IBM X-Force - Senior Incident Response Consultant

IBM X-Force – Senior Incident Response Consultant

Information and Data are some of the most important organizational assets in today’s businesses. As a Security Consultant, you will be a key advisor for IBM’s clients, analysing business requirements to design and implement the best security solutions for their needs. You will apply your technical skills to find the balance between enabling and securing the client’s organization with the cognitive solutions that are making IBM the fastest growing enterprise security business in the world.

Your Role and Responsibilities

As a senior consultant for the IBM Security X-Force Incident Response (X-Force IR) team, you will be responsible for the growth and delivery of X-Force IR services. You will lead a team of consultants who are responding to high profile cybersecurity incidents within our clients’ enterprise networks, proactively prevent and detect future incidents, shape clients’ cybersecurity programs, and collaborate with internal IBM stakeholders to provide integrated solutions to the most challenging problems. In this role you will demonstrate skills in incident response, computer intrusion investigations, and strong foundation in cyber security policy, operations and best practices. You will conduct forensic analysis, maintain proficiency with EDR tools, and engage in enterprise threat hunting, incident response planning, tabletop and purple team exercises, as well as other strategic security services.

Preferred Education

None

Required Technical and Professional Expertise

• 2 years experience with assessing and developing enterprise‑wide policies and procedures for IT risk mitigation and incident response.
• Experience leading incident response teams and managing tasks across all phases of an engagement.
• Experience managing a team of consultants with skills similar to those described below.
• Capable of working independently as well as providing leadership on internal projects and client engagements.

Forensic Analysis & Incident Response Skills

• Ability to forensically analyze both Windows & Unix systems for evidence of compromise.
• Proficiency with industry standard forensic tools such as EnCase, FTK, X‑Ways, Sleuthkit.
• Experience performing log analysis locally and via SIEM/log aggregation tools.
• Experience hunting threat actors in large enterprise networks and cloud environments.
• Experience with using and configuring Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) tools.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the behaviour, security risks and controls of common network protocols.
• Demonstrate an understanding of common applications used in Windows and Linux enterprise environments, including familiarity with Active Directory, Exchange and Office365 applications and logs.
• Familiarity with the tools and techniques required to analyse & reverse diverse protocols and data traversing a network environment.
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms like IBM Cloud, AWS, GCP or Azure.
• Proficient in writing cohesive reports for a technical and non‑technical audience.

Strategic Assessment Expertise

• Examine and analyze client internal policies, processes and procedures to determine patterns and gaps at strategic and tactical levels, recommending appropriate actions to mature incident response and cyber security posture.
• Strong familiarity with security frameworks and standards such as ISO 27001/2, PCI DSS, NIST 800‑53, 800‑171 and applicable data privacy laws and regulations.
• Experience with planning, scoping and delivering technical and executive‑level tabletop exercises focused on incident response.
• Ability to incorporate current trends and develop custom scenarios applicable to a client.
• Low‑level operating system knowledge, including automation and performing administrative tasks.
• Scripting or programming experience, preferably in a language commonly used for DFIR such as Python or PowerShell.
• Ability to work with data at scale using tools such as Splunk or ELK.
• Expertise working with shell programs such as grep, sed and awk to process data quickly.
• Experience with virtualisation and cloud technology platforms like IBM Cloud, AWS, GCP & Azure.

Preferred Technical and Professional Experience

• Diverse understanding of cyber security vulnerabilities, common attack vectors and mitigations.
• Capable of developing strategic‑level incident response plans and tactical‑focused playbooks.
• Ability to manage tasks and coordinate work streams during incident response investigations.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Other

Industries

IT Services and IT Consulting