About this role
Microsoft Security Operations Centre (SOC) Analyst – T2 & T3 (Security Clearance Required) Preferred Location - Newcastle
Job Description The SOC Analyst Team operates as a next‑generation, intelligence‑led Security Operations function, designed to deliver high‑quality, scalable 24×7 security monitoring and response. All SOC analysts participate in a 24×7 shift model, ensuring uninterrupted service coverage, while also contributing to detection improvement, automation feedback, and service optimisation when operational demand allows.
Tier 2 – SOC Analyst Technology Primary – Microsoft Sentinel & Service Now. Role Purpose Tier 2 SOC Analysts represent the primary human analysis function, responsible for investigating escalated alerts and incidents that require human judgement, contextual understanding, and analytical depth. Key Responsibilities
• Perform deep investigation of escalated alerts and incidents from automated Tier 1 workflows
• Validate threats, scope impact, and determine severity using contextual analysis
• Investigate across multiple data sources, including:
• SIEM
• EDR / XDR
• Identity and authentication telemetry
• Cloud and SaaS platforms
• Coordinate and execute response actions in line with:
• Defined playbooks
• Client‑specific requirements
• Incident response procedures
• Maintain clear, high‑quality investigation documentation and handover notes
Operational Expectations
• Operate as part of a 24×7 shift rota
• Maintain accountability for investigation accuracy and quality
• Escalate complex or ambiguous cases to Tier 3 appropriately
• Provide structured feedback into:
• Detection tuning
• Alert quality improvements
• Automation optimisation
Continuous Improvement Contributions When operational demand allows, Tier 2 analysts are expected to contribute insight time to platform improvement activities, supporting the Platform Automation Lead through:
• Identification of repeatable investigation patterns
• Feedback on automation opportunities
• Playbook refinement and improvement
• Detection logic tuning recommendations
. Tier 3 – Senior SOC Analyst / Incident Specialist
Role Purpose Tier 3 analysts provide advanced security expertise and escalation handling, focusing on complex, high‑risk, or ambiguous security incidents and ensuring consistent investigation quality across the SOC. Key Responsibilities
• Handle escalations involving:
• High‑impact or business‑critical incidents
• Advanced or evasive attacker techniques
• Ambiguous or novel threat behaviour
• Conduct advanced threat analysis, including:
• Attacker behaviour and intent assessment
• Cross‑incident correlation
• Campaign and intrusion analysis
• Provide oversight and quality assurance of Tier 2 investigations
• Lead complex incident response coordination where required
Leadership & Mentorship
• Participate in 24×7 escalation coverage, via on‑call or senior shift roles
• Act as a technical mentor to Tier 2 analysts
• Support analyst development through coaching and investigative guidance
• Set investigation and response quality standards across the SOC
Platform & Automation Feedback Like Tier 2, Tier 3 analysts are expected to provide structured feedback into platform and automation initiatives, working indirectly with the Platform Automation Lead to:
• Improve detection fidelity
• Reduce repeat incident patterns
• Increase automation coverage over time
• Ensure complex incidents inform long‑term service improvement
.