Senior Technical Program Manager

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. As the Senior Technical Program Manager (TPM) at TENEX, you will be a strategic leader responsible for orchestrating the delivery of our most complex AI-native security initiatives. You will drive cross-functional programs that bridge the gap between frontier AI research, infrastructure engineering, and security operations. This high-impact role requires a sophisticated blend of technical program management expertise, a deep understanding of cybersecurity threat landscapes, and the ability to navigate the operational challenges of deploying AI at scale in high-stakes environments. Location: San Jose, CA or Kansas City, KS. Hybrid work model.

Cross-Functional Program Leadership: Lead end-to-end delivery of complex technical programs, ensuring alignment between AI research, engineering, and security detection teams to meet critical product milestones. AI Operationalization: Establish and manage the frameworks for scaling AI-driven security capabilities, from prototype development to production-grade deployment and ongoing lifecycle management. Risk & Dependency Management: Proactively identify and mitigate technical risks, dependencies, and bottlenecks across distributed teams, ensuring seamless integration of AI models within the MDR pipeline. Strategy & Governance: Define program management best practices for AI projects, ensuring that security, compliance, and performance standards are met throughout the development lifecycle. Stakeholder Communication: Bridge the gap between highly technical AI researchers/engineers and executive stakeholders, translating complex technical hurdles into clear business outcomes and actionable roadmaps. Required Skills & Qualifications Cybersecurity Fluency: Strong understanding of the cybersecurity domain, including threat intelligence, SIEM/SOAR integration, and security operations (SecOps) workflows. AI Program Management: 5+ years of experience in technical program management, with a proven track record of delivering large-scale AI or ML initiatives from concept to production. Technical Depth: Ability to engage deeply with engineering teams on architectural decisions, particularly regarding LLM deployment, model performance, and data infrastructure. Operational Rigor: Experience building scalable processes in high-growth startup environments, balancing the need for speed with the necessity of technical stability and security. Communication & Influence: Exceptional ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority and to clearly communicate technical strategy to non-technical stakeholders. Education & Certifications Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Security, or a related field. CISSP or other cybersecurity certifications are a significant plus. Why Join Us? Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI-driven