Your new company
We are working with a large federal government department at the forefront of Australia’s cyber defence efforts, with a global footprint and a mission-critical network. Based in Canberra, the team is seeking a skilled Principal Cyber Threat Hunter to join their Cyber Operations division on a long-term contract. The initial engagement is for up to 12 months, with up to two 12-month extension options available. The department offers a hybrid working arrangement, and an active NV1 clearance is mandatory, with NV2 clearance highly desirable due to the sensitivity of the environment.
Your new role
You’ll be part of a proactive cyber defence team tasked with identifying and mitigating threats across a complex, globally distributed network. This role blends threat intelligence, detection engineering, and incident response, and is aligned to SFIA Level 5+ in Security Operations (SCAD).
Key responsibilities include:- Conducting proactive threat hunts using structured and hypothesis-driven approaches.
- Leveraging threat intelligence to inform detection strategies and investigations.
- Designing, implementing, and testing custom use cases and detection rules.
- Analysing logs and events using SIEM platforms such as Splunk or Microsoft Sentinel.
- Applying frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK to map adversary behaviours and improve detection coverage.
- Maintaining dashboards and threat detection tools.
- Collaborating with internal teams to share knowledge and improve incident response readiness.
- Documenting findings, methodologies, and recommendations in a clear and structured manner.
What you'll need to succeed
To be successful, you’ll bring:
- At least 3 years of experience in Cyber Threat Hunting or Incident Response.
- Strong proficiency in log analysis and threat detection using SIEM platforms.
- Experience designing and testing detection use cases and rules.
- Familiarity with threat frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK.
- Excellent written communication skills and experience maintaining technical documentation.
- A collaborative mindset and willingness to share knowledge within a team.
- An active NV1 clearance is mandatory; NV2 clearance is strongly preferred.
- Desirable: Tertiary qualifications in cybersecurity or IT, and certifications such as CISSP, GCIH, GCIA, Microsoft, or Splunk.
What you'll get in return
- A long-term federal contract with potential for up to 3 years.
- Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
- The opportunity to work on high-impact national cyber defence initiatives.
- A collaborative and mission-driven team environment.
- Competitive daily rate and exposure to cutting-edge threat hunting practices.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or reach out via email to Alana.DeLisle@hays.com.au. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.
LHS 297508