Director of Cybersecurity

Apex Technology, Inc.•Los Angeles, CA

4d•$195,000 - $270,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Cybersecurity is a senior leadership role responsible for Apex’s enterprise security strategy, operations, and compliance. Based on-site at the Playa Vista office and reporting to the VP of IT & Security, the role leads the Cybersecurity (SOC) Lead and security team to protect the organization’s information assets from evolving threats. It owns security strategy, the Security Operations Center, threat and vulnerability management, incident response, and governance, risk, and compliance in a fast-growing space and satellite manufacturing company operating in regulated and often controlled environments. The position combines technical expertise, strategic oversight, and team leadership, and partners with IT, compliance, engineering, and executive leadership. Apex manufactures satellite buses using software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing. Its spacecraft support applications including Earth observation and communications. The company is focused on providing humankind access to space.

Requirements

At least 8 years of experience in cybersecurity operations, including at least 4 years in SOC leadership or security management.
Proficiency with security tooling including SIEM, EDR/XDR, IDS/IPS, CASB/SASE, Nessus, Burp Suite, and firewalls.
Scripting skills such as Python or PowerShell.
Strong understanding of networking protocols and Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
Experience leading CMMC, ISO 27001, and/or NIST 800-53 or 800-171 programs, including audits and continuous monitoring.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with a proven ability to lead teams in high-pressure environments.
Must meet the stated eligibility requirements for the role: be a U.S. person or be able to obtain required U.S. government export authorizations. The qualifications section specifically describes a U.S. person as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or a related field; a master’s degree is preferred.
One or more of CISSP, CISM, GIAC GCIH, or CompTIA Security+ certifications.
Experience in aerospace, defense, satellite, or advanced manufacturing environments.
Experience operating in classified or controlled environments; an active or prior U.S. security clearance, such as Secret or TS/SCI, is a strong plus.
Familiarity with AWS GovCloud and FedRAMP-aligned cloud operations.
Hands-on experience with Elastic SIEM and building SOC automation and playbooks.

Responsibilities

Define and execute a multi-year cybersecurity strategy that aligns security investments and controls with business and mission objectives and emerging threats.
Establish and maintain security policies, standards, reference architectures, and playbooks across infrastructure, cloud, endpoints, and applications.
Own the security budget, technology evaluations, and resource allocation, optimizing spend while strengthening defensive posture.
Direct the Cybersecurity (SOC) Lead and team in 24/7 monitoring, detection, triage, and response, ensuring appropriate staffing, coverage, and surge support.
Serve as the senior escalation point for complex incidents; own incident response readiness, containment and eradication, and post-incident analysis and remediation.
Oversee proactive threat hunting, malware analysis, and threat intelligence integration.
Select, tune, and optimize SIEM, EDR/XDR, IDS/IPS, CASB/SASE, SOAR, and vulnerability management systems to maximize detection and reduce false positives.
Drive security automation, develop and track KPIs and dashboards, and provide executive reporting on threats, incidents, and defensive posture.
Lead efforts to achieve and maintain CMMC, ISO 27001, NIST 800-171, and other accreditations required for government and commercial programs.
Own risk assessments, audits, tabletop exercises, data protection, and continuous monitoring, and ensure timely remediation of findings.
Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing security team; set goals, manage performance, and lead hiring, training, and professional development.
Partner with IT to embed security into infrastructure, projects, and daily operations, and support IT tickets and projects when needed.
Report security posture, incidents, KPIs, and risk to the VP of IT & Security and executive leadership, translating technical risk into business terms.

Benefits

Equity in Apex.
Company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
$100,000 life insurance at no cost.
Paid vacation starting at 15 days and growing to 20 or more days annually.
10 paid holidays.
401(k) plan with a 100% match on the first 3% and a 50% match on the next 2%.
Eight weeks of paid parental leave.
Childcare reimbursement up to $350 per day for work-related travel.
Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks.
Office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for employees and their families.
Tools for an employee’s desk setup.
In-person collaboration at the Playa Vista office, with flexibility to integrate work and life.
Long-term incentives in the form of stock options for full-time hires.