Manager, Detections

Shift5 is redefining the future of onboard operational technology (OT). As a fast-growing scale-up, we specialize in cutting-edge cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and compliance for OT systems across defense, aerospace, and rail. We are a team of passionate, innovative professionals who thrive in a collaborative environment, driven by a shared mission to revolutionize how fleets operate. By unlocking and democratizing the vast potential of onboard OT data, we help our customers’ fleets run smarter, safer, and more efficiently. Ready to be part of the next frontier in transportation and critical infrastructure? Come join us.

Our Values:

• Embrace Truth and Integrity: Base decisions on data, foster open dialogue, and uphold unwavering integrity.
• User-Centric Focus: Prioritize user needs to guide our actions and resource allocation.
• Collaborative & Adaptable: Collaborate for excellence, learning from failures and driving iterative improvements, recognizing every decision's significance.

Shift5 is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Manager, Detections to lead the research and development of cutting-edge detection algorithms and systems. This role is pivotal in creating defenses against cyber threats targeting the unique operational technology (OT), embedded systems, and radio frequency (RF) communications integral to modern weapon systems and complex fleet transportation platforms. While the primary focus is on cybersecurity, this role will also contribute to developing detections relevant to predictive maintenance and operational safety use cases derived from the same onboard data streams. The position demands a unique blend of technical leadership and hands-on contribution; the Manager will guide and mentor a specialized team of three detection engineers while also serving as a key individual technical contributor, actively engaging in the research, design, and prototyping of novel detection methodologies across these domains. This requires not only managing day-to-day activities but also providing strategic R&D direction, anticipating future threats and operational anomalies, and pioneering innovative solutions for non-traditional IT environments.

Success in this role means directly impacting the security posture, maintenance efficiency, and safety insights for national defense assets and critical transportation infrastructure, tackling challenging, real-world problems at the confluence of OT, embedded systems, RF technology, advanced cyber threats, and operational data analysis. The Manager, Detections will operate at the heart of a dynamic, cross-functional environment, serving as a critical interface between the Research organization and teams across Product Management, Software, Hardware, and Firmware Engineering, Data Science, Vulnerability Research, and customer-facing Field Teams. The ability to balance deep technical work with effective team leadership and mentorship is crucial for driving innovation and excellence within the detection engineering function.

Location: Remote, occasional travel to Shift5 HQ & customer sites <15%, Preferred: Rosslyn, VA - Hybrid

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead, mentor, coach, and cultivate a high-performing team of detection engineers specializing in OT, embedded systems, and RF security domains, with an understanding of maintenance and safety data applications.
• Foster an environment that encourages innovation, technical rigor, continuous learning, and effective collaboration, both within the team and across Shift5.
• Manage team performance by setting clear goals, providing constructive feedback, identifying development opportunities, and supporting individual career growth paths.

Detection R&D Strategy & Execution:

• Direct and drive the comprehensive research, design, development, prototyping, and rigorous validation of novel detection algorithms, system signatures, behavioral models, and advanced analytics. The primary focus is squarely on identifying both known and previously unseen cyber threats targeting OT environments, embedded systems, and RF communication protocols (e.g. GPS, tactical datalinks) prevalent in defense and transportation sectors. A secondary focus involves leveraging the same data and analytical approaches to develop detections for predictive maintenance indicators and potential safety-related anomalies.
• Oversee the strategic planning, technical design, effective implementation, and maintainability of these detection capabilities (cyber, maintenance, safety) within Shift5's observability