Our client is building the next generation network security platform and is looking for a VP of Product and Engineering. In this role, you will lead both the product implementation and the engineering execution for a category-defining platform. This role combines product leadership with deep technical oversight. You will execute on the product roadmap, translate customer needs into actionable technical requirements, and build the engineering organization to deliver it.
You will be the technical co-pilot for a category-defining product, and lead architecture and execution across distributed systems, high-performance networking, and AI-driven security.
This is a highly collaborative and hands-on role: from early design decisions and IP creation to recruiting, mentoring, and scaling the team. You will work closely with the CEO to shape market fit, and guide the entire lifecycle from design to launch and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Technical Leadership
- Define and own the product operations strategy and execution across all components.
- Participate in product discovery, market research, and customer engagement to ensure the roadmap aligns with market needs and company objectives.
- Translate customer and market insights into clear product requirements, technical specifications, and user stories.
- Balance near-term deliverables with long-term strategic investments.
Execution & Delivery
- Oversee architecture and technical design to ensure secure, scalable, and simple solutions.
- Drive the full engineering lifecycle from prototype to GA release, ensuring world-class quality and performance.
- Establish DevSecOps practices and continuous delivery pipelines.
- Ensure all core technology meets regulatory, security, and performance requirements.
Team Building & Culture
- Recruit, mentor, and inspire exceptional product managers and engineers.
- Build a culture of collaboration between product and engineering teams that reflects their DNA of simplicity, security, and speed.
- Define career paths, training programs, and performance metrics for both product and engineering organizations.
Innovation & IP
- Lead patent strategy and contribute to our growing IP portfolio in trust-based networking, AI-powered security, and next-generation protocols.
- Anticipate technology trends (PQC, AI-driven trust analytics, DPU offload, etc.) to maintain competitive advantage and inform the roadmap.
Qualifications
Proven Leadership: 10+ years in product and/or engineering leadership roles, with experience guiding both disciplines in high-growth environments.
Product Expertise: Deep understanding of customer discovery, product-market fit, and translating vision into detailed product requirements.
Technical Depth: Strong background in cybersecurity, networking, distributed systems, cryptography, high-speed packet processing, or protocol design.
Startup DNA: Comfortable working in an early-stage environment—rolling up your sleeves, making fast decisions, and scaling teams from zero to hundreds.
Builder’s Mindset: Passion for elegant design, user experience, and code quality.
Communicator & Partner: Ability to convey complex concepts to customers, investors, and cross-functional stakeholders.
What We Offer
Equity & Ownership: Early equity stake and a leadership seat shaping both product and engineering strategy for a company built for rapid scale and long-term impact.
Ground Floor Opportunity: Shape a platform aiming to redefine Internet trust and disrupt a $60B+ network security market.
Cutting-Edge Technology: Work on cryptographic identity, trust-based routing, and AI-powered security at Internet scale.