Overview
ANGOKA, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Director of Engineering
Director of Engineering based in Belfast, Northern Ireland
ANGOKA is building the technology platform for a safer, more connected future aviation system. Our aim is to focus and operate first in air, and the resultant product and systems would map rapidly across to other sectors, including land and marine transportation.
Role Summary
As Director of Engineering, you will report to the CTO, supported by the Technical Leads of our engineering units (Hardware, Software (Embedded and Firmware), Cloud and Cybersecurity). You will lead the development and delivery of secure, integrated hardware (HW) and software (SW) systems designed to protect and optimise airspace and airport operations. Working with the CTO, you’ll translate the company’s technical vision into a robust engineering roadmap, manage multidisciplinary teams, and ensure on-time, high-quality, and compliant delivery of complex cybersecurity-enabled systems. This is a pivotal role in a fast-scaling start-up balancing strategy, execution, and team growth, ensuring the company’s technology stack and engineering culture are world-class, secure, and scalable.
Key Responsibilities / Tasks
* Implement and execute the company’s technical and product strategy for integrated airspace and airport cybersecurity solutions
* Build, mentor, and scale a high-performance engineering organisation across hardware, software, cloud and cybersecurity domains
* Champion agile delivery, DevSecOps principles, and continuous improvement
Technical Delivery
* Oversee the full engineering lifecycle — concept, design, prototyping, testing, integration, and deployment — across Hardware, Software and Cloud systems
* Ensure Security by Design and Resilience by Default are embedded throughout the engineering lifecycle; coordinate multidisciplinary teams (Hardware, Software, Cloud, Systems, Data, AI and Cybersecurity engineers)
* Drive compliance with relevant aviation, safety, and cyber standards, such as DO-326A, DO-178C, ISO/IEC 62443, ISO/IEC 21434, and NIST SP 800-series
Operational Excellence
* Establish scalable engineering processes, documentation, and QA frameworks
* Develop and manage engineering budgets, schedules, and resourcing plans
* Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Operations, and Business Development to align technology delivery with customer and market needs
* Oversee supplier and partner technical relationships, particularly for critical HW and security components
* Support technology roadmap development and R&D prioritisation
* Foster innovation in secure communications, sensor integration, and AI-driven monitoring
* Represent engineering in customer discussions, regulatory engagements, and industry forums when required
* Promote and nourish continuous learning and growth mindset culture across the engineering organisation
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
* Deliver engineering milestones on schedule; define and manage detailed engineering roadmaps, sprint plans, and resource allocations across engineering teams
* Maintain product quality and reliability; implement and enforce QA/testing frameworks across hardware, firmware, software, and cloud builds
* Work with the CTO to achieve products and processes compliance (e.g., DO-326A, ISO/IEC 62443, Cyber Resilience Act)
* Embed security-by-design in engineering processes and ensure alignment with compliance frameworks and audits
* Develop and deploy cyber-resilient products and systems; oversee secure system architecture, security testing, and rapid response to vulnerability disclosures
* Manage engineering budgets, supplier contracts, and resource forecasting within ±10% of budget
* Optimize system integration time; streamline CI/CD, DevSecOps practices, and cross-team integration
* Build and retain a high-performing engineering team; recruit, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary staff with clear progression frameworks
* Support the CTO in IP protection of technical proof-of-concept and R&D initiatives; consider patents when appropriate
* Maintain transparent communication with the CTO, Executive Committee, partners, and customers on progress, risks, and outcomes
Person Specification
* 10+ years in engineering leadership roles, ideally in aerospace, defence, cybersecurity, or critical infrastructure sectors
* Proven track record delivering successful NPI cycles with quality, cost, and manufacturability targets
* Experience designing and developing complex systems integrating HW, embedded SW, cloud and cybersecurity layers
* Strong understanding of secure systems design and safety-critical architectures
* Experience in concurrent engineering processes and horizon scanning
* Hands-on experience deploying and managing agile development environments, value stream mapping, and secure development lifecycle
* Demonstrated success in building and scaling multidisciplinary engineering teams in fast-paced or startup environments
* Experience delivering products or platforms meeting aviation or defence-grade standards
* Familiarity with tools and processes used in designing, developing and delivering products (e.g., Atlassian Suite, Altium, GitHub, CycloneDX, SPDX, GitLab, Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes)
* Degree in a relevant field; higher degree and professional certifications (e.g., Chartered Engineer) preferred
* Experience in airport operations, future air mobility systems, or air traffic management technologies
* Good understanding of cybersecurity essential principles
* Experience deploying zero-trust security principles and secure communication for mission-critical systems
* Familiarity with AI/ML applications in threat detection, surveillance, or autonomous systems
* Experience interfacing with regulators, customers, and certification authorities
Leadership & Interpersonal Attributes
* Strategic thinker with engineering credibility and delivery-focused mindset
* Collaborative, transparent, and pragmatic leader
* Strong communicator bridging technical and business goals
* Resilient under pressure with ability to manage ambiguity
* Health and safety always comes first
* Strong integrity, ethical judgment, and commitment to transparency
* Collaborative leader who builds trust and motivates diverse teams
ANGOKA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment.
At ANGOKA, all our hiring decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture that supports and represents our diverse society.
Application: Please send your CV & a Cover letter to HR@ANGOKA.IO
Apply / Contact
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to the email above.
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