Director Engineer ( Malware Research )

Druva, the autonomous data security company, puts data security on autopilot with a 100% SaaS, fully managed platform to secure and recover data from all threats. The Druva Data Security Cloud ensures the availability, confidentiality, and fidelity of data - providing customers with autonomous protection, rapid incident response, and guaranteed data recovery. The company is trusted by its more than 6,000 customers, including 65 of the Fortune 500, to defend business data in today’s ever-connected world. Amidst a rapidly evolving security landscape, Druva offers a $10 million Data Resiliency Guarantee ensuring customer data is protected and secured against every cyber threat. Visit druva.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Malware Research to establish and lead a new malware research team. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in malware analysis and cybersecurity, along with leadership experience in building and managing high-performing teams. The candidate should demonstrate thought leadership in malware research and threat intelligence.

Key Responsibilities:Leadership & Strategy:

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-caliber malware research team from the ground up.
• Define the strategic roadmap for the team, aligning research initiatives with business and security objectives.
• Develop a world-class malware research lab with advanced tools and methodologies.
• Foster relationships with external cybersecurity researchers, vendors, and organizations to enhance threat intelligence capabilities.
• Advocate for security research internally and externally through whitepapers, industry conferences, and strategic partnerships.

Technical Expertise & Research:

• Design and implement a secure malware analysis lab environment.
• Conduct advanced research on malware, including reverse engineering, static and dynamic analysis, and behavioral analysis.
• Identify, document, and analyze Indicators of Compromise (IOCs), MITRE TTPs, and Indicators of Attacks (IOAs) for the latest threats.
• Provide in-depth insights into ransomware and its impact on data, cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP), and SaaS applications (M365, Google Workspace, etc.).
• Develop innovative detection and mitigation strategies to counteract evolving malware threats.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging cyber threats, attack techniques, and industry trends.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Work closely with Product Managers to align research efforts with customer needs and security product development.
• Partner with engineering and security teams to integrate research findings into detection mechanisms, threat models, and security products.
• Contribute to thought leadership by publishing research papers, blogs, and technical reports.
• Present research findings to internal stakeholders, executive teams, and industry forums.
• Collaborate with marketing teams to communicate research-driven insights for external publications and cybersecurity awareness campaigns.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

• 12 - 15 + years of experience in malware analysis, threat research, and cybersecurity, with at least 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Proven expertise in reverse engineering, static and dynamic analysis, and sandboxing environments.
• Strong understanding of malware behavior, the cyber kill chain, incident response, and forensic data collection.
• Hands-on experience with cloud security (AWS, Azure, GCP), Linux security, M365 API security, firewalls, IDS/IPS, SIEM, and threat intelligence.
• At least one or more security certifications (e.g., OSCP, GIAC, SANS, CISSP, CISM, or equivalent).
• Excellent communication, leadership, and strategic thinking skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and an analytical mindset to tackle complex security challenges.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple projects, and prioritize effectively.
• Established industry network and experience in talent acquisition for security research teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in developing machine learning-based malware detection techniques.
• Knowledge of cyber threat hunting and advanced persistent threat (APT) tactics.
• Experience working with law enforcement, government agencies, or cybercrime investigation units.
• Hands-on experience with exploit development, fuzzing, or penetration testing.

Location : Pune 

Why Join Us?

• Lead and shape a cutting-edge malware research team from the ground up.
• Work on high-impact cybersecurity challenges in an innovative and collaborative environment.
• Influence product security strategies and contribute to industry-leading research.
• Competitive compensation, growth opportunities, and a dynamic company culture.