Director of Information and Data Security (Santa Clara)

Role Purpose The Director of Information and Data Security will establish and lead Eltropys IT and cybersecurity function, responsible for developing foundational systems, processes, and governance across infrastructure, data protection, and compliance. This leader will drive security maturity across the organization by balancing hands-on execution with long-term strategic planning, and by partnering with external GRC consultants to build a scalable security and compliance framework aligned with industry standards such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001.

Location : Santa Clara, CA (Hybrid) Department : IT, Cyber Security and Ops Employment Type : Full-Time Minimum Experience : Senior Manager/Supervisor Compensation : $200,000-$240,000 (Base + Bonus)

Strong cybersecurity background, with experience leading threat detection, incident response, and proactive security risk management across cloud and enterprise environments.

Key Responsibilities IT and Infrastructure Security Oversee endpoint management, asset inventory, and identity and access management (IAM). Establish standards for device hardening, patch management, and secure configuration. Define and manage the budget for all security and IT tools, services, and human capital, ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with the overall security roadmap. Implement centralized visibility and control across systems and SaaS applications. Cybersecurity and Data Protection Lead threat detection, vulnerability management, and incident response operations. Implement and maintain a Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) solution to monitor cloud infrastructure (AWS/Azure) for misconfigurations and compliance issues. Deploy and tune SIEM/XDR solutions to enhance visibility and threat detection across environments. Conduct regular penetration testing, track remediation, and drive security awareness programs. Define and enforce data protection policies covering classification, encryption, and retention. Governance, Risk, and Compliance (in partnership with GRC Consultant) Partner with external GRC consultants to design and operationalize Eltropys information security and compliance framework. Translate consultant-driven recommendations into actionable internal controls, policies, and monitoring mechanisms. Manage the Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) program, including vendor due diligence, security questionnaires, and ongoing risk monitoring. Maintain a centralized risk register and oversee remediation tracking. Own operational compliance for frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR. Security Architecture and Product Collaboration Work closely with Engineering and Product teams to embed security-by-design principles in SaaS architecture and cloud deployments. Implement automated security testing (SAST/DAST) within the CI/CD pipeline to shift security left and reduce vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle. Review architecture and third-party integrations to ensure alignment with data security and privacy standards. Incident Management and Business Continuity Establish and operationalize the companys Incident Response Plan (IRP) and Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery (BCP/DR) framework. Conduct tabletop exercises and post-incident reviews to enhance preparedness and learning. Security Awareness and Culture Develop and implement a company-wide security awareness program. Partner with HR and Operations to ensure onboarding/offboarding includes security compliance and periodic training. Foster a security-first culture emphasizing accountability and vigilance across teams. Leadership and Department Setup Build and lead a high-performing IT and Security team, including IT administrators and cybersecurity engineers. Define structure, roles, and hiring priorities aligned with the companys growth stage. Create a phased roadmap for security maturity, including technology adoption and process optimization.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Security Tool Coverage: Achieve at least X% deployment and agent coverage across all corporate and cloud assets within the first 6 months. Vulnerability Remediation: Maintain average time-to-remediate critical and high vulnerabilities below X days. Compliance Milestones: Achieve SOC 2 / ISO 27001 readiness within agreed timelines. Asset Visibility: 100% endpoint and asset inventory completeness. Incident Management: Reduction in mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR) for incidents. Team Ramp; Process Setup: Completion of key hires and operational processes within the first year.

Requirements Independent, self-starter with strong ownership and execution bias. Ability to prioritize and execute in a resource-constrained, fast-paced SaaS environment. Strategic thinker with operational depth; able to balance long-term maturity goals with immediate risk mitigation. Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence and align cross-functional stakeholders. Proven experience setting up IT or cybersecurity programs in a SaaS or technology environment. Strong understanding of endpoint protection, cloud infrastructure security (AWS/Azure), IAM, and network security. Experience with SIEM and/or XDR deployment and tuning for threat detection and monitoring. Familiarity with CSPM, SAST/DAST, and vulnerability management tools. Knowledge of GRC frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001) and translating them into practical, auditable controls.

Reporting to : VP of Operations

Level : Senior Leadership

Direct Reports : IT Team Cybersecurity Engineer(s)