SOC Lead (Security Operations Centre) - Outside IR35

SOC Lead - Defence & National Security
Location: Farnborough (Hybrid)
£450 per day outside IR35
Clearance: Must be eligible for UK SC clearance and Sole British Citizen

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced SOC Lead to take ownership of a high-performing Security Operations Centre working on critical defence and national security projects. You'll lead day-to-day SOC operations, drive incident response, and mentor analysts to strengthen detection and response capability against evolving threats.

If you want to combine technical depth with leadership responsibility, this role offers both the challenge and the opportunity to shape how cyber resilience is delivered in secure environments.

What you'll be doing

• Leading daily SOC operations, task prioritisation and shift management
• Acting as the escalation point for complex incidents and investigations
• Reviewing, tuning and enhancing detection rules, alerts and playbooks in SIEM/SOAR tools
• Providing mentorship and technical guidance to SOC analysts
• Driving post-incident reviews, root cause analysis and continuous improvement
• Conducting proactive threat hunting and supporting compliance/audit requirements
• Collaborating with wider IT/security teams to improve detection and response capability

What you'll bring

• 3+ years' experience in a SOC or security operations role
• Strong knowledge of incident detection, response and threat analysis
• Hands-on experience with SIEM, SOAR and endpoint detection tools
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical and communication skills
• A degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience
• Relevant certifications such as GCIA, GCIH, CEH or CompTIA CySA+ (desirable)

Why this role?

• Lead SOC capability on projects that truly matter in defence and national security
• Work in a future-focused environment with strong investment in cyber capability
• Hybrid working with modern tools and methodologies
• Excellent benefits including contributory pension, medical cover, bonus scheme and continuous learning opportunities