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Incident Response Lead Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead Incident Responder

Washington, DC · On-site

$160K - $185K/yr

Lead end-to-end incident response activities, including detection, triage, containment, eradication, and recovery. * Direct investigations of advanced threats, including APTs, ransomware, and insider ...

Lead end-to-end incident response activities, including detection, triage, containment, eradication, and recovery. * Direct investigations of advanced threats, including APTs, ransomware, and insider ...

Lead Incident Responder

Washington, DC · On-site

$160K - $185K/yr

Lead end-to-end incident response activities, including detection, triage, containment, eradication, and recovery. Direct investigations of advanced threats, including APTs, ransomware, and insider ...

Lead end-to-end incident response activities, including detection, triage, containment, eradication, and recovery. * Direct investigations of advanced threats, including APTs, ransomware, and insider ...

Responsible forassistingthe CIRT Team Lead with managing the team of CIRT analysts,Incident Response actions and priorities,technical analysisand root cause analyses, and interfacing with the ...

In this role, you will lead and participate in complex forensic investigations and incident response engagements involving sophisticated cyberattacks, ransomware events, and nation-state activity.

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Incident Response Lead information

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How much do incident response lead jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for incident response lead in the United States is $41.73, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29.33 and $47.60 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the primary challenges an Incident Response Lead faces during a major security incident?

An Incident Response Lead often encounters the challenge of quickly coordinating cross-functional teams under pressure while maintaining clear communication with stakeholders. They must rapidly analyze incomplete or evolving information to make critical decisions, all while ensuring containment and minimizing business impact. Balancing technical remediation with regulatory and reporting requirements can also be demanding. Adaptability and the ability to remain calm and organized are key to effectively managing these high-stress situations.

What does an Incident Response Lead do?

An Incident Response Lead is responsible for managing and coordinating an organization's response to cybersecurity incidents. They lead a team of specialists to detect, analyze, and mitigate threats, ensuring that security breaches are contained and investigated thoroughly. The Incident Response Lead also develops response plans, conducts training, and communicates with stakeholders to minimize the impact of incidents. Their role is critical in protecting sensitive data and maintaining business continuity.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Incident Response Lead?

To thrive as an Incident Response Lead, you need a strong background in cybersecurity, experience in threat analysis, and often a degree in computer science or a related field. Expertise with security information and event management (SIEM) tools, forensic analysis software, and relevant certifications like CISSP, CISM, or GIAC are typically required. Exceptional problem-solving abilities, leadership, and clear communication are vital soft skills for coordinating teams and managing high-pressure situations. These skills ensure rapid, effective responses to security threats, minimizing business impact and maintaining organizational resilience.

What is the difference between Incident Response Lead vs Security Analyst?

AspectIncident Response LeadSecurity Analyst
CertificationsGCIH, CISSP, CISACISSP, Security+
Work EnvironmentLeads incident response teams, manages response strategiesMonitors security systems, analyzes threats
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in cybersecurity teams across various industriesCommon in security operations centers (SOCs)

The Incident Response Lead focuses on managing and leading incident response efforts, coordinating teams during security breaches. In contrast, a Security Analyst primarily monitors systems, detects threats, and analyzes security data. While both roles require cybersecurity certifications and work within similar environments, the Lead has a leadership and strategic focus, whereas the Analyst is more operational and technical.

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What cities are hiring for Incident Response Lead jobs? Cities with the most Incident Response Lead job openings:
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What are popular job titles related to Incident Response Lead jobs? For Incident Response Lead jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Incident Response Lead job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,808 per year, or $41.7 per hour.

Staff Cyber Incident Response Engineer

Adobe

San Jose, CA

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago


Adobe rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 10 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

40th of 242 rated software companies


Job description

The Challenge

Our Adobe Cyber Defense Center isseekinga highly skilled and experienced StaffCyber Incident Responder. Thisseniorrole is pivotal in our incident response efforts, providing skilled forensic analysis and proactively defending our enterprise against evolving cyber threats. You will work with a multinational team, bringing to bear your extensive experience to improve our incident response capabilities and drive continuous improvement. If you excel in a challenging environment and are ready to contribute to our Incident Response program, we want to hear from you!

What You Will Do

  • Incident Response:Lead and conduct comprehensive host forensics, network forensics, log analysis, and malware triage to support incident response investigations.

  • Tool Development:Create and enhance scripts, tools, and methodologies to automate and improve our incident investigation processes.

  • Leadership and Mentorship:Provide leadership and mentorship to the incident response team, acting as a resource and guide for other team members.

  • Partnerand Report:Partner withmultiple internal and external organizations. Draft detailed reports, assign remediation actions, and implement improvements.

  • Training and Presentations:Develop and present comprehensive reports, training sessions, and presentations for both technical and non-technical audiences.

  • Tabletop Exercises:Participatein and help conduct tabletop exercises and incident simulations to ensure readiness.

