Head of R&D

Apono is a fast-growing startup in the DevSecOps realm based in Tel Aviv and NYC. Apono provides a permission management automation platform with ‘just in time’ access to cloud assets, databases, Kubernetes clusters, and more. We help companies automate permission management in a way that allows organizations to stay agile and secure.
We believe fast movement and developers’ ownership do not need to affect the environment’s security level. We strive to be a product-led organization, building a product with fast Time to Value while prioritizing the frictionless developer experience.

Responsibilities:

• Leading the R&D department, encompassing Engineering, DevOps, and QA teams.
• Collaborate closely with the Product Department to define requirements and prioritize feature development.
• Work with Product Management and other stakeholders to ensure successful product releases that meet market demands.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources to meet business objectives and deadlines.
• Develop and execute a strategic plan for the department that aligns with the company’s overall goals and aims to enhance innovation and product development efficiency.
• Foster a culture of success, continuous learning, innovation, and knowledge sharing.
• Mentor team members to aid in their professional growth.
• Recruit, mentor, and provide technical leadership to strengthen software engineering teams.
• Keep abreast of technology standards, industry trends, and emerging technologies to maintain a competitive edge.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 5 years experience in leading, managing, and scaling R&D teams, preferably within startup environments that expanded from a small to a larger scale (from 10+ to 100+ members).
• At least 8 years of experience in scaling software engineering teams.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to effectively convey technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Robust technical background in software engineering, with hands-on experience designing and developing scalable, distributed backend services.
• Proven track record in supporting critical production environments.
• Familiarity with engineering best practices, including code reviews, testing coverage, and experience with Agile and SDLC setups.
• Data-oriented and entrepreneurial leadership skills, focusing on achieving tangible results.

Advantages:

• Experience in cyber security startups.
• Strong technical expertise in Java, Go, Kubernetes, and AWS cloud services.