M365 Security Engineer – Hybrid – £500/day (IR35)

About the role

We are seeking a Microsoft 365 Security Engineer to join a prestigious scientific research organisation. Working on a hybrid basis from Oxford, you will lead the protection of a complex M365 environment that underpins nationally significant research projects.

Key responsibilities

• Design, implement and maintain security controls across Entra ID, Conditional Access, MFA, PIM, Microsoft Defender and Purview.
• Investigate and remediate security incidents, threats and compliance gaps.
• Collaborate with cyber‑security, infrastructure, networking and service delivery teams to ensure secure delivery of new services.
• Document security standards, policies and configuration baselines.
• Provide expert guidance and governance for identity protection and access management.

Required profile

• Extensive hands‑on experience securing Microsoft 365 environments in complex or hybrid settings.
• Proven ability to work autonomously, communicate clearly with technical and non‑technical stakeholders, and produce high‑quality documentation.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a focus on cloud security.

Required skills

• Microsoft 365 security
• Entra ID (Azure AD)
• Conditional Access
• Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
• Microsoft Defender
• Microsoft Purview

What we offer

• £500 per day (inside IR35)
• Hybrid working – 3 days onsite in Oxford
• 6‑month contract with potential extension to 12 months or longer
• Opportunity to contribute to research of national importance