---
title: 'Forward Deployed Security Engineer at TENEX.AI'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/forward-deployed-security-engineer-tenex-ai-kansas-city-ezajqvdy96gs'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-15'
---

# Forward Deployed Security Engineer at TENEX.AI

- **Company:** TENEX.AI
- **Location:** Kansas City, MO
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-06-03
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-15
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/tenex/d2d8fd0c-54d4-45e8-8e8e-4c13f3518bca

## Job description

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. Culture is one of the most important things at [TENEX.AI](http://TENEX.AI)—explore our culture deck at [culture.tenex.ai](http://culture.tenex.ai) to witness how we embody it, prioritizing the irreplaceable collaboration and community of in-person work.

## About the Role

As a FDE Security Solution Engineer at TENEX, you deploy, manage, and advise on specialized security tooling across one or more assigned domains. Every SE&A engineer operates a dual mandate: technical practitioner and trusted security advisor. You keep customer environments healthy, help them improve their posture, and enable them to understand and act on their security risks.

Job Responsibilities

- Deploy, configure, and manage specialized security tooling across one or more assigned domains — Cloud (Wiz, SCCE, Defender for Cloud), AI Security (WitnessAI, ModelArmor, Purview), Network (ExtraHop, CEP), Endpoint ([ENT.AI](http://ENT.AI), Defender for Endpoint, Thinkst Canary), and Identity (Defender for Identity)
- Maintain ongoing health of customer security tooling across assigned domains — remediating misconfigurations, detecting drift, and continuously optimizing tool performance
- Deliver advisory services as part of the dual-function mandate — including tabletop exercises, maturity assessments, and compliance readiness support (SOC 2, NIST, ISO, CMMC)
- Develop customer-facing security roadmaps and posture improvement recommendations tailored to the customer's environment and risk profile
- Enable customers through training on deployed tools and security best practices within their environment
- Collaborate with the Rapid Deployment team on log source onboarding and cross-tool integrations into the SIEM
- Document all configurations, advisory outputs, and customer environment details
- Escalate complex technical or advisory challenges to Security Solution Architects or the Manager

Required Skills & Qualifications Technical & Industry Expertise

- 3+ years in information security engineering or a related technical field
- Hands-on experience deploying and managing security tools in one or more domains: cloud, AI, network, endpoint, or identity security
- Experience delivering technical advisory services, security assessments, or consulting engagements
- Familiarity with compliance frameworks including SOC 2, NIST, ISO 27001, and CMMC
- Knowledge of MITRE ATT&CK and how it applies to relevant security domains
- Experience developing customer-facing security roadmaps and remediation recommendations
- Strong technical documentation skills

Soft Skills

- Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills with a bias toward action
- Excellent customer-facing communication and collaboration abilities
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance startup environment
- Passion for cybersecurity, automation, and continuous improvement

Education & Certifications

- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)
- Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, GIAC certifications, Google Cloud Professional, Microsoft SC-200/AZ-500, or AWS Certified Solutions Architect are a plus

Why Join Us?

- Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI-driven cybersecurity technologies and next-generation security platforms
- Collaborate with a talented and innovative team focused on continuously improving security operations
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- A culture of growth and development, with opportunities to expand your expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and engineering
- Be part of building something new — TENEX's Forward Deployed Engineering organization is a greenfield opportunity to define how enterprise security is delivered at scale

## About TENEX.AI

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: TENEX.AI is the first AI-native, human-led Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider, built from the ground up to deliver 10x faster threat detection and response.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B, $277M total funding)
- **Headquarters**: Sarasota, FL, United States
- **Founded**: 2024
- **Founders**: Eric Foster (CEO), Venkata Koppaka (Co-Founder & CTO), Jan Grzymala-Busse (CISO & Head of Security Operations), Elias “Lou” Manousos (Chairman), Ryan Shreve (Co-Founder & CRO), Edwin Solis (Co-Founder & CFO/COO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Cybersecurity – Managed Detection and Response (MDR), threat intelligence, security automation, and incident response.
- **Target customers**: Mid-market to global enterprises (B2B), also SMBs with flexible pricing.
- **Mission**: “Deliver 10x better security outcomes, faster and more cost-effectively than legacy providers.”

