The Role
The Vice President of R&D will lead cybersecurity research and development efforts, manage teams, oversee automation strategy, and represent the company as a thought leader.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Coalfire
Coalfire is on a mission to make the world a safer place by solving our clients’ hardest cybersecurity challenges. We work at the cutting edge of technology to advise, assess, automate, and ultimately help companies navigate the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. We are headquartered in Chicago, Illinois with offices across the U.S. and U.K., and we support clients around the world.
But that’s not who we are – that’s just what we do.
We are thought leaders, consultants, and cybersecurity experts, but above all else, we are a team of passionate problem-solvers who are hungry to learn, grow, and make a difference.
Position Summary
We are seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Vice President of Research and Development within our DivisionHex business. The ideal candidate will possess over 10 years of in-depth experience in the cybersecurity domain, with a proven track record in building and leading teams focused on automation, threat research, artificial intelligence, data science, and overall security research. The Vice President of R&D will play a pivotal role in shaping DivisionHex’s overall strategy around research and automation, external thought leadership, our Hexeon platform, building high-performing teams, managing profit and loss, and driving large-scale product efforts.
If you're a visionary leader with a passion for driving cybersecurity forward and a track record of success in building and leading research teams, we invite you to apply for the position of Vice President of DivisionHex R&D.
What You'll Do
- Lead the development and execution of DivisionHex’s automation and AI strategy
- Oversee a diverse team of product development experts and threat-focused researchers
- Build strong relationships with outsourced vendors and make staffing mix decisions around development of delivery platforms
- Oversee the development and deployment of cutting-edge automation solutions to our hackers and defenders, with a focus on enriching datasets with threat intelligence and other contextual sources
- Drive business growth through effective budget management, sales efforts, and strategic partnerships.
- Identify, establish, and nurture partnerships with leading technology providers to enhance our service offerings.
- Represent DivisionHex and the larger Coalfire as a thought leader in the cybersecurity industry by speaking at notable conferences such as BlackHat, DEF CON, and other premier threat-focused events.
- Stay up to date on the latest cybersecurity trends, threats, and technologies to continuously improve our offensive, defensive, and managed services.
- Client travel—including international travel—required
What You'll Bring
- Over 10 years of experience in cybersecurity, with a focus on research, threat actor TTPs, and automation.
- Proven experience in building and leading high-performing teams that execute research.
- Demonstrated history of budget management, driving large-scale sales efforts, and developing strategic partnerships.
- Extensive speaking experience at notable cybersecurity conferences such as BlackHat, DEF CON, or similar events.
- Strong understanding of offensive and defensive technologies, tools, and methodologies.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with both internal teams and external partners.
- Strong leadership qualities with a strategic mindset and a passion for driving innovation in cybersecurity
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to manage, track, and inspire remote, geographically dispersed teams
- Ability to define and articulate a rolling 3-year vision for technology platforms and internal team efficiency improvements
- Ability to oversee technology product organizations using cloud-native techniques and methods
- Ability to recruit and retain highly technical talent, especially in the fields of automation, AI, and threat research
- Bachelor’s degree (four-year college or university) or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Bonus Points
- Familiarity with SCRUM ceremonies (Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Retrospectives) and how they apply to R&D and product development.
- Advanced degrees in information systems engineering or computer science a plus
Why You’ll Want to Join Us
At Coalfire, you’ll find the support you need to thrive personally and professionally. In many cases, we provide a flexible work model that empowers you to choose when and where you’ll work most effectively – whether you’re at home or an office.
Regardless of location, you’ll experience a company that prioritizes connection and wellbeing and be part of a team where people care about each other and our communities. You’ll have opportunities to join employee resource groups, participate in in-person and virtual events, and more. And you’ll enjoy competitive perks and benefits to support you and your family, like paid parental leave, flexible time off, certification and training reimbursement, digital mental health and wellbeing support membership, and comprehensive insurance options.
At Coalfire, equal opportunity and pay equity is integral to the way we do business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Coalfire is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact our Human Resources team at [email protected].
Top Skills
Artificial Intelligence
Automation
Cloud-Native Techniques
Data Science
Threat Intelligence
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The Company
What We Do
Coalfire is the cybersecurity advisor that helps private and public sector organizations avert threats, close gaps, and effectively manage risk. By providing independent and tailored advice, assessments, technical testing, and cyber engineering services, we help clients develop scalable programs that improve their security posture, achieve their business objectives, and fuel their continued success. Coalfire has been a cybersecurity thought leader for more than 20 years and has offices throughout the United States and Europe.
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