Job Title: Defender Administrator (Contract)
Location: Gloucester or Warrington (Hybrid on-site)
Rate: £370/Day Inside IR35
Clearance: Must hold or be eligible for Security Clearance (minimum 5 years UK residency)
About the Role
We are recruiting an experienced Defender Administrator to support a large-scale migration programme, transitioning Windows and Linux servers from legacy antivirus solutions (Symantec/McAfee) to Microsoft Defender (ATP). You will play a key role in designing and implementing migration approaches within a complex and sensitive environment.
Key Responsibilities
* Migrate Windows and Linux servers to Microsoft Defender (ATP).
* Validate existing antivirus exclusion policies across the estate.
* Implement MDE policies and create AAD device groups.
* Develop migration approaches suitable for complex and sensitive infrastructures.
* Perform network connectivity testing and ensure readiness for deployment.
* Create and distribute Defender installation packages.
* Lead discussions with the image management team regarding MDE images for auto-scaling.
* Remove legacy AV solutions from servers.
* Provide end-to-end support for Microsoft Defender.
Required Skills & Experience
* 4+ years’ experience onboarding Windows and Linux servers to Microsoft Defender.
* Strong experience migrating from Symantec and McAfee.
* Expertise in AV exclusion management.
* Solid knowledge of Microsoft Defender for Server, O365, Identity, and Microsoft 365 Defender.
* Understanding of EDR, TVM, ASR, AIR and threat remediation.
* Proficiency with Windows OS (Client & Server) and Linux (RHEL).
* Experience deploying ATP packages via GPO, SCCM or Intune.
* Strong investigative and analytical problem-solving skills.
* Ability to document policies, deployment approaches and processes.
* Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
Additional Requirements
* Willingness to work shifts, out-of-hours, and participate in an on-call rota when required.
* Strong relationship-building skills with both onsite and offshore teams.
* Ability to learn quickly and adapt to evolving technical environments.
If you have the required technical expertise and enjoy working in secure, complex environments, we’d love to hear from you