At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and optimise security platforms to enhance threat detection and reduce false positives.
- Company: Join EMIS / Optum UK, a leader in healthcare technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Collaborative environment focused on improving patient care through technology.
- Why this job: Protect critical healthcare systems while driving innovation in security operations.
- Qualifications: Hands-on experience with security platforms like Darktrace and CrowdStrike is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced security professional with deep, hands-on expertise across security platforms and detection engineering? Do you want to take ownership of how security tooling performs at scale — improving detection quality, reducing noise, and ensuring threats are effectively identified across complex environments?
About the Team / Business Area
The Security Operations team sits at the core of our organisation, protecting nationally critical healthcare systems that support frontline patient care across the UK. Operating within a highly regulated environment, the team is responsible for SOC oversight, vulnerability management, attack surface monitoring, and real-time threat detection across enterprise, cloud, and network platforms. This function plays a critical role in ensuring system resilience, maintaining regulatory compliance, and enabling the secure delivery of healthcare services at scale.
About the Role
As the Security Detection & Tooling Lead, you will take ownership of the performance, optimisation, and governance of key security platforms and detection capabilities. This is a senior, hands-on engineering role focused on improving how threats are detected across the organisation. You will drive improvements in detection quality, reduce false positives, and ensure security tooling is used effectively and efficiently across all environments. This role requires proven, hands-on, administrator-level experience across core security platforms (including Darktrace, CrowdStrike, and Google SecOps). Candidates without this level of direct platform ownership and administration experience will not be suitable.
Working closely with SOC, Security Engineering, and wider technology teams, you will define detection standards, influence tooling strategy, and ensure security controls remain aligned to risk.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own and optimise core security platforms (SIEM, EDR, NDR, SASE), ensuring performance, utilisation, and governance
- Design, build, and tune detection logic to improve alert fidelity and reduce noise
- Drive improvements in detection coverage using frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK
- Partner with SOC teams to enhance incident detection, triage, and response outcomes
- Identify opportunities to rationalise tooling, improve efficiency, and reduce operational overhead
- Develop and implement automation to improve workflows and reduce manual effort
- Produce reporting on detection performance, coverage gaps, and platform effectiveness
- Define and maintain detection and tooling standards across Security Operations
What You'll Bring:
You are a hands-on, technically strong security professional with experience operating and optimising security tooling at scale. You take ownership of platforms and outcomes, focusing on delivering measurable improvements in detection capability and operational efficiency. You are comfortable working across teams, influencing change, and applying a structured, analytical approach to improving security operations.
Key Skills, Experience & Qualifications
Essential
- Strong experience in Security Operations, Detection Engineering, or Security Tooling roles
- Hands-on administration and engineering experience across security platforms (SIEM, EDR, NDR or equivalent)
- Hands-on, administrator-level experience with Darktrace, CrowdStrike, and Google SecOps (minimum, non-negotiable requirement)
- Proven experience designing, building, and tuning detections to improve alert quality and reduce false positives
- Experience working closely with SOC teams to improve detection and response outcomes
- Solid understanding of detection frameworks and methodologies (e.g. MITRE ATT&CK)
Ready to Join Us? At EMIS / Optum UK, we are a leader in healthcare technology, supporting professionals across primary care, community services, pharmacy, and beyond. This is an opportunity to take ownership of detection and tooling capability within a complex, high-impact environment — directly contributing to the protection of systems that underpin patient care across the UK. If you are looking for a role where you can lead, optimise, and make a measurable impact, we would welcome your application.
Lead Security Engineer in Birmingham employer: OptumUK
At EMIS / Optum UK, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation within our Security Operations team. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous training opportunities and the chance to lead critical security initiatives that protect healthcare systems across the UK. Join us to make a meaningful impact in a supportive environment where your expertise will be valued and your contributions will directly enhance patient care.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Security Engineer in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects and achievements in security tooling. This gives potential employers a tangible look at what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on common security scenarios and challenges. Be ready to discuss how you've optimised security platforms in the past and how you would tackle detection issues in this role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Security Engineer in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your hands-on experience with security platforms like Darktrace and CrowdStrike. We want to see how you've taken ownership of these tools and improved detection capabilities in your previous roles.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. We love seeing candidates who take the time to align their background with what we’re looking for.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role. Make it easy for us to see why you’re a great fit!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at OptumUK
✨Know Your Tools Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the security platforms mentioned in the job description, like Darktrace, CrowdStrike, and Google SecOps. Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience with these tools, including specific examples of how you've optimised their performance or improved detection capabilities.
✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Skills
Since the role requires a structured, analytical approach, come ready to showcase your problem-solving skills. Think of scenarios where you've identified gaps in detection coverage or reduced false positives, and be ready to explain your thought process and the outcomes.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Detection Frameworks
Brush up on detection frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK. Be prepared to discuss how you've applied these methodologies in your previous roles to enhance incident detection and response. This will show that you not only understand the theory but can also implement it effectively.
✨Collaborative Mindset is Key
This role involves working closely with SOC teams and other technology groups. Prepare to talk about your experience collaborating across teams, influencing change, and how you’ve contributed to improving security operations in a team setting. Highlight any successful projects where teamwork was essential.
