Director, IT

The posting, as TENEX.AI wrote it

COMPANY OVERVIEW

TENEX is an AI-native, automation-first, built-for-scale Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider. We are a force multiplier for defenders, helping organizations enhance their cybersecurity posture through advanced threat detection, rapid response, and continuous protection. Our team is composed of industry experts with deep experience in cybersecurity, automation and AI-driven solutions. Backed by leading investors, we are rapidly growing and seeking top talent to join our mission of revolutionizing the AI-Native MDR landscape.

We’re a fast growing startup backed by industry experts and top tier investors led by Crosspoint Capital Partners and also backed by Shield Capital, 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 and building our culture. Get in on the ground floor. We’re a small but well-funded team that just raised a substantial round – joining now comes with limited risk and unlimited upside.

Culture is one of the most important things at TENEX.AI http://TENEX.AI—explore our culture deck at culture.tenex.ai http://culture.tenex.ai to witness how we embody it, prioritizing the irreplaceable collaboration and community of in-person work.

Position Summary

The Director of IT will own TENEX.ai http://TENEX.ai's internal Information Technology function end to end: strategy, operations, tooling, vendors, budget, and team. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can set a clear IT vision for a fast-growing, remote-friendly, security-conscious company, and then build and run the operating model that delivers it. The Director of IT will lead the IT administrators, ensure employees have secure, reliable, and well-supported technology from their first day, and scale IT operations as the company adds people, offices, and systems.

The role also supports TENEX's certification and compliance commitments, including FedRAMP, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, and SOC 2 Type II, by owning the IT systems, controls, and evidence those programs depend on.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

IT Strategy & Leadership

Develop and maintain the IT roadmap, aligning technology investments to company growth and the needs of the business. Own the IT budget, forecasting, and vendor spend. Establish IT policies, standards, and operating procedures, and report on IT status, risks, and progress to the CISO and executive leadership. Build the case for, and execute, IT staffing plans as headcount and office footprint grow.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

Directly manage the IT administrators, providing coaching, prioritization, performance management, and career development. Define roles, on-call and support coverage, and service-level expectations. Hire, onboard, and develop IT team members as the function scales.

END-USER COMPUTING & ENDPOINT MANAGEMENT

Own the lifecycle of company-iss
[…]
lders and external auditors.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in a security-focused company, such as an MDR/MSSP, or other technology-driven, high-growth environment.
• Experience supporting a FedRAMP authorization or other U.S. federal compliance program, or ISO 42001 or other AI management system certification.
• Experience building IT for a distributed workforce and standing up new physical offices.
• Familiarity with ITIL or similar service management practices.
• Experience integrating AI-enabled tools into IT operations and employee workflows.
• Relevant certifications such as ITIL, CompTIA, or vendor-specific credentials.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Within the first 90 days, the Director of IT will have assessed the current IT environment, met with every function to understand its needs, and built a prioritized IT roadmap with quick wins identified. Within 6 months, the IT team will operate with clear roles, documented processes, and measurable service levels, with consistent and secure employee onboarding and offboarding, and IT controls and evidence mapped to the requirements of each active certification. Within 12 months, TENEX will have a scalable IT operating model that supports company growth, additional offices, an excellent employee technology experience, and audit cycles that pass without IT findings.

WHY JOIN US?

• Opportunity to set the threat-research direction at an MDR company changing the space, with the influence and growth of a founding technical voice.
• Collaborate with a talented and innovative team focused on continuously improving security operations.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• A culture of growth and development, with opportunities to expand your knowledge in AI, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.

If you're passionate about combining cybersecurity expertise with artificial intelligence and have experience with MS Sentinel, Google SecOps and Chronicle, we encourage you to apply!