Director - Product Engineering

About KATIM

KATIM is a leader in the development of innovative secure communication products and solutions for governments and businesses. As part of the Space & Cyber Technologies cluster at EDGE, one of the world’s leading advanced technology groups, KATIM delivers trust in a world where cyber risks are a constant threat, and fulfils the increasing demand for advanced cyber capabilities by delivering robust, secure, end-to-end solutions centered on four core business units: Networks, Ultra Secure Mobile Devices, Applications, and Satellite Communications. Our talented team of cross functional experts continually takes-on new challenges. We work with the energy of a start-up yet the discipline of a large business to make solutions and products work for our customers at scale. 

The Director, Product Engineering is a senior individual contributor role within the Engineering organization, reporting directly to the VP of Engineering. This position exists to enhance Engineering’s execution capacity, technical decision-making, and long-term product shaping. It interfaces with adjacent functions to ensure technical integrity, feasibility, and alignment across the entire product lifecycle.

The role supports the VP of Engineering in driving engineering transformation, improving the technical structure of product creation, and evaluating technology partnerships that complement the company's secure communications portfolio. It acts as an internal accelerator for engineering priorities and bridging product creation lifecycle operations without assuming responsibilities within Professional Services, Sales or Product Management.

The Director, Product Engineering is technical leadership role designed to strengthen Engineering’s execution ensuring that we create the right products, the right way, and with the right partners.

Key Responsbilities

•    Shape and support engineering-wide product creation structures, helping to drive architectural integrity and harmonized execution across teams
•    Provide structure and coaching to Product Owners within Engineering, clarifying technical scope, aligning roadmaps, and ensuring readiness for execution
•    Interface with Product Management as a senior engineering voice to ensure feasibility, compliance, and clarity on engineering effort, timelines, and trade-offs
•    Identify and promote shared technical enablers and engineering initiatives that unlock velocity or improve lifecycle management across multiple products
•    Evaluate potential technical partnerships and alliances that could impact our product roadmap or enhance technical capabilities
•    Serve as a technical advisor to Business Development and the Executive Team on ecosystem alignment, capability integration, and consortium participation.
•    Lead technical diligence on NATO and European defense cooperation opportunities, ensuring Engineering is well positioned for strategic bids and interoperability
•    Ensure that all partner-aligned initiatives are technically feasible, in line with internal architecture, and consistent with Engineering priorities
•    Partner with the VP of Engineering and Principal Architect to define and drive high-impact change initiatives within Engineering
•    Own cross-functional execution gaps that affect engineering performance, driving resolution and accountability in collaboration with peers (e.g., Delivery, QA)
•    Support the VP in translating long-term strategy into engineering process, team structures, and initiative roadmaps
•    Act as a trusted advisor and force multiplier to Engineering leadership in shaping an agile, empowered, and forward-looking organization

Education and Minimum Requirements 

•    15+ years in technical leadership roles within engineering or product development functions, preferably in secure communications or defense industries
•    Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline; advanced degrees or defense background advantageous
•    Demonstrated experience in organizational change, cross-team enablement, and systems engineering
•    Active network in the European defense or NATO ecosystem a significant plus
•    Strong written and verbal communication in English; ability to represent Engineering in internal and external strategic settings

•    Proven track record of senior-level engineering leadership in secure communications or defense technology domains
•    Strong technical judgment with demonstrated ability to evaluate, structure, and drive product development at system level
•    Deep understanding of modern engineering operating models (agile teams, architectural governance, product/technology alignment)
•    Experience influencing and driving alignment across Engineering, Professional Services, Product Management, and Sales

Key Skills

•    Familiarity with technology evaluation and partner engagement in sensitive or dual-use domains
•    Willingness and ability to travel for technical partner evaluation and industry engagements

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