Director of Product Development

This is a senior product leadership role based in the United States, overseeing the strategy, development, deployment, and lifecycle evolution of a secure communications portfolio supporting critical government missions.

About the Role

You will translate complex mission and customer requirements into clear product priorities, technical requirements, and long-term roadmap decisions. The role combines product leadership, cybersecurity expertise, technical depth, and executive-level stakeholder management in highly regulated environments. You will lead an organization of approximately 30 professionals while establishing the operating rhythms, priorities, and accountability needed for consistent execution. You will work closely with engineering, cybersecurity, manufacturing, program, customer, and technology partners to deliver resilient mission-critical solutions. The position offers significant influence over secure networking architectures, compliance, product investments, and technology integration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the complete product development lifecycle, from requirements definition and development through deployment, sustainment, and portfolio evolution.
• Translate mission requirements, customer feedback, and operational needs into prioritized product plans, technical requirements, investment decisions, and roadmap strategies.
• Lead and develop an organization of approximately 30 personnel, including managers, with responsibility for goal setting, performance management, coaching, talent development, and succession planning.
• Establish priorities, operating rhythms, performance expectations, and accountability mechanisms that enable efficient execution and rapid response to mission requirements.
• Provide senior technical leadership across secure communications and networking architectures, including CSfC, IPsec, firewall design, enclave segregation, endpoint hardening, and multi-enclave integration.
• Ensure alignment with applicable NSA CSfC requirements and support activities involving RMF, ATO, STIG, CCI, NIAP, and related accreditation frameworks.
• Partner with engineering, cybersecurity, manufacturing, program management, and external technology organizations to align technical execution with product and mission objectives.
• Engage directly with customers and operational users to validate requirements, refine priorities, communicate product direction, and represent the portfolio in executive briefings, partner discussions, and industry forums.
• Integrate OEM, commercial off-the-shelf, and third-party technologies into hardened solutions while developing and managing strategic technology partnerships.
• Provide senior leadership with clear updates on roadmap progress, investment rationale, risks, dependencies, tradeoffs, and emerging opportunities.
• Guide the development and productization of secure solutions for demanding operational environments, including forward-deployed, disconnected, intermittent, or air-gapped environments.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, information systems, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent professional experience. A master's degree in a relevant technical or business field is preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in secure communications, tactical networking, cybersecurity, mission systems, or product development supporting government or defense environments.
• Demonstrated success leading complex product development initiatives in secure, regulated, mission-critical, or highly technical environments.
• Proven experience leading large, cross-functional technical organizations of comparable scale, including experience managing managers and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of NSA CSfC, NIAP, RMF, ATO, and related security and accreditation frameworks.
• Deep understanding of IPsec, firewall architecture, secure networking, enclave segregation, endpoint hardening, and multi-enclave environments.
• Familiarity with infrastructure and networking technologies from vendors such as Dell, Cisco, SonicWall, VMware, and Aruba.
• Experience supporting DoD or Intelligence Community environments; prior military service or direct support to operational military or combatant command environments is a strong advantage.
• Familiarity with DoDIN APL, STIG/CCI libraries, NSA CSfC registration, test planning, or test annex execution is preferred.
• Experience fielding secure solutions in forward-deployed, DDIL, or air-gapped environments is highly desirable.
• Experience productizing integrated hardware and software solutions for government customers, as well as portfolio-level investment planning or product positioning.
• Exceptional executive communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior government officials, customers, technical leaders, partners, and corporate executives.
• An active Secret security clearance is required; an active TS/SCI clearance is highly desirable.
• Strategic, accountable, technically credible, collaborative leadership style, capable of making sound decisions in complex, high-stakes environments.

Benefits

• Compensation: Competitive salary with a national proposed range of $126,000-$277,100, depending on factors such as location, experience, skills, education, certifications, and applicable contract requirements.
• Healthcare: Comprehensive healthcare benefits designed to support employees and their families.
• Wellness: Wellness resources and benefits supporting physical and overall well-being.
• Financial Benefits: Financial support programs and competitive retirement benefits.
• Time Off: Flexible time-off benefits designed to support work-life balance.
• Family Support: Benefits and resources designed to support employees and their families.
• Learning & Development: Robust continuing education, professional development, and learning resources.
• Career Growth: Opportunities to work on high-impact national security missions and advance within a technically sophisticated environment.
• Culture: A workplace centered on integrity, trust, innovation, collaboration, and meaningful mission impact.
• Work Model: Remote opportunity available across eligible U.S. states.
• Travel: Up to approximately 25% travel may be required, including travel outside the continental United States.
• Mission Impact: Opportunity to lead products and teams supporting critical government and national security missions.