Head of Cyber Defense & Trust

This is not a traditional security role.

You won't be inheriting a mature, stable program. You'll be architecting one for an AI-native SaaS company operating at scale, where the threat surface evolves daily and identity is the new perimeter. You will own two of the most consequential security domains in the business: Cyber Defense Engineering (CDE), the fusion of Security Engineering and Security Operations, and Identity and Access Management (IAM). These aren't siloed functions here. They are the foundation of customer trust, product integrity, and competitive advantage.

You'll operate at the intersection of builder and strategist: designing systems with your team, making architectural calls, and partnering at the executive level to ensure security is a force multiplier, not a speed bump.

• 12–15+ years of progressive security experience, with meaningful leadership in a high-growth SaaS or cloud-native environment.
• Deep CDE expertise: hands-on background in Security Engineering and/or Security Operations, with experience designing detection pipelines, incident response playbooks, and automation frameworks at scale.
• Enterprise IAM mastery: proven track record designing and executing IAM strategies that span cloud platforms, SaaS applications, and corporate infrastructure, including Zero Trust architecture and passwordless or MFA-first approaches.
• Multi-cloud fluency: practical experience securing workloads across AWS, GCP, and/or Azure, and familiarity with modern CSPM, SIEM/SOAR, and endpoint security tooling (e.g., Wiz, Google SecOps, Sentinel, CrowdStrike).
• Compliance and risk fluency: working knowledge of NIST CSF, NIST 800-53, SOC 2, and related frameworks, and the ability to turn them into security architecture decisions, not just documentation.
• Builder mentality with executive presence: you can write a detection rule and present a board-ready risk summary. You don't choose between technical credibility and strategic communication, you bring both.

PERKS & BENEFITS 

• We offer Gongsters a variety of medical, dental, and vision plans, designed to fit you and your family’s needs.
• Wellbeing Fund - flexible wellness stipend to support a healthy lifestyle.
• Mental Health benefits with covered therapy and coaching.
• 401(k) program to help you invest in your future.
• Education & learning stipend for personal growth and development.
• Flexible vacation time to promote a healthy work-life blend.
• Paid parental leave to support you and your family.
• Company-wide recharge days each quarter.
• Work from home stipend to help you succeed in a remote environment.

Compensation is based on factors unique to each candidate, including, but not limited to, job-related skills, qualification, education, experience, and location. At Gong, we have a location-based compensation structure, which means there may be a different range for candidates in other locations. The total compensation package for this position, in addition to base compensation, may include incentive compensation, bonus, equity, and benefits. Some of our sales compensation programs also offer the potential to achieve above targeted earnings for those who exceed their sales targets. 

We are always looking for outstanding Gongsters! So if this sounds like something that interests you regardless of compensation, please reach out. We may have more roles for you to consider and would love to connect.

Gong is an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that diversity is integral to our success, and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

To review Gong's privacy policy, visit https://www.gong.io/gong-io-job-candidates-privacy-notice/ for more details.

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