Forward Deployed Security Architect

Department: FDE

Location: Kansas City, MO SOC, Sarasota, FL HQ, Scottsdale, AZ

Employment Type: FullTime

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—explore our culture deck at culture.tenex.ai to witness how we embody it, prioritizing the irreplaceable collaboration and community of in-person work.

This role is perfect for those already in the Phoenix AZ, Sarasota, FL or Kansas City, MO metro area, or eager to join us. Immerse yourself in a high-performance environment built on integrity, innovation, and a relentless drive to protect our customers.

About the Role

As a FDE Security Solution Architect at TENEX, you design security architectures, lead high-stakes advisory engagements, and serve as the senior technical escalation point for the SE&A team across one or more assigned security domains. You are a force multiplier — elevating the team's technical quality while maintaining deep hands-on expertise.

Job Responsibilities

• All responsibilities of a Security Solution Engineer — Cloud, AI, Network, Endpoint & Identity, with ownership of more complex customer environments and higher-stakes advisory engagements

• Design and validate security architectures across one or more assigned domains — making tool selection, integration, and configuration recommendations across Cloud (Wiz, SCCE, Defender for Cloud), AI Security (WitnessAI, ModelArmor, Purview), Network (ExtraHop, CEP), Endpoint (ENT.AI, Defender for Endpoint, Thinkst Canary), and Identity (Defender for Identity)

• Lead higher-stakes advisory engagements — board briefings, security roadmap presentations, BC/DR reviews, and vendor risk assessments

• Serve as the senior technical escalation point for engineering and advisory challenges within the team

• Partner with Field CISOs on executive-level customer relationships and strategic security planning

• Identify reusable patterns from customer engagements and contribute to team-wide methodology and playbooks

• Support pre-sales technical conversations and solution scoping when needed

• Mentor Security Solution Engineers and contribute to the technical growth of the SE&A team

Required Skills & Qualifications

Technical & Industry Expertise

• 5+ years in information security with significant advisory or architecture experience

• Demonstrated expertise designing security architectures across one or more domains (cloud, AI, network, endpoint, identity)

• Experience leading executive-level advisory engagements including board briefings and security roadmap development

• Strong familiarity with compliance frameworks (SOC 2, NIST, ISO 27001, CMMC)

• Track record of partnering with sales teams on solution design and pre-sales technical conversations

• Proven mentorship and team leadership experience

Soft Skills

• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills with a bias toward action

• Excellent customer-facing communication and collaboration abilities

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance startup environment

• Passion for cybersecurity, automation, and continuous improvement

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor'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 plus

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI-driven cybersecurity technologies and next-generation security platforms

• 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 expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and engineering

• Be part of building something new — TENEX's Forward Deployed Engineering organization is a greenfield opportunity to define how enterprise security is delivered at scale