## Products & Services
- **AI-Native MDR (Managed Detection & Response)**: Core service that uses domain-specific AI to triage every alert in under a minute, then empowers human analysts to investigate and respond. Includes 24/7 U.S.-based analysts with 8+ years average experience.  
- **Essential AI-Native MDR**: A standardized, lower-cost tier for smaller organizations (pricing from $99,000/year).  
- **Bespoke MDR**: Customized service for complex, mission-critical environments with dedicated engineering team, flexible contract, and quarterly executive briefings.  
- **Google Cloud Security Operations**: Implementation, management, and optimization of Google Security Operations platform (TENEX is a leading Google Cloud partner).  
- **Platform Training & Education**: Customer training on the TENEX platform and security operations best practices.  
- **Dashboards & Reports**: Continuous visibility and reporting for security posture.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed.
- **Total Funding**: $277M across three rounds:  
  - Seed (Jan 2025): Led by **Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)**  
  - Series A (Oct 2025): $27M led by **Crosspoint Capital Partners**  
  - Series B (Mar 2026): $250M led by **Crosspoint Capital Partners** (also a16z, Shield Capital participated)
- **Key Metric**: 505.9% year-over-year headcount growth (74 employees as of early 2026); 108 active job postings.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Crosspoint Capital Partners, Shield Capital; Google Cloud (strategic partner).
- **Growth Signals**: Scaling from 1 to 3 offices (Sarasota, Overland Park, San Jose); rapid hiring across engineering, sales, and threat detection; leadership team includes former Google Security executives and founders of RiskIQ and Cyderes.

## Competitive Advantages
- **AI-native architecture**: Built from the ground up for AI, not retrofitted. Domain-specific models understand attacker behavior, not just patterns.
- **Human-led, AI-powered**: AI handles 100% of alerts at machine speed; human experts focus on complex threats. 95% fewer false positives, <1-minute mean time to triage (MTTX).
- **Elite founding team**: Veterans from Google Cloud Security (original Chronicle team), RiskIQ, Cyderes, Fishtech Group, and national security.
- **Deep Google Cloud expertise**: TENEX is the go-to partner for Google Security Operations, managing over 75% of Google’s security business at peak.
- **Flexible, scalable pricing**: From $99K/year Essential tier to fully bespoke enterprise solutions, making premium MDR accessible to a wide range of budgets.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scale through AI, not headcount**: Use automation to multiply analyst efficiency rather than linearly adding people.
- **In-person collaboration**: All three offices are on-site-first; the company believes “bold innovations emerge from in-person collaboration.”
- **Continuous learning and adaptation**: The AI platform learns from every environment and analyst feedback, staying ahead of emerging threats.
- **Expansion into mid-market**: The Essential tier targets smaller organizations that previously couldn’t afford premium MDR.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “AI-native, human-led” – the company values elite human expertise alongside advanced AI. “We’re AI-native, born AI, built AI, think AI, and actively searching for the best human minds in cybersecurity.”
- **Work model**: On-site-first in three locations: Sarasota, FL (HQ); Overland Park, KS; San Jose, CA. Aggressive relocation packages including moving expense reimbursement, temporary housing, family transition support.
- **Benefits**: Comprehensive health (Medical, Dental, Vision); 100% 401k match up to 6%; long-term incentives; professional development opportunities; continuous learning culture.
- **Growth trajectory**: Rapidly scaling (505% YoY headcount growth) with 108 open positions across engineering, product, sales, and security operations. Opportunity to shape the future of AI-driven security.
- **Team**: 72% of employees in the US, with a strong technical base (39% in technical roles). Executives hail from Google, Microsoft, Cyderes, ReliaQuest, and other top security firms.

## Sources
1. [tenex.ai](https://tenex.ai/)  
2. [tenex.ai/about-us](https://tenex.ai/about-us/)  
3. [linkedin.com/company/tenex-ai](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tenex-ai)  
4. [tenex.ai/careers](https://tenex.ai/careers/)  
5. [tenex.ai/careers/open-positions](https://tenex.ai/careers/open-positions/)

## Other roles at TENEX.AI

- [Regional Vice President Sales-Google-Regions](https://feeny.ai/job/regional-vice-president-sales-google-regions-tenex-ai-united-states-t3p1x1myng7d) — United States
- [Director, Customer Success](https://feeny.ai/job/director-customer-success-tenex-ai-kansas-city-2dqgb83k3p8q) — Kansas City, MO
- [Director of Portfolio & Program Management](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-portfolio-program-management-tenex-ai-kansas-city-7769de1rxsvp) — Kansas City, MO
- [Principal DevOps Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-devops-engineer-tenex-ai-san-jose-e84nhzbq37sk) — San Jose, CA
- [Administrative Assistant](https://feeny.ai/job/administrative-assistant-tenex-ai-scottsdale-zd8gnayx6tnz) — Scottsdale, AZ
- [Head of Communications, Public Relations & Analyst Relations Marketing](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-communications-public-relations-analyst-relations-marketing-tenex-ai-qzvry73dx1x1) — United States
- [Senior Technical Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-technical-program-manager-tenex-ai-united-states-1nc6s4kfnkqk) — United States
- [Manager, Customer Success Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-customer-success-operations-tenex-ai-sarasota-h1hw76n8ts8g) — Sarasota, FL
- [Director of Forward Deployed Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-forward-deployed-engineering-tenex-ai-kansas-city-qymr6qpgxw07) — Kansas City, MO
- [Inside Sales Representative](https://feeny.ai/job/inside-sales-representative-tenex-ai-kansas-city-feha6menq4ge) — Kansas City, MO