Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Ascend Learning is a leading healthcare and learning technology company, and they are seeking a Senior Security Engineer. This role involves providing technical security leadership and ensuring IT security best practices and compliance requirements are met across various programs.
Responsibilities
- Collaborates with the Information Security Manager, Technology Engineers, IT Compliance, and cross-functional stakeholders to align security operations and controls with business objectives
- Functions as the Ascend Learning Internal SOC Lead and liaison between the organization and one or more managed security service providers (MSSPs)
- Oversee daily SOC operations, ensuring alerts, detections, and incident tickets are triaged and resolved within defined SLAs and in accordance with approved processes and procedures
- Act as a senior incident responder, participating in the Information Security on‑call rotation and responding to after‑hours security incidents and threat alerts
- Lead and coordinate security incident response efforts, facilitating incident calls and driving effective collaboration across technology, infrastructure, and third‑party teams
- Provides technology security expertise and recommendations on strategies and tools for key programs and issues
- Works directly with internal technology teams and external partners to communicate, prioritize, and execute security initiatives
- Continuously improve SOC effectiveness by refining processes, enhancing detections, automating manual tasks, and identifying operational efficiencies
- Assists with the implementation, configuration and operations of various security tools as required
Skills
- High school diploma or GED required
- 6+ years of professional experience in cybersecurity, network security, and/or infrastructure engineering
- Incident Handler–focused certification (e.g., GCIH or equivalent) required
- 5+ years of experience providing security incident support, managing or supporting SOC operations or managed SOC relationships, and improving detection and response capabilities
- 3+ years of hands‑on experience working with threat intelligence, including analysis and operational integration
- 3+ years of operational experience in network security
- 3+ years of experience administering SIEM, EDR/XDR, or SOAR (Splunk, Google SecOps, Cortex XSOAR, TORQ, CrowdStrike Falcon, SentinelOne, etc.)
- Demonstrated success developing, operating, leading and implementing security solutions and functions
- Experience leading one or more security operations domains (e.g., incident response, detection engineering, threat intelligence, network security)
- Experience streamlining processes, automating manual tasks and using technical and non-technical solutions to solve complex problems
- Self‑motivated, adaptable, and capable of operating effectively in a fast‑paced, evolving security environment
- Demonstrated ability to remain calm under pressure while managing time‑sensitive incidents and competing priorities
- Strong leadership presence with excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable leading incident response efforts and cross‑team coordination
- Proactive mindset with the ability to anticipate risks, identify gaps, and implement practical solutions
- Willingness and ability to flex between strategic leadership and hands‑on technical execution as needed
- Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field or equivalent professional experience
Benefits
- Flexible and generous paid time off
- Competitive medical, dental, vision and life insurance
- 401(k) employer matching program
- Parental leave
- Wellness resources
- Charitable matching program
- On-site workout facilities (Leawood, Gilbert, Burlington)
- Community outreach groups
- Tuition reimbursement
Company Overview