Information Security Engineer

Job Title: Senior Information Security Engineer Location: Hybrid – Andover, MA | Full-Time Pay: $150,000 - $180,000 About ALKU ALKU is a specialized staffing firm headquartered in Andover, MA. As we scale, we’re seeking a Senior Information Security Engineer to lead our cybersecurity function, a hands-on, strategic role that sits at the intersection of technical depth and business alignment. This is a high impact role for someone who can both set direction and execute. Position Details Experience Level: 10+ years of progressive information security experience, with 2–3+ years in a senior or lead role Location: Hybrid – Andover, MA Role Summary You will own ALKU’s day-to-day cybersecurity operations and long-term security strategy, serving as the primary internal liaison to our Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) and our Managed Service Provider (MSP). You bring deep security engineering experience, a strong networking foundation, recent hands-on experience driving cybersecurity strategy and operations within a Microsoft-centric environment (Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Defender), and the ability to communicate risk clearly to leadership. Key Responsibilities • Security Strategy & Governance • Drive and maintain ALKU’s cybersecurity roadmap and controls, aligning initiatives with business risk and priorities • Establish and communicate security policies, standards, and procedures across the organization • Report on security posture and program maturity to senior leadership • Help drive risk assessments, remediation planning, and evaluate security investments and vendors • Serve as ALKU’s primary point of contact with MSSP and MSP managing alert tuning, detection coverage, response playbooks, and regular business reviews • Ensure SLAs and security commitments from both partners are met AWS & Cloud Infrastructure Security • Partner with the Engineering team on the security of ALKU's AWS environment, providing hands-on security expertise and guidance • Build and maintain a security roadmap for ALKU's custom-built applications, in partnership with Engineering leadership • Implement and maintain AWS security best practices across the environment • Assess and advise on cloud security posture across AWS, Azure, SaaS platforms, and custom applications at ALKU • Track and prioritize remediation of application-layer findings alongside infrastructure risk Incident Monitoring, Triage & Response • Oversee detection, triage, escalation, and response to security incidents • Partner with MSP to maintain ALKU’s incident response plan, tabletop exercise program, and post- incident review process • Provide on-call escalation support during high-severity incidents; occasional after-hours availability required • Analyze security data, alerts, and logs to identify risks and trends; maintain up-to-date awareness of the evolving threat landscape • Work with MSP and MSSP to tune Automatic Response Plays, SIEM and EDR tooling to reduce noise and improve detection Network, Endpoint & Infrastructure Security • General understanding of networking expertise to assess and improve ALKU’s security architecture (firewalls, VPN, network segmentation, DNS security, and Zero Trust initiatives) • Review and advise on network changes, cloud connectivity, remote access design, and firewall rule sets in partnership with the MSP • Work with MSP to oversee Microsoft 365 and Entra ID (Azure AD) security configuration, Conditional Access, and MFA enforcement • Assess and advise on cloud security posture across Azure, SaaS platforms, and custom applications at ALKU Compliance, Awareness & Reporting • Lead the security awareness training program including phishing simulations and role-based education • Maintain accurate security incident records, documentation, and audit-ready evidence libraries • Prepare regular security reports for internal stakeholders Skills & Qualifications Required • 10+ years of progressive information security experience, with 2–3+ years in a senior or lead role • Hands-on AWS security experience: encryption and secure environment oversight • Networking knowledge: IP, routing/switching, firewall architecture, VPN, VLANs, DNS, IDS/IPS - a background in network engineering or network security is a strong differentiator • Hands-on experience with SIEM platforms, EDR tools, and threat detection/response workflows; familiarity with MDR/MSSP platforms preferred • Experience managing or overseeing MSSPs and/or MSPs in an enterprise or mid-market environment • Recent (within the last 2–3 years), hands-on experience driving cybersecurity strategy and operations within a Microsoft-centric environment, including strong command of the Microsoft 365 security stack (Defender suite, Entra ID, Conditional Access) • Ability to develop security strategy and communicate risk clearly to non-technical leadership Preferred • CISSP, CISM, CCNP Security, CompTIA CASP+, or equivalent certification • Experience with SASE, SD-WAN, or Zero Trust network architecture • Familiarity with Microsoft Sentinel, Defender compliance tooling • Cloud security experience (Azure, AWS) • Familiarity with CMMC 2.0, CMMC 1.0, and/or NIST Controls • Experience managing security for AI environments and tools (e.g., AI/LLM platform governance, model access controls, AI usage policy enforcement) • Nice-to-have: experience with, or research on, Anthropic's Claude Mythos models (or similar) as it relates to AI security • Experience working in an enterprise-size organization (1,000+ employees, multiple business units/locations) Education • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Information Technology, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered Work Environment Hybrid role based in Andover, MA with flexibility for remote work. Fast-paced, collaborative culture with opportunity for professional growth. Occasional after-hours availability required for critical incidents or on-call coverage Equal Opportunity Employer ALKU is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and provided equal employment opportunities. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job-related qualifications, merit, and performance, without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. ALKU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and applicants throughout the hiring process, consistent with applicable law. **Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.**