Head of Game Security

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Head of Game Security based in the United States.** We are seeking an experienced Head of Game Security to lead game integrity, fraud prevention, and security technology for a rapidly growing online crypto-poker platform. In this strategic leadership role, you will own the game security technology roadmap, oversee a team of analysts, and safeguard fair play across the platform. You will drive the detection and prevention of sophisticated threats, including bots, real-time assistance (RTA), collusion, multi-accounting, and payment abuse. Working closely with Product, Engineering, Payments, Support, and data teams, you will transform emerging fraud patterns into actionable detection strategies and technical improvements. You will combine hands-on technical expertise, investigative judgment, and team leadership to strengthen security systems and ensure consistent enforcement. This is an opportunity to shape the future of online gaming integrity in an innovative, blockchain-powered environment. ### Accountabilities - Security Technology Strategy and Roadmap: Serve as the primary point of contact for game security and broader security technology requirements. Own and prioritize the security roadmap, covering RTA and solver detection, bot prevention, collusion, account takeovers, multi-accounting, identity verification (KYC), and payment and bonus abuse. Define requirements, coordinate implementation with Product and Engineering, approve releases, and measure the effectiveness of security solutions. - Fraud Detection and Prevention: Develop and improve detection strategies for sophisticated online poker threats, including automated play, unauthorized assistance, chip dumping, ghosting, collusion, and suspicious account activity. Refine detection rules, thresholds, and automation to improve accuracy, reduce false positives, and strengthen platform integrity. - Game Security Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop the Game Security analyst team. Establish clear priorities, investigation standards, performance expectations, and workflows that support effective threat identification and resolution. - Investigation and Enforcement Operations: Oversee the end-to-end handling of suspected fraud and game integrity incidents, from initial triage and investigation through sanctions, confiscations, and appeals. Ensure decisions are evidence-based, consistent, well documented, and defensible when challenged by players. - Technical Solution Evaluation: Lead build-versus-buy decisions for security tools, external vendors, and data sources. Evaluate potential solutions, coordinate with technical teams on implementation, and ensure that investments deliver measurable improvements in detection capabilities and operational efficiency. - Threat Intelligence and Risk Monitoring: Monitor emerging fraud methods and developments across online poker, real-money gaming, and crypto gambling. Translate new threats into detection priorities and provide regular updates to leadership on risks, trends, and mitigation strategies. - Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinate security investigations and mitigation efforts with Player Risk Management (PRM), Customer Support, Payments, Business Intelligence (BI), and relevant operational teams. Ensure information flows efficiently and that security measures align with broader business and platform requirements. - Security Performance and Continuous Improvement: Establish and monitor relevant performance indicators to assess detection quality, investigation efficiency, enforcement outcomes, and the impact of security tools. Use findings from investigations, appeals, and emerging threats to continuously improve policies, processes, and technical controls. - Technical Investigation and Data Analysis: Apply SQL, Python-based prototyping, statistical analysis, and relevant security technologies to investigate suspicious behavior, identify patterns, and develop practical detection logic. Work with engineering teams to translate investigative findings into scalable technical solutions. ## Requirements: - Relevant Professional Experience: At least five years of experience in game integrity, fraud prevention, risk management, or trust and safety, including a minimum of two years leading a team. - Online Gaming Expertise: Direct experience in online poker or real-money gaming is strongly preferred, with a practical understanding of poker ecosystems, player behavior, and common methods of cheating and abuse. - Technical Proficiency: Strong technical knowledge, including SQL expertise and sufficient Python skills to prototype detection logic, analyze suspicious activity, and validate detection approaches. A working understanding of game servers, client applications, and anti-cheat systems is essential. - Poker Fraud and Threat Detection: Hands-on knowledge of modern poker threats, including real-time assistance (RTA), GTO solver misuse, bots, collusion, chip dumping, ghosting, and multi-accounting. Ability to identify suspicious behavioral patterns and develop effective investigation and detection strategies. - Security Roadmap Ownership: Demonstrated experience owning a technical or fraud prevention roadmap, translating business and security needs into clear requirements, prioritizing initiatives with engineering teams, and measuring the effectiveness of implemented solutions. - Investigative Judgment: Strong analytical and investigative skills, with the ability to assess complex cases, interpret technical evidence, distinguish suspicious behavior from legitimate activity, and make consistent, well-supported decisions. - Evidence and Case Documentation: Excellent written communication skills and the ability to prepare clear, objective investigation reports and evidence that can withstand player appeals and internal review. - People Leadership: Proven ability to manage, coach, and develop analysts or other risk and security professionals. Strong decision-making, prioritization, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills are essential. - Stakeholder Management: Ability to work effectively with Product, Engineering, Payments, Support, BI, and operational teams, translating complex security concerns into practical recommendations and actionable priorities. - Preferred Additional Expertise: Experience with cryptocurrency payments, on-chain analysis, anti-money laundering (AML), GTO solvers, statistical or machine-learning-based player profiling, device fingerprinting, behavioral biometrics, or third-party anti-bot solutions. - Adaptability and Ownership: A proactive, detail-oriented approach to problem-solving, with the ability to respond to evolving threats, operate in a fast-paced technology environment, and balance technical innovation with fair and consistent enforcement. ## Benefits: - Competitive Compensation: Competitive salary, with performance-based bonuses. - Fully Remote Work: The flexibility to work remotely, with the position advertised as fully remote. - Flexible Working Hours: Flexibility to organize working hours around team and operational needs. - Innovative Technology Environment: The opportunity to work with blockchain technology, cryptocurrency payments, advanced security tools, and evolving online gaming systems. - Leadership and Strategic Impact: The opportunity to shape the game security roadmap, lead a specialist team, and influence platform-wide fraud prevention and fair-play initiatives. - Professional Development: Opportunities to expand technical expertise, develop leadership capabilities, and grow professionally in the evolving online gaming and blockchain sectors. - Collaborative Team Culture: Work alongside professionals across technology, product development, analytics, payments, and player operations in a collaborative and inclusive environment. - Career Growth: The opportunity to contribute to the development of security capabilities within a growing digital gaming business.