JOB SUMMARY – AVP Chief Technology Officer – Cyber Security
Leading at Cognizant
This is a Leadership role at Cognizant. We believe how you lead is as important as what you deliver. Cognizant leaders at every level: Drive our business strategy and inspire teams around our future. Live the leadership behaviors, leading themselves, others and the business. Uphold our Values, role modeling them in every action and decision. Nurture our people and culture, creating a workplace where all can thrive.
At Cognizant, leadership transcends titles and is embodied in actions and behaviors. We empower our leaders at every level to drive business strategy, inspire teams, uphold our values, and foster an inclusive culture.
About the role
As a Chief Technology Officer – Cyber Security, you will make an impact by defining the cybersecurity technology vision, ensuring the quality and integrity of technical delivery across client engagements, and leading strategic initiatives that position Cognizant at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation, including AI Industrialisation and Security for AI.
You will be a valued member of the Cyber Security Service Line leadership team and work collaboratively with delivery leaders, practice heads, alliance partners, client stakeholders, and global teams.
In this role, you will:
- Technical Quality & Delivery Excellence: Own and maintain the technical quality of solutions delivered across customer projects within the Cyber Security practice. Establish and enforce engineering standards, solution review gates, and quality benchmarks to ensure consistent, high-impact delivery outcomes.
- Technical Architecture & Solution Design: Lead the development of technical architecture and solution designs across the cybersecurity portfolio, spanning advisory, implementation, managed security services, and next-generation threat defence. Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and aligned to client business objectives.
- Strategic Programme Leadership – AI Industrialisation & Security for AI: Drive high-priority strategic initiatives focused on embedding AI-powered automation into cybersecurity operations at scale and defining the frameworks, controls, and assurance models needed to secure AI systems and AI-driven workloads for clients.
- Technology Roadmap & Platform Development: Develop and steward the multi-year technology roadmap for Cognizant’s cybersecurity solutions and proprietary platforms. Evaluate emerging technologies, define build-versus-partner strategies, and ensure the practice’s capabilities remain differentiated and future-ready.
- External Engagement & Thought Leadership: Represent Cognizant’s cybersecurity technology vision to customers, industry analysts, strategic partners, and investors. Deliver compelling presentations, contributing to thought leadership, and help shape Cognizant’s market positioning in cybersecurity.
- Foster strong collaboration with vertical market teams, alliances, and global delivery units to integrate cybersecurity capabilities into broader digital transformation programmes.
- Mentor and develop senior technical talent across the practice, building a culture of technical excellence and continuous innovation.
- Consistently demonstrate the Cognizant Way to Lead, which means operating with Personal Leadership (building trust, collaboration, and inclusion), Organizational Leadership (driving vision and purpose, demonstrating a strategic and enterprise mindset, and creating and communicating a bold direction that inspires purpose), and Business Leadership (exemplifying client focus, managing ambiguity with accountability and results, and operating with financial acumen).
What you need to have to be considered
- 15+ years of experience in technology and architecture roles, with at least 8 years in senior cybersecurity leadership positions within large IT services or consulting organisations.
- Deep technical expertise across core cybersecurity domains including identity and access management, cloud security, threat detection and response, data protection, OT/IoT security, and security operations.
- Proven track record of designing and delivering complex cybersecurity solutions at enterprise scale across multiple industries and geographies.
- Demonstrated experience leading AI and automation initiatives within cybersecurity, including AI industrialisation programmes, agentic security operations, or Security for AI frameworks.
- Experience developing and owning technology roadmaps for service lines or practices, with a strong understanding of platform strategy and IP development.
- Ability to engage confidently with C-suite executives, CISOs, industry analysts, and strategic partners as a credible external technology voice.
- Experience developing proprietary security platforms, accelerators, or IP assets that differentiate go-to-market offerings.
- Experience working in global, matrixed organisations with cross-functional delivery and sales teams.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality technical and executive-level content.
- Embodiment of the Cognizant Way to Lead: Leading Self, Leading Others, and Leading the Business.
- The embodiment of Cognizant’s Values: Work as One, Dare to Innovate, Raise the Bar, Do The Right Thing, and Own It.
These will help you succeed
- Familiarity with regulated industries such as BFSI, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Energy, and Public Sector, and their specific compliance requirements such as DORA, NIS2, HIPAA, and NERC CIP.
- Strong awareness of the current and emerging threat landscape, including adversarial AI, supply chain attacks, and nation-state threats.
- Active participation in industry bodies, standards groups, or analyst relationships such as Gartner, Forrester, ISC2, or ISACA.
- Advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field.
- Professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, SABSA, or TOGAF preferred.
Work model – HYBRID
We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this position may require presence in a client or Cognizant office. Final work model, office location, and number of office days per week should be confirmed before publishing this posting.
The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured, we will always be clear about role expectations.
We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.
Work Locations: Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad & Pune
About Cognizant:
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.
Additional employment information
Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] for roles based in the Americas or [email protected] for roles based in India.
