Director of Software Security

Cadence; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 164,500 - 305,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

401(k) plan with employer match

Employee stock purchase plan

Medical, dental, vision plan options

Job summary

Cadence in San Jose is looking for a Director of Software Security to lead secure software development practices. This role focuses on DevSecOps transformation and compliance with regulatory frameworks.

The candidate must have 12–15+ years in cybersecurity with expertise in secure SDLC and DevSecOps. The salary range in California is $164,500 to $305,500, with additional benefits including paid vacation and a 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• 12–15+ years in cybersecurity, with a strong focus on application security and DevSecOps.
• 5+ years in leadership (manager/director level).
• Deep expertise in secure SDLC and DevSecOps pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, architecture, and execution of secure software development practices.
• Drive DevSecOps transformation and ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks.
• Build and scale the AppSec program across all product lines.

Skills

DevSecOps Transformation

Secure Software Architecture

Regulatory Compliance (CMMC, NIST, ISO)

Application Security & Threat Modeling

Software Supply Chain Security (SBOM, SLSA)

Cloud & Container Security

Executive Communication & Strategy

Tools

Checkmarx

Veracode

Burp Suite

Snyk

Black Duck

Jenkins

GitHub Actions

Job description

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology. Cadence InfoSec is seeking a Director of Software Security to lead the strategy, architecture, and execution of secure software development practices across the enterprise. This role will drive DevSecOps transformation, ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks (including CMMC), and embed security throughout the software lifecycle (SDLC).

Key Responsibilities

DevSecOps Strategy & Leadership

• Define and execute enterprise DevSecOps strategy across all development teams
• Integrate security controls into CI/CD pipelines (build, test, release)
• Establish “shift-left” security practices across the SDLC
• Drive adoption of secure coding, SAST, DAST, and SCA tools

Secure Software Architecture

• Define reference architectures for secure microservices, APIs, and cloud-native apps
• Establish security patterns for containers, Kubernetes, and serverless
• Lead threat modeling initiatives
• Ensure secure API design and zero trust principles

Regulatory Compliance & CMMC

• Lead compliance initiatives for:
  • Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC 2.0)
  • NIST SP 800-171r2 /800-53
  • ISO 27001
• Ensure software systems meet federal, defense, and privacy regulations
• Coordinate audits, assessments, and continuous monitoring programs
• Implement controls for handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Cloud & Platform Security

• Secure DevOps pipelines across cloud platforms:
  • Amazon AWS
  • Microsoft Azure
  • Google Cloud
  • IBMC cloud
  • Cadence software service and products
• Implement infrastructure-as-code (IaC) security scanning
• Define secrets management, identity, and access controls

Application Security Program

• Build and scale AppSec program across all product lines
• Define vulnerability management lifecycle (discovery - remediation - validation)
• Establish bug bounty / responsible disclosure programs
• Integrate security into Agile and CI/CD workflows

Supply Chain & Software Integrity

• Secure software supply chain (SBOM, dependency scanning)
• Implement artifact signing, provenance, and integrity validation

Governance & Risk Management

• Define policies, standards, and secure development guidelines
• Establish KPIs: vulnerability remediation SLA, code coverage, pipeline security
• Align software security with enterprise risk management
• Report posture to executive leadership and board

Leadership & Cross-Functional Influence

• Lead teams of AppSec engineers, DevSecOps engineers, and architects
• Partner with Engineering, Product, Legal, and Compliance teams
• Build security champions program within development teams
• Influence engineering culture toward security ownership

Required Qualifications

• 12–15+ years in cybersecurity, with strong focus on application security and DevSecOps
• 5+ years in leadership (manager/director level)
• Deep expertise in:
  • Secure SDLC and DevSecOps pipelines
  • Cloud-native architectures and container security
  • Regulatory frameworks (CMMC, NIST, ISO)
• Experience in regulated industries (defense, government, healthcare, fintech)

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands‑on experience with tools such as:
  • SAST: Checkmarx, Veracode
  • DAST: Burp Suite
  • SCA: Snyk, Black Duck
  • CI/CD: Jenkins, GitHub Actions
• Familiarity with Kubernetes, Docker, and service mesh security
• Certifications:
  • CISSP, CSSLP
  • CISM or CCSP
• Experience with Zero Trust and identity‑first security

Key Skills

• DevSecOps Transformation
• Secure Software Architecture
• Regulatory Compliance (CMMC, NIST, ISO)
• Application Security & Threat Modeling
• Software Supply Chain Security (SBOM, SLSA)
• Cloud & Container Security
• Executive Communication & Strategy

The annual salary range for California is $164,500 to $305,500. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more.

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