  • Threat Hunting:Collaborate with theAdobeThreat Hunting Team to conduct proactive and iterative hunts through cloud and enterprise networks, endpoints, and datasets to detect malicious or suspicious activities that have evaded existing detection tools.

What You Need to Succeed

  • Experience:7+ years of proven experience in end-to-end incident response processes, including leading complex, multi-functional incidents.

  • Investigative Skills:Strong investigative background withexpertisein Windows analysis and forensics.

  • Container Environments:Experience working in container environments such as Kubernetes and Docker.

  • EDR Solutions:Hands-on experience with various Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions.

  • System Internals:Deep understanding of the internals and constructs of Linux, MacOS, and Windows operating systems.

  • Cloud Security:Extensive experience in administering, attacking, or defending cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).

  • Log Analysis:Deep understanding of logs from cloud, network, and endpoint devices.

  • SIEM Expertise:Excellent skills in writing complex searches or analytics for popular Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions.

  • Programming Skills:Proficiencyin bash and at least one interpreted programming language (Python, Ruby, etc.).

  • Team Collaboration:Strong ability to promote a collaborative working environment that enhances teamwork, predictability, clarity, and a culture of innovation.

  • Multitasking:Ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment effectively.

  • On-Call Rotation:Willingness toparticipatein an on-call rotation asrequired.

Why Join Us?

  • Innovation:Be part of a team that fosters a culture of experimentation, innovation, and continuous learning.

  • Impact:Play a key role in safeguarding our enterprise from advanced cyber threats and improving our overall security posture.

  • Growth:Opportunities for professional growth and development through challenging projects and ongoing training.

  • Collaboration:Work in a collaborative environment that values relationships and teamwork.

About Adobe

Adobe empowers everyone to create through innovative platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. Adobe's industry-leading offerings including Adobe Acrobat Studio, Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, Creative Cloud, Adobe Experience Platform, Adobe Experience Manager, and GenStudio enable people and businesses to turn ideas into impact, powered by AI and driven by human ingenuity.

Our 30,000+ employees worldwide are creating the future and raising the bar as we drive the next decade of growth. We're on a mission to hire the very best and believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. At Adobe, we believe that great ideas can come from anywhere in the organization. The next big idea could be yours.


Let's Adobe together

At Adobe, we believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. Learn more about Adobe life, including our values and culture, focus on people, purpose and community, Adobe for All, comprehensive benefits programs, the stories we tell, the customers we serve, and how you can help us advance our mission of empowering everyone to create.

Adobe is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Learn more.

Adobe aims to make our Careers website and recruiting process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, email accommodations@adobe.com or call +1 408-536-3015.

AI Use Guidelines for Interviews:
Our interviews are designed to reflect your own skills and thinking. The use of AI or recording tools during live interviews is not permitted unless explicitly invited by the interviewer or approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation. If these tools are used inappropriately or in a way that misrepresents your work, your application may not move forward in the process.

At Adobe, we empower employees to innovate with AI - and we look for candidates eager to do the same. As part of the hiring experience, we provide clear guidance on where AI is encouraged during the process and where it's restricted during live interviews. See how we think about AI in the hiring experience.

Expected Pay Range:

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this positionis $168,200 -- $310,100 annually. Paywithin this range varies by work locationand may also depend on job-related knowledge, skills,and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process. In California, the pay range for this position is $214,100 - $310,100 In Washington, the pay range for this position is $194,000 - $281,000

At Adobe, for sales roles starting salaries are expressed as total target compensation (TTC = base + commission), and short-term incentives are in the form of sales commission plans. Non-sales roles starting salaries are expressed as base salary and short-term incentives are in the form of the Annual Incentive Plan (AIP).

In addition, certain roles may be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of a new hire equity award.

State-Specific Notices:

California:

Fair Chance Ordinances

Adobe will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and "fair chance" ordinances.

Colorado:

Application Window Notice

If this role is open to hiring in Colorado (as listed on the job posting), the application window will remain open until at least the date and time stated above in Pacific Time, in compliance with Colorado pay transparency regulations. If this role does not have Colorado listed as a hiring location, no specific application window applies, and the posting may close at any time based on hiring needs.

Massachusetts:

Massachusetts Legal Notice

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.


What Adobe employees say

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About Adobe

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Adobe for All is our vision to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across our company and in our communities. We’re focused on creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce; unleashing the full potential of every employee; and driving meaningful impact for Adobe, our industry, and society at large. Creativity has the power to unite us and inspire us to change the world. Through a vision we call Creativity for All, we’re empowering millions of people of all ages and backgrounds to express themselves, reach their full potential, and share their diverse perspectives with the world. We’re committed to advancing the responsible use of technology and driving a positive environmental impact through sustainability and climate action. Our innovations are making a significant impact across AI ethics, security, privacy, trust and safety, accessibility, and sustainability.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Jose, CA, US

Year founded

1982