Principal Applied Threat Intelligence Analyst - Microsoft Security Threat Response

Microsoft • Redmond, WA

2d

About The Position

Microsoft Security represents a critical priority for customers facing digital threats, regulatory scrutiny, and complex estates. Microsoft Security aims to create a safer world by reshaping security and empowering users, customers, and developers with a comprehensive security cloud. The Microsoft Security organization supports Microsoft's mission to secure digital technology platforms, devices, and clouds in customer environments, as well as securing Microsoft's own internal systems. Microsoft Security Research is at the forefront of defending Microsoft customers and the ecosystem against sophisticated threat actors. The Applied Threat Production Intelligence team converts Microsoft's vast telemetry into actionable, customer-facing intelligence that aids defenders, influences product development, and shapes the public understanding of the threat landscape. This team collaborates closely with Microsoft Threat Intelligence, product engineering, research, marketing, and communications to deliver intelligence that impacts markets and protects organizations globally.

Requirements

• Doctorate in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Security, or related field AND 3+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat analysis or modeling, cybersecurity, vulnerability research, and/or anomaly detection.
• Master's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Security, or related field AND 4+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat analysis or modeling, cybersecurity, vulnerability research, and/or anomaly detection.
• Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Security, or related field AND 6+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat analysis or modeling, cybersecurity, vulnerability research, and/or anomaly detection.
• Equivalent experience.
• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements.
• Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft background and Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Nice To Haves

• Doctorate in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Security, or related field AND 5+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat analysis or modeling, cybersecurity, vulnerability research, and/or anomaly detection.
• Master's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Security, or related field AND 8+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat analysis or modeling, cybersecurity, vulnerability research, and/or anomaly detection.
• Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Security, or related field AND 12+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, threat analysis or modeling, cybersecurity, vulnerability research, and/or anomaly detection.
• Equivalent experience.
• 10 + years of experience in cyber threat intelligence, threat hunting, incident response, or a closely related security discipline.
• Demonstrated experience producing finished threat intelligence reporting for technical and/or executive audiences.
• Attribution experience creating threat groups, assessing connections between established threat groups, and communicating attribution assessments to internal stakeholders and customers in a timely manner.
• Working experience with Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender XDR (or directly comparable SIEM/XDR platforms).
• Understanding of adversary tradecraft, the cyber kill chain, and frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, the Diamond Model, and structured analytic techniques.
• Written and verbal communication skills, with a portfolio of public or customer-facing intelligence writing.
• Experience with endpoint, cloud, network, and identity-based attacks and datasets.
• Comprehensive OS security/internals knowledge.
• Understanding of network protocols and analytical experience with network infrastructure data & telemetry.
• Reverse-engineering with static and behavioral binary analysis experience.
• Functional understanding of common threat analysis models such as the Diamond Model, Cyber Kill Chain, and MITRE ATT&CK.
• Programming or scripting background (Python, PowerShell, C#, C++, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Author and publish high-impact threat intelligence reports (actor profiles, campaign analyses, trend reports, TTP deep-dives, vulnerability profiles) for both customer-facing and internal audiences.
• Translate complex technical findings into clear, prescriptive guidance for security operations teams, executives, and the broader defender community.
• Partner with product, research, marketing, and communications teams to land intelligence through Microsoft's customer-facing surfaces (Agentic Security, Defender XDR, Sentinel, blogs, briefings).
• Build and refine the pipelines, tooling, and workflows that allow Microsoft to stream insightful cyber threat intelligence to customers machine speed.
• Represent Microsoft Threat Intelligence in customer briefings, industry conferences, and cross-industry working groups.
• Mentor analysts and contribute to tradecraft, analytic standards, and team-wide knowledge sharing.

Benefits

• The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year.
• There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.
• Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.
• Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
• Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances.
• If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree