Threat Detection - COOP

As a Threat Detection COOP at COGNNA, you ll design high-impact detection strategies, build powerful automation, and elevate SOC operations to a world-class standard. You ll also mentor rising cyber talent and collaborate with teams across threat intel, incident response, and platform engineering. Advanced Threat Detection Engineering Build high-fidelity correlation rules and behavioral detections within the COGNNA security platforms. Translate adversary TTPs (MITRE ATT&CK), threat intel, and vulnerability data into actionable logic. Identify detection gaps and introduce new data sources to cover evolving threat landscapes. Automate detection testing and maintain detection quality over time. Platform Engineering & Optimization Lead architecture and optimization of XDR, SIEM, and SOC tech stacks for scale and resilience. Streamline log ingestion pipelines from parsing to normalization and enrichment. Build scripts and automations (Python, PowerShell) to enhance SOC efficiency. Integrate tools across the SOC stack to enable seamless workflows and response. Threat Hunting & Incident Response Collaborate with intel and IR teams to enrich detection use cases and support threat hunts. Provide Tier-3+ support for incident investigations and post-mortem analysis. Mentorship & SOC Maturity Improve SOC playbooks, SOPs, and detection engineering workflows. Stay updated on global and regional threats and evolve detection accordingly. Ensure compliance alignment (e.g., NCA ECC, SAMA CSF).

• Currently enrolled in their final year of a Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or a closely related field, with graduation planned within or immediately following the 6-month co-op.
• Basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including common attack vectors, the Windows/Linux operating system internals, and network protocols.
• Familiarity with writing simple scripts in Python or PowerShell to automate repetitive tasks or parse data.
• Basic understanding of what logs are (e.g., Windows Event Logs, Syslog) and an interest in how they are collected and analyzed.
• Availability to commit to a full-time (or near full-time, depending on university rules) 6-month continuous Co-op assignment.
• Conceptual knowledge of the MITRE ATT&CK framework and how it maps to adversary behaviors.
• Previous experience using SIEM/XDR platforms, or building a home lab (e.g., Splunk, Elastic, Wireshark).
• A general awareness of cybersecurity frameworks or local compliance standards (like NCA ECC or SAMA CSF).
• Strong analytical mindset, a high level of curiosity to dig into threat trends, and excellent written documentation skills.