Defensive Security Resarcher

Key Responsibilities:  

• Hunt through huge number of signals to identify new emerging threats, dissect them and extract meaningful insights and indicators of compromise.

• Demonstrate adversary tactics to recognize and analyze malicious activity (techniques, tools and processes) based on a combination of behavioural activity and signature based analysis.

• Participate in "hunting missions" using threat intelligence, analysis of anomalous log data and results of brainstorming sessions to detect and eradicate threat actors on the Novartis network.

• Leverage threat intelligence and analysis of anomalous log data to detect threat actors.

• Provide expert analytic investigative support of large scale and complex security incidents.

• Perform analysis of security incidents for further enhancement of alert catalog; perform in-depth static and dynamic malware reverse engineering; preform ad hoc memory and disk forensics.

• Analyze network traffic protocols and cryptographic algorithms leveraged by malware

• Produce detailed technical reports in support of malware / other hunting investigations.

• Continuously improve processes for use across multiple detection sets for more efficient IT Security operations.

• Document best practices with the Cyber Security staff using available collaboration tools and workspaces.

• Review alerts generated by detection infrastructure for effectiveness and recommend improvements.

• In collaboration with the Security Operations Center: Develop dashboards and reports to identify potential threats, suspicious/anomalous activity, malware, etc.

• In alignment and collaboration with the Forensics team: Provide forensic analysis of network packet captures, DNS, proxy, Netflow, malware, host-based security and application logs, as well as logs from various types of security sensors.

Essential Requirements:

• BA or BSc in Computer Science or a related field experience

• 5+ years of experience in Incident Response / CERT team or 5+ years of experience with malware investigations.

• Critical understanding of the cyber attacker kills chain elements, with particular emphasis on attack objectives.

• High familiarity with Security, specifically Azure;

• High familiarity and experience with ENDTRA ID / Azure AD security and Conditional Access Policies

• Good familiarity with Red Teaming tools and operations, understanding of Wireshark, Cobalt Strike and more

• Advanced programming skills with scripting languages such as Python/Perl/Ruby.

• Advanced understanding of cyber threat vectors and countermeasures.

• Familiarity with the current nation-state (“APT”) threat landscape and the various actors and groups.

• In depth knowledge with analyzing disassembly of x86 and x64 binaries.

• Expert in dynamic and static analysis and tools such as IDAPro and Ollydbg.

• Skilled in performing kernel-mode debugging on rookit malware.

• Capable of identifying and defeating malware defense mechanism such as anti-reverse, anti-debug, and anti-virtual machine.

• Possess strong understanding of Windows Operating System Internals and Windows APIs.

• Experience with memory forensics to identify and understand memory resident malware.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Linux/UNIX operating systems.

• Familiarity with YARA, OpenIOC, and STIX frameworks.

• Experience with Snort, Bro or other network intrusion detection tools.

• Detailed understanding of the TCP/IP networking stack & network technologies.

• Very strong team and interpersonal skills along with the ability to work independently and achieve individual goals, with effective oral and written communication skills.

• Coordinate with other team members to achieve the specified objectives, have a high level of documentation and organizational skills, produce detailed technical reports in support of malware / other investigations.

Desirable requirements:

• Relevant Technical Security Certifications (GIAC, EC-Council, Offensive Security, etc.)

Why Novartis?
Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Join our Novartis Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to learn more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

Accessibility and accommodation:
Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.