Cyber Defense Operations Lead

About the role

Leads, matures, and transforms the Cyber Defense Operations (CDO) function. Drives CDO strategy execution, security monitoring, incident response coordination, detection engineering, SecOps platform operations, MSSP oversight, operational reporting, leadership development, and the innovation roadmap for security monitoring and incident response.

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military experience to a 3M career. As a Cyber Defense Operations Lead, you will collaborate with innovative 3Mers around the world, tapping into your curiosity and making an impact in a global, creative environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the CDO function and establish clear roles, responsibilities, decision rights, escalation paths, service expectations, and operating rhythms.
• Oversee monitoring, incident response coordination, detection engineering, SecOps platform operations, and MSSP performance.
• Own the CDO transformation roadmap from current-state operations to a data-driven, automation-enabled, agentic-ready capability.
• Represent CDO requirements in SecOps roadmap decisions, including telemetry quality, case management, reporting, cost management, automation, AI enablement, and future agentic workflows.
• Partner with IT, cloud, identity, endpoint, legal, privacy, corporate security, enterprise risk, Attack Surface Management, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Digital Investigations, data, and architecture teams.
• Coach managers and team members while building a calm, professional, accountable, documented, and innovation-ready culture.
• Comply with corporate policies, procedures, and security standards while performing assigned duties.
• Contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or technology field (completed and verified prior to start).
• Fifteen (15) years of experience in cyber security in a private, public, government or military environment.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in Security Operations, Cyber Defense, Detection Engineering, Incident Response, or related cyber operations functions.
• Demonstrated ability to mature and transform an operational cyber defense function.
• Strong understanding of SIEM/SecOps platforms, SOAR, alert management, detection lifecycle management, case management, and incident response workflows.
• Experience with cloud security telemetry across AWS, GCP, and/or Azure.
• Ability to define and improve cyber data quality, ingestion priorities, normalization, routing, retention, and cost management.
• Experience managing MSSPs, security vendors, and cross-functional delivery partners.
• Ability to build roadmaps, execution plans, milestones, metrics, risks, and decision-ready materials.
• Strong written and verbal executive communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams calmly under pressure, delegate effectively, document decisions, and build repeatable operating processes.
• Practical understanding of automation, AI-enabled security operations, and the foundational data and workflow requirements needed to support future agentic SOC capabilities.

Location

Austin, TX

Relocation assistance is available for this position.

Pay

The expected compensation range for this position is $287,281 - $351,122, which includes base pay plus variable incentive pay, if eligible. The specific compensation offered may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and experience.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• Health Savings Accounts
• Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Disability Benefits
• Life Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits
• Paid Absences
• Retirement Benefits

Additional information is available at 3M Benefits Overview.