Senior Director, Security Platform Engineering & Operations

AstraZeneca; Chennai District; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca seeks a senior cybersecurity leader to connect architecture, engineering and operations, securing cloud, AI, OT, network and endpoints globally. Reporting to the Executive Director, you will shape strategy, deliver resilient capabilities and translate policy into measurable controls across a distributed team.

With 15+ years in security engineering and platform architecture, you will lead multi-year roadmaps, drive mature security platforms, and ensure compliance with industry

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS, CE, IT, IS or equivalent.
• 15+ years of significant experience in security engineering, software development, and platform architecture.
• Experience with cloud security platforms and data security controls.
• Experience with AI/GenAI security capabilities.
• Experience deploying enterprise platforms with web and mobile security controls.

Responsibilities

• Define multi-year security strategy aligned to enterprise objectives.
• Govern core security platforms across cloud, network, OT, and endpoints.
• Provide risk-based consultation and enforce compliant cloud/infrastructure standards.
• Build and mentor a globally distributed engineering organization.
• Develop budgets and manage vendor engagements for security programs.

Skills

Security leadership

Cloud security

AI/GenAI security

Platform security

SIEM/EDR/DLP

Security architecture

Vendor management

IEC 62443

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Wiz

GitGuardian

Akeyless

ClarOTy

Proofpoint

Microsoft Defender

Vectr

Censys

SIEM tooling

Job description

Introduction to role

We want a senior cybersecurity leader to connect architecture, engineering, and operations. Their goal is to secure our cloud, AI, OT, network, and endpoint platforms across the globe. This role is crafted for someone who can lead through complexity, raise maturity, and help us build secure foundations that support innovation across AstraZeneca.

This role holds high-impact leadership responsibilities connected to AstraZenecas 2030 ambitions. You will lead the security platforms that support our digital transformation, shaping strategy, delivering resilient capabilities, and turning policy into practical, measurable controls. Reporting to the Executive Director for Cybersecurity Architecture, Engineering, & Operations, you will guide a globally distributed team of engineers and architects across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC.

Accountabilities

• Strategic Leadership and Architecture: Define and implement a multi-year strategy for developing and maintaining security infrastructure aligned to enterprise objectives. Own the functional engineering strategy and delivery horizon (1824 months with a 35 year vision). Chair the Cyber Design/Delivery Review Board to ensure cybersecurity alignment across transformation programs. Embed Trust by Design through secure patterns, reference architectures, and baseline configurations. Align activities to NIST CSF (Protect) and advance platform maturity beyond Tier 2 into Tier 3.
• Platform Engineering and Operations: Govern the roadmap and lifecycle of core security platforms across cloud (e.g., Wiz, GitGuardian, Akeyless), network and OT (e.g., ClarOTy, Proofpoint, Zero Trust), endpoint (Microsoft Defender, SIEM), and architecture tooling (Vectr, Censys). Lead delivery of the Q3 2026 New SIEM program and drive the Security Copilot initiative. Operationalise Polaris/Sferical AI, AstraZenecas sovereign AI datacenter in Sweden, targeting go-live in May 2026. Engineer and implement enterprise infrastructure controls across OT, network, email, and endpoint domains. Own cloud security policies, baseline configurations, and cloud compliance processes.
• Risk, Compliance and Consultative Services: Provide authoritative solution design consultations to major programs and business units, including reference architecture reviews. Redesign the consultation model to be risk-based, automated, and enable rapid adoption. Assess and adjudicate exceptions to cloud and infrastructure standards; shape risk mitigation plans. Manage immediate and long-term risks to engineering continuity through cross-functional engagement. Maintain regulatory relationships and ensure compliance with IEC 62443, NIST 800-82, and AstraZenecas Security Policy Framework.
• People, Talent and Partnerships: Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing, globally distributed engineering organization. Develop leadership and specialist capabilities through coaching, delegation, and stretch assignments. Grow the talent pipeline with future-critical skills in AI/GenAI, Zero Trust, and cloud-native security. Maintain strategic vendor partnerships (Wiz, Microsoft, ClarOTy, Proofpoint and others). Collaborate closely with adjacent technology and security teams and regional stakeholders to drive integration and alignment.
• Financial Stewardship: Develop and manage budgets, including capital plans for the Security Platform Engineering & Operations portfolio. Optimize resources and vendor engagements to deliver complex, multi-program operations at global scale.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, or comparable specialisation.
• 15+ years of Significant experience in modern software development, security engineering, and platform architecture.
• Experience in agile/scrum environments and managing intricate security engineering initiatives.
• Experience with cloud security platforms (e.g. Wiz, AWS/Azure/GCP security tooling) and data security controls.
• Substantial experience with AI/GenAI security capabilities and secure design for AI-enabled environments.
• Experience deploying enterprise platforms (Docker, SaaS, cloud-native) including web and mobile security controls.
• Experience with OT/ICS security standards (IEC 62443, NIST 800-82) and industrial security tools (e.g. ClarOTy).
• Experience with SIEM, endpoint, network security, and DLP tooling.
• Familiarity with modern test management and vulnerability management tools (e.g. X-Ray for Jira, Vectr, Censys).

Leadership & Business Experience

• Substantial experience leading sophisticated, large-scale global IT/security engineering projects and programs.
• Significant experience managing geographically dispersed teams across multiple regions and time zones.
• Proven experience managing budgets, vendors, and resources for complex security engineering operations.
• Experience managing managers and developing engineering leadership talent.
• Experience co-working with cross-functional global leadership and senior .