Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Data Security

Thales; Austin (TX); Remote; USD 198,000 - 356,000; Full time

Job summary

Thales seeks a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for its Data Security Business Line, responsible for shaping the technical vision and engaging with customers and partners. The role demands a proven leader with significant expertise in cybersecurity and strategic technology leadership to drive innovation and compliance.

Benefits

Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA

Retirement Savings Plan with company contribution

Paid Time Off

Company paid holidays

Employee Assistance Plan

Well-being Program

Qualifications

• Proven experience as CTO or senior technical executive in cybersecurity or enterprise software.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience.
• Strong experience engaging with senior enterprise customers.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the long-term technology vision and roadmap of the Data Security portfolio.
• Participate in high-level meetings with strategic customers and partners.
• Represent Thales in external forums as a cybersecurity thought leader.

Skills

Cybersecurity

Data Security

Cloud Security

Key Management

Excellent Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Location: Austin, United States of America

Thales people architect identity management and data protection solutions at the heart of digital security. Business and governments rely on us to bring trust to the billons of digital interactions they have with people. Our technologies and services help banks exchange funds, people cross borders, energy become smarter and much more. More than 30,000 organizations already rely on us to verify the identities of people and things, grant access to digital services, analyze vast quantities of information and encrypt data to make the connected world more secure.

Position Summary

Remote, USA

We are seeking a visionary and pragmatic Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to evangelize the technological strategy and innovation agenda of our Data Security Business Line.

The CTO will help shape the long-term technical vision, represent Thales externally as a thought leader, and ensure that our solutions remain at the forefront of innovation and compliance in an evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Strategic Technology Leadership

• Define and evolve the long-term technology vision and roadmap of the Data Security portfolio in alignment with Thales’ broader business objectives.

• Guide architectural direction, development priorities, and emerging technology adoption (e.g., PQC, confidential computing, multi-cloud security and DSPM).

• Partner with Product Management and Engineering to ensure execution aligns with strategic vision.

Customer and Partner Engagement

• Participate in high-level meetings with strategic customers, cloud providers, and business partners to discuss technology strategy, product alignment, and roadmap evolution.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to CIOs, CISOs, and CTOs of major enterprise clients

Thought Leadership and Evangelism

• Represent Thales in external forums as a cybersecurity thought leader through keynote speeches, panels, white papers, blogs, and interviews.

• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to shape and execute a proactive thought leadership strategy.

• Engage with media, industry analysts (e.g., Gartner, Forrester), and think tanks to position Thales as a technology leader in data security.

Industry and Standards Engagement

• Lead Thales’ involvement with key industry standards bodies, including the CAB Forum, ETSI, NIST, and others relevant to PKI, encryption, and compliance.

• Influence and stay abreast of emerging standards and regulatory developments to ensure product alignment and market readiness.

Technical Due Diligence and Innovation Scouting

• Lead technology evaluations for potential acquisitions, partnerships, and strategic investments.

• Identify and assess new technologies and market trends, advising on build/buy/partner decisions.

Internal Leadership and Talent Development

• Inspire and mentor senior architects and technical leaders across engineering and R&D.

• Cultivate a high-performance, innovation-driven technical culture across geographically distributed teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• Proven experience as CTO, Chief Architect, or senior technical executive in cybersecurity or enterprise software.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience.

• Deep expertise in data security domains: encryption, key management, cloud security, data security platforms.

• Ability to formulate and execute strategic initiatives that address current and future challenges in data security, while staying ahead of emerging threats and trends.

• Strong experience engaging with senior enterprise customers, standards organizations, and analysts.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to distill complex technical ideas for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and technologists from other companies (i.e. partners, alliances), fostering a culture of innovation and teamwork.

Special Position Requirements

Travel: Domestic and International Travel expected 25-30% of the time.

Why Join Us?

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This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with [a] criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal law, state law, and local ordinances.

We are an equal opportunity employer, including disability and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales, please contact us at [e-mail] .

The reference Total Target Compensation(TTC) market range for this position, inclusive of annual base salary and the variable compensation target, is between

Total Target Cash (TTC): 198,522.40 - 283,367.40 - 355,592.80 USD Annual

This reflects how companies in a similar industry and geographic region generally pay for similar jobs. This range helps the Company make pay decisions as one data point among many. Where a position falls within this range is also dependent on other factors including – but not limited to – the employee’s career path history, competencies, skills and performance, as well as the company’s annual salary budget, the customer’s program requirements, and the company’s internal equity. Thales may offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s status protected by local, state, or federal law.

(For Internal candidate, if you need more information, please reach out to your HR Shared Service, 1st Point)

Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following:
•Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance

•Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period

•Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off

•Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program