R&D Director – Big Data | Defense & Security Startup (Hands-On)

A fast-growing Big Data startup operating in the defense & security sector is hiring a Hands-On R&D Director to lead engineering from architecture to production.

🚨 This is a technical leadership role.

If you are not hands-on with code and architecture, this role is not a fit.

• Lead and mentor a small, high-level R&D team

• Own system architecture and hands-on development

• Design and build scalable Big Data systems

• Work extensively with AWS and Apache Spark

• Lead backend development in Java

• Oversee and contribute to frontend development in React

• Deliver secure, mission-critical systems for defense use cases

✔ 10+ years in software engineering / R&D leadership roles

✔ Proven hands-on experience with AWS – must

✔ Strong background in Big Data architectures & Apache Spark

✔ Solid Java backend experience

✔ Experience with React or modern frontend frameworks

✔ Background in startup or scale-up environments

✔ Ability to lead while remaining deeply involved technically

• Experience working with defense / HLS / government projects

• Familiarity with high-security, regulated environments

• This is not a people-only management role

• Requires direct involvement in coding, architecture and delivery

• High-impact role in a growing defense-tech company

📩 Apply only if you fully match the requirements above.