOC operating models, threat-led use case development, detection engineering, incident response processes, SOAR playbooks and service transition into managed operations.
• Strong commercial and client-facing skills, with the ability to engage CISOs, security operations leaders, infrastructure leaders and procurement stakeholders.
• Proven ability to shape complex opportunities, create clear solution narratives, estimate delivery effort, manage risk and support sales conversion.
• Experience creating new offerings from ideation through to market launch, including assets, accelerators, delivery methods and enablement material.
• Advanced Microsoft Security certifications such as SC-100 and SC-200. SC-300, AZ-500 or related Microsoft certifications are beneficial.
• Industry-recognised certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CCSP, GIAC or equivalent are beneficial.
• Familiarity with relevant frameworks and standards such as MITRE ATT&CK, NIST CSF, ISO 27001, GDPR and SOC operating model good practice.
• Ability to lead in a matrixed environment, build followership and develop people while maintaining a strong focus on growth, delivery quality and client outcomes.

About you

• You are a senior cyber defence leader who can operate comfortably between board-level security strategy and detailed platform architecture.
• You understand how enterprise SOC teams actually operate, where tooling programmes fail, and how to turn Microsoft Security capability into measurable operational improvement.
• You can lead high-value client conversations with authority, simplify complex technical choices and create confidence with executive stakeholders.
• You are commercially minded, delivery-aware and able to build solutions that Avanade can sell, deliver and scale safely.
• You invest in others, share knowledge openly and help build a strong, inclusive cyber defence capability across AMBG Security.

Measures of success

• Growth in qualified and converted cyber defence pipeline across AMBG Security.
• Successful delivery of Sentinel, Defender XDR, MXDR and managed security services engagements with strong client satisfaction.
• Clear, reusable AMBG cyber defence offerings and assets that accelerate sales and improve delivery consistency.
• Improved capability depth across the team, including certifications, delivery methods and architectural quality.
• Stronger strategic relationships with client security leaders, Microsoft, Accenture and Avanade stakeholders.

Enjoy your career

Some of the best things about working at Avanade and AMBG:

• Opportunity to work for Microsoft's Global Alliance Partner of the Year, with exceptional development and training, including paid certifications.
• Real-time access to technical and skilled resources globally.
• A dedicated career advisor to encourage your growth.
• Engaged and helpful colleagues who are genuinely interested in you.
• The opportunity to work on some of the largest and most cutting-edge Microsoft Security engagements in the world.