Company OverviewTENEX is an AI-native, automation-first, built-for-scale Managed Detectionand Response (MDR) provider. We are a force multiplier for defenders,helping organizations enhance their cybersecurity posture through advancedthreat detection, rapid response, and continuous protection. Our team iscomposed of industry experts with deep experience in cybersecurity,automation and AI-driven solutions. Backed by leading investors, we arerapidly growing and seeking top talent to join our mission of revolutionizingthe AI-Native MDR landscape.We’re a fast growing startup backed by industry experts and top tierinvestors led by Crosspoint Capital Partners and also backed by ShieldCapital, DTCP (formerly Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners), Deepwork Capital,and the Florida Opportunity Fund. Seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz(a16z). As an early employee, you’ll play a meaningful role in defining andbuilding our culture. Get in on the ground floor. We’re a small butwell-funded team that just raised a substantial round – joining now comeswith limited risk and unlimited upside.Culture is one of the most important things at TENEX.AI—explore our culturedeck at culture.tenex.ai to witness how we embody it, prioritizing theirreplaceable collaboration and community of in-person work.About the RoleAs Director of Security Engineering & Advisory, you will lead TENEX's dual-function security team — engineers who deploy and manage specialized security tooling AND deliver advisory services. You will build the advisory practice, develop the team, and serve as an executive-level presence with customers navigating complex security challenges.Job ResponsibilitiesLead and scale the SE&A team across Cloud, Endpoint, Network, Identity, and AI Security domainsOwn the dual-function mandate: every SE&A engineer deploys and manages specialized security tooling AND delivers advisory servicesBuild and mature the advisory practice — tabletops, maturity assessments, compliance readiness, board briefings, and security roadmapsPartner with Sales on customer expansion opportunities driven by advisory engagementsServe as an executive-level escalation point for customer security concerns and advisory deliverablesDefine standards, methodologies, and quality frameworks for both the engineering and advisory functionsContinuously evaluate emerging security technology domains and advise on where TENEX should build or expand SE&A capability — informing decisions on whether to enter areas such as Endpoint, Identity, OT/ICS, or othersHire, develop, and retain engineers across all security domainsReport to VP of Forward Deployed Engineering on team health, coverage, and customer outcomesRequired Skills & QualificationsTechnical & Industry Expertise8+ years in cybersecurity with 4+ years in a leadership roleBroad knowledge across cloud, endpoint, network, identity, and AI security domainsExperience building dual-function teams that deliver both technical engineering and advisory servicesProven ability to develop and scale a security advisory practiceStrong executive-level communication and business development skillsExperience evaluating security technologies and informing market expansion decisionsFamiliarity with compliance frameworks including SOC 2, NIST, ISO 27001, and CMMCSoft SkillsStrong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills with a bias toward actionExcellent customer-facing communication and collaboration abilitiesAbility to thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance startup environmentPassion for cybersecurity, automation, and continuous improvementEducation & CertificationsBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, GIAC certifications, Google Cloud Professional, Microsoft SC-200/AZ-500, or AWS Certified Solutions Architect are a plusWhy Join Us?Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI-driven cybersecurity technologies and next-generation security platformsCollaborate with a talented and innovative team focused on continuously improving security operationsCompetitive salary and benefits packageA culture of growth and development, with opportunities to expand your expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and engineeringBe part of building something new — TENEX's Forward Deployed Engineering organization is a greenfield opportunity to define how enterprise security is delivered at scale