Open to opportunities

Ishmael Dube

@ishmaeldube

Message

Seasoned Red Team leader and offensive security expert improving enterprise resilience.

South Africa

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek a senior offensive security role where I can lead red/purple teams, scale detection engineering, embed DevSecOps, and drive zero-trust maturity in a collaborative, risk-focused organization.

I am a seasoned Red Team leader and offensive security specialist with deep expertise in adversary emulation, penetration testing, cloud and container security, and threat-informed detection engineering. I have built and matured integrated cyber operations teams, executed full-scale breach and attack simulations, and embedded zero-trust and DevSecOps practices to measurably reduce exposure and improve MTTD/MTTR.

My background includes advanced malware analysis, digital forensics, secure development, and governance alignment with ISO, NIST, and COBIT frameworks, supported by multiple postgraduate degrees and industry certifications. I lead collaborative purple-team engagements, threat hunting, and human-risk reduction programs that strengthen detection, response, and organizational security culture.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Security Operations Lead

Current

Shoprite-Checkers Group

Dec 2022 - Present (2 years 11 months)

Lead an integrated Red/Blue/Purple cyber operations team, executing adversary emulations and BAS to improve detection and reduce MTTD/MTTR while strengthening zero-trust and cloud security posture.

Red Team Detection Engineering Cloud Security Vulnerability Management Incident Response

Security Specialist I

Shoprite-Checkers Group

Jul 2020 - Nov 2022 (2 years 4 months)

Established and led the Red Team, conducting penetration tests and adversarial simulations to uncover critical vulnerabilities and accelerate remediation cycles across web, mobile, and enterprise systems.

Penetration Testing Red Team Operations Vulnerability Assessment SIEM Tuning Threat Hunting Reporting Exploit Development

Security Engineer III

Shoprite-Checkers Group

Nov 2019 - Jun 2020 (7 months)

Performed threat modelling, hunting, and intelligence correlation to improve detection and reduce critical exposures while supporting policy and compliance alignment with ISO/NIST frameworks.

Threat Modeling Threat Hunting Incident Response Intelligence Analysis Vulnerability Management ISO 27001 NIST SIEM

Senior Security Engineer

InfoGuardian

Jun 2019 - Oct 2019 (4 months)

Delivered advanced security implementations and client-focused solutions, reducing data exposure risks and improving staff security awareness through training programs.

Security Architecture Client Engagement Risk Assessment & Compliance

Systems Administrator

Akani Properties

Jun 2016 - May 2019 (2 years 11 months)

Managed and enhanced cybersecurity posture across IT infrastructure, implemented security tools, led incident response, and developed BC/DR strategies to improve resilience and reduce RTOs.

System Administration SIEM Vulnerability Management Incident Response Patch Management

Group Systems Administrator

Akani Retirement Fund Administrators

Apr 2012 - May 2016 (4 years 1 month)

Defined enterprise security requirements, deployed security platforms, led vulnerability assessments and incident investigations to strengthen system protection and compliance.

Vulnerability Assessment Risk Analysis Patch Management Incident Response