Microsoft Security Architect and Engineer

About the role

DEFEND is growing its Microsoft Security practice and is hiring Senior Cybersecurity Architects and Senior Cybersecurity Engineers in Christchurch. The roles sit at the front of customer delivery: improving security posture, getting full value from Microsoft licensing and helping organisations adopt AI and agents securely.

Key responsibilities

• Architects: design security solutions across the full Microsoft stack, set technical direction on customer engagements and guide engineers through implementation.
• Engineers: deploy and configure Microsoft Defender, Entra, Purview and Defender for Cloud for customers of all sizes and complexity.

Required profile

• Hands-on experience implementing some or all of the listed tools.
• It is acceptable not to tick every box; DEFEND will support candidates in completing the core certifications needed for their role.

Required skills

• Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel (SC-200)
• Microsoft Entra identity and access (SC-300)
• Microsoft Purview data security (SC-401)
• Defender for Cloud cloud and AI workload security (SC-500, or a current AZ-500)
• SC-100 is expected for architects and highly valued for engineers
• Nice to have: GH-300 (GitHub Copilot), AI-103 (AI apps and agents on Azure), AB-100 (Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect)

What we offer

• 3.5% Kiwisaver on top of base salary
• Southern Cross health insurance coverage
• Mobile and broadband discounts for yourself and family
• Flexible, hybrid work environment
• Allowance to contribute to your home office setup
• Access to EAP services for wellbeing needs