Job Description
Center Head – Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (COE) At Ramaiah Institute for Advanced Skills and Technology, we are actively partnering with global academic and industrial leaders—including IISc, IIT Madras, Dassault Systèmes, CMTI, and ELBIT—to build robust capabilities across Semiconductors, Aerospace & Defense, Space, Cybersecurity, Healthtech, and Advanced Engineering. The Ecosystem & Your Canvas Backed by a 60-year educational legacy, you will drive a high-impact "hub and spoke" innovation model through active partnerships:
• IISc (CENSe) & IIT Madras: Advancing SMT, packaging, micro-assembly, and systems integration.
• Dassault Systemes: Pioneering simulation-driven product validation, robotics, and digital prototyping.
• CMTI: Driving advanced precision manufacturing, micromachining, and sensor packaging.
• University at Albany (SUNY): Collaborating on global STEM, AI, and translational research.
• Elbit: Collaborating to drive the best-in-class Cybersecurity training and solutions.

Job Description
Center Head – Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (COE) Position Title: Center Head – Cybersecurity

Location:
Bengaluru, India Reporting To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Compensation: Highly competitive, commensurate with senior industry and defense-sector leadership experience Role Overview : The Center Head – Cybersecurity will lead the establishment, strategic direction, and operational execution of the current Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (COE) at the Ramaiah Institute for Advanced Skills and Technology (RIASAT). Anchored by our recently concluded strategic deal with ELBIT, this leader will be responsible for operationalizing this flagship partnership, executing joint programs, and establishing a world-class hub for cybersecurity technology, training, and applied research. The Center Head will drive technology initiatives that bridge defense-grade security protocols with enterprise IT/OT requirements, positioning the COE as a premier capability builder for India’s critical infrastructure and strategic sectors.

Key Responsibilities
1. ELBIT Strategic Program Execution
• Direct the end-to-end rollout of the strategic partnership with ELBIT, ensuring all contractual milestones, technology transfers, and joint capability-building programs are executed on schedule.
• Serve as the primary executive liaison between RIASAT and ELBIT’s technical and commercial leadership teams, managing continuous alignment on program deliverables.
• Translate the ELBIT mandate into actionable operational blueprints, deploying specialized cyber ranges, simulation environments, and training modules.
• Build a team for establishing and executing the creation of the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. 2. COE Establishment & Operations
• Architect and commission the physical and digital infrastructure for the Cybersecurity COE, including advanced threat intelligence labs, Security Operations Center (SOC) simulators, and red/blue teaming environments.
• Build and lead a high-performing team of cybersecurity trainers, researchers, and technical operations staff.
• Establish governance frameworks, operational KPIs, and strict compliance protocols for the COE, ensuring alignment with global data security and defense standards. 3. Technology Initiatives & Applied Research
• Spearhead advanced technology initiatives focusing on IT/OT convergence security, Industrial Control Systems (ICS) protection, AI-driven threat detection, and zero-trust architectures.




• Drive industrial hardening projects, taking cybersecurity innovations from conceptual research to validated, deployable solutions for enterprise and government clients.
• Foster an innovation ecosystem by engaging with deep-tech startups, faculty, and industry partners to develop localized intellectual property in cybersecurity. 4. Skilling & Commercial Strategy
• Oversee the design of multi-tiered cybersecurity skilling programs, from executive leadership briefings to hands-on tactical training for cyber operators.
• Drive the commercialization of the COE by securing industry-sponsored research projects, enterprise training contracts, and government cybersecurity mandates. Required Competencies : To successfully drive the ELBIT partnership and build a world-class COE, the candidate must demonstrate mastery across the following core competencies: Technical & Domain Expertise
• Defense-Grade Cyber Operations: Deep understanding of military-grade and critical infrastructure cybersecurity, including advanced persistent threats (APTs), electronic warfare concepts, and state-sponsored threat landscapes.
• IT/OT Security Integration: Proven expertise in securing industrial networks, SCADA systems, and complex manufacturing environments, bridging the gap between traditional IT security and operational technology.
• Advanced Cyber Architecture: Strong grasp of modern cyber defense frameworks (e.g., MITRE ATT&CK;, NIST), cryptography, secure systems engineering, and cloud security architectures. Leadership & Program Execution
• Strategic Partnership Management: Exceptional ability to manage complex, multi-national strategic alliances (specifically with major defense/technology conglomerates like ELBIT), navigating both technical and commercial negotiations.
• Operational Drive: A relentless focus on execution and program management, with a track record of building technical facilities or COE infrastructure from the ground up (greenfield projects).
• Cross-Functional Influence: The ability to lead without total direct authority, driving consensus across academic stakeholders, corporate partners, and government entities. Commercial & Ecosystem Building
• Market Monetization: Strong commercial acumen with the ability to build sustainable business models around technical services, testing, and high-end training.
• Talent Development Vision: A foundational understanding of outcome-based educational models and adult learning principles to effectively build India's future cyber workforce. Candidate Profile & Qualifications
•

