CISO

About the Role

Verkada is at a critical stage in its evolution as it scales its global business. With that growth comes an increasingly complex security landscape spanning connected devices, cloud infrastructure, AI and machine learning at the edge, and sensitive customer video and access data.

Building on an established security program and a team of approximately 30, the incoming CISO will have the opportunity to evolve the strategy, technical capabilities, and operating model for Verkada’s next stage of growth. Priorities include strengthening device and product security, advancing detection and response, protecting customer data, and meeting expanding regulatory requirements across global markets.

As part of the engineering leadership team, the CISO will operate as a technical partner to Engineering and Product, embedding security into how Verkada designs, develops, and deploys its technology. This requires a leader who can pair technical depth with the organizational discipline needed to scale the security function while supporting innovation and speed.

For the right leader, this is an opportunity to address a distinctive set of security challenges at the intersection of hardware, software, AI, and the physical world—and to shape a security organization whose impact extends directly to customer trust, product integrity, and Verkada’s readiness for its next chapter.

What You'll Do

The CISO will lead and scale Verkada’s security organization of approximately 30 professionals, evolving its capabilities to support continued growth and readiness for a potential IPO. As a member of the CTO’s engineering leadership team, this leader will partner across engineering, product, legal, and business functions to manage security risk while supporting innovation.

• Security strategy and organizational leadership: Set security priorities, develop talent, and scale the team’s capabilities and responsibilities as the business grows.
• Device and product security: Partner with product and firmware engineering to secure Verkada’s Linux-based device fleet, including AI/ML workloads at the edge and the software update lifecycle.
• Cloud and software security: Lead security across cloud infrastructure and software, embedding security practices into development and operations.
• Detection and response: Oversee security operations, automated threat detection, incident response, and continuous improvement of monitoring and response capabilities.
• Data protection: Strengthen safeguards for customer and company data across devices, applications, and cloud services.
• Global compliance and regulatory readiness: Lead security compliance across jurisdictions, including Europe and Australia, and mature the program for the company’s next stage.
• External security partners: Manage third-party providers supporting penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and detection capabilities.
• Customer and board engagement: Support complex customer and partner discussions and provide quarterly written security reports to the board, communicating risks, priorities, and progress clearly.

What You Bring

• Technical depth and breadth: Hands-on expertise across hardware/IoT, cloud, software, and AI security, with the ability to engage directly on Linux-based devices, firmware, edge AI/ML workloads, and secure update practices.
• Security organization leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and scale an approximately 30-person organization spanning product security, detection and response, data protection, and compliance.
• Global regulatory and compliance experience: Strong command of B2B security requirements across jurisdictions, including Europe and Australia, and the ability to translate obligations into practical controls.
• Engineering partnership: Earns credibility with technical teams and collaborates effectively with stakeholders ranging from firmware engineers to lawyers and junior IT staff while maintaining security fundamentals.
• Judgment in ambiguity: Reasons from first principles, evaluates trade-offs, and makes clear, defensible decisions that balance security requirements with business and engineering priorities.
• Executive communication: Credible with customers, partners, and the board; able to explain complex risks and support challenging customer discussions.
• On-site commitment: Willing and able to work in person in San Mateo alongside the engineering organization.

• Healthcare programs that can be tailored to meet the personal health and financial well-being needs - Premiums are 100% covered for the employee under at least one plan and 80% for family premiums under all plans
• Nationwide medical, vision and dental coverage
• Health Saving Account (HSA) with annual employer contributions and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with tax saving options
• Expanded mental health support
• Paid parental leave policy & fertility benefits
• Time off to relax and recharge through our paid holidays, firmwide extended holidays, flexible PTO and personal sick time
• Professional development stipend
• Wellness/fitness benefits
• Healthy lunches provided daily
• Commuter benefits

Additional Information

• We do sponsor and take over sponsorship of employment visas for this role. If we make you an offer, we will make every reasonable effort to get you a visa.