Senior Analyst - Tactical Intelligence in Manchester

The purpose of this role is to strengthen the organisation’s cyber defence capabilities by generating high‑quality, actionable threat intelligence that informs detection, response, and strategic decision‑making. The position exists to proactively identify, analyse, and communicate emerging threats, including adversary behaviours, malware, and infrastructure, while ensuring intelligence outputs are operationally relevant, technically robust, and aligned to business and security priorities. Operating across the full intelligence lifecycle, the role transforms complex technical findings into meaningful insights for both technical and non‑technical stakeholders, enabling the organisation to anticipate adversary activity, enhance detection engineering, support incident response, and advance intelligence‑led security operations. The role also contributes to continuous improvement through research, tooling development, collaboration with wider security teams, and active participation in the broader threat intelligence community.

Key Responsibilities

• Threat Intelligence Analysis and Research: Identify, track, and document threat actors, their TTPs, infrastructure, and indicators of compromise across the full intelligence lifecycle. Monitor and analyse Command and Control (C2) infrastructures, malicious domains, and emerging campaigns, providing context‑rich assessments that combine technical findings with geopolitical and regional context. Map observed threat activity to established frameworks (e.g., MITRE ATT&CK) and produce structured intelligence outputs using formats such as STIX/TAXII. Conduct technical analysis of malware samples to support intelligence assessments, including static and dynamic analysis to extract configurations, identify capabilities, and attribute activity to known threat actors. Stay current with the evolving threat landscape, proactively identifying emerging threats, novel attack vectors, and shifts in adversary tradecraft.
• Documentation and Reporting: Produce high‑quality finished intelligence products, including threat actor profiles, campaign analyses, and technical advisories, suitable for both technical and non‑technical audiences. Document and report on malware behaviour, TTPs, and indicators derived from technical analysis, leveraging internal TIP tooling to generate and disseminate IoCs. Contribute to external communications through blog posts, conference presentations, or published research that highlights significant threat intelligence findings. Respond to Requests for Information (RFIs) from internal and external stakeholders, delivering timely, actionable intelligence.
• Tool Development and Detection: Develop and maintain detection signatures such as YARA rules based on malware analysis and threat research. Identify network and host‑based detection opportunities. Manage and optimise threat intelligence platforms, sources, and feeds to improve analysis efficiency and intelligence output quality. Develop scripts and tooling to support analysis workflows, including automation of intelligence collection, enrichment, or dissemination tasks. Evaluate and recommend new tools or platforms to strengthen the team's analytical capabilities.
• Collaboration and Information Sharing: Support and mentor other analysts within the GTI team, providing guidance on analytical tradecraft and technical methodology. Work closely with DFIR and SOC teams to provide threat context, malware insights, and intelligence support during investigations and incidents. Generate detection leads from intelligence and malware analysis, maintaining a structured handoff process. Contribute to intelligence‑led threat hunting by producing targeted threat assessments and hypotheses for the threat hunting team, and maintaining a feedback loop on findings. Partner with external partners, information‑sharing communities, and industry forums to maintain situational awareness and contribute to collective defence.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Core Skills and Experience: Demonstrated experience in Cyber Threat Intelligence analysis with a strong understanding of the intelligence lifecycle, including experience in threat actor tracking, APT research, and C2 infrastructure analysis. Strong understanding of networking protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, DNS) and how adversaries leverage network infrastructure. Familiarity with frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK and structured intelligence formats, including STIX/TAXII. Experience supporting or interfacing with DFIR and SOC teams in an operational capacity. Understanding of offensive security reconnaissance and attacker methodologies.
• Desirable Skills and Experience: Experience performing triage‑level malware analysis, including behavioural analysis, sandbox detonation, and basic static analysis. Exposure to reverse engineering tools is beneficial but not essential. Experience developing YARA rules and other detection signatures based on technical analysis. Familiarity with programming or scripting languages such as Python for developing analysis tools, automation, and data processing. Experience with threat intelligence platforms such as OpenCTI, MISP, or similar. Exposure to geopolitical risk analysis and its impact on the cyber threat landscape. Track record of published research, blog posts, or conference presentations in the threat intelligence domain.

Qualifications (desired but not required): Certifications such as SANS FOR578 (Cyber Threat Intelligence), CREST Threat Intelligence Analyst (CRTIA), GREM, or equivalent.

Ways of working: Focusing on Clients and Customers. Working as One NCC. Always Learning. Being Inclusive and Respectful. Delivering Brilliantly.

Job Benefits:

• Flexible Working: Balance your work and personal life with our flexible working options.
• Generous Holiday Allowance: Enjoy 25 days of holiday, plus bank holidays, with the option to buy up to 5 additional days of annual leave.
• Medicash & Critical Illness Scheme Financial & Investment Benefits: Enjoy peace of mind with our Pension, Life Assurance, and Share Save Scheme.
• Community & Volunteering Programmes: Make a difference in your community with our volunteering opportunities.
• Green Car Scheme: Drive green and save money with our eco‑friendly car scheme.
• Cycle Scheme: Stay fit and healthy with our cycle‑to‑work scheme.
• Special Time Off: Take time off for those big moments in life, like getting married/entering into a civil partnership, becoming a grandparent, and welcoming home a new pet.
• Family Planning: Benefit from our generous maternity and paternity leave, as well as time off and support for those undergoing fertility treatments.