Experience:
15 to 20+ years of comprehensive leadership experience in cybersecurity, information assurance, or cyber warfare operations.
• Industry Background: Candidates with senior leadership backgrounds in the defense sector, aerospace, critical infrastructure, or global cybersecurity consulting firms are highly preferred. Prior experience working with Israeli technology or defense firms is a significant advantage.
•

Education:
Master’s degree or Ph.
D. in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field.
• Certifications:



Must hold relevant, high-level industry certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, GIAC, or equivalent defense-specific credentials) Deliverables: 30-60-90 Day Execution Plan: Center Head – Cybersecurity (ELBIT Activation) Objective: Rapidly operationalize the strategic ELBIT partnership, establish the foundational infrastructure of the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (COE), and initiate the first wave of capability-building and commercial programs. Phase 1: Days 1–30 (Strategic Alignment & Governance) Focus: Contractual immersion, stakeholder mapping, and establishing operational frameworks.
• SLA Audit & Blueprinting: Conduct a comprehensive review of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), mapping every technology transfer, hardware deployment, and curriculum deliverable to a strict project timeline.
• Joint Steering Committee Activation: Establish and chair the inaugural joint governance committee comprising RIASAT leadership and ELBIT’s technical liaisons to align on 12-month mutual expectations.
• Infrastructure Scoping: Complete the site survey and finalize the physical and digital architecture requirements for the ELBIT-powered Cyber Range and Security Operations Center (SOC) simulator.
• Core Team Identification: Draft target profiles and initiate high-priority recruitment for the COE’s foundational technical staff, specifically lead trainers and Red/Blue team operators. Phase 2: Days 31–60 (Infrastructure Deployment & Program Design) Focus: Facility commissioning, curriculum localization, and ecosystem integration.
• Cyber Range Commissioning: Oversee the Phase 1 installation, configuration, and network isolation of ELBIT’s simulation hardware and software platforms within the RIASAT facility.
• Curriculum Localization: Work directly with ELBIT Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to adapt Israeli cybersecurity modules into commercial, IT/OT, and critical infrastructure training pathways suitable for the Indian enterprise market.
• Cross-Ecosystem Integration: Map cybersecurity protocols and overlapping research opportunities with the existing Dassault Systèmes digital engineering platforms and the CMTI advanced manufacturing initiatives to secure AI and digital twin workflows.
• Commercial Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategy: Finalize the pricing, packaging, and commercial pitch deck for enterprise-grade SOC training and industrial network (ICS/SCADA) hardening services. Phase 3: Days 61–90 (Operational Launch & Commercialization) Focus: System validation, inaugural cohort launch, and pipeline generation.
• Platform Beta & Stress Testing: Execute a full operational stress test and beta simulation on the ELBIT Cyber Range using an internal or invited technical team to validate system readiness and instructional flow.
• Inaugural Program Launch: Launch the first specialized cybersecurity executive briefing or tactical operator short-course, utilizing the newly commissioned ELBIT modules.
• B2B Enterprise Outreach: Initiate targeted sales motions, pitching the COE's capabilities to Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in the aerospace, defense, Police and manufacturing sectors for sponsored capability-building projects.
• Government Mandate Positioning: Identify and submit preliminary qualifications for state or central government capability-building grants focused on national critical infrastructure protection. ? Apply Now: Be a part of this phenomenal journey of transformation by sending your resume to [email protected].

📌 Centre Head – Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (Bengaluru)
🏢 Ramaiah Institute for Advanced Skills and Technology (RIASAT)
📍 Bengaluru