Director, Experimental Product Development

Position Summary:

The Director of Experimental Product Development will lead the establishment and operation of Inmar Intelligence’s innovation lab, focusing on building and delivering functional prototypes that validate business ideas and accelerate time-to-market for new solutions. This hands-on technical role will be foundational in driving iterative development cycles, embedding agile methodologies, and transitioning validated prototypes into scalable production environments.

As the sole initial member of the lab at inception, the Director will independently design, develop, and deliver high-impact prototypes while collaborating with cross-functional teams, including product managers, data scientists, and engineers. The ideal candidate is an experienced technologist with a proven ability to balance speed and technical rigor, adept at leveraging modular architectures and cutting-edge tools to deliver results in compressed timeframes.

Primary Accountabilities:

Establish and Execute Rapid Prototyping Framework (50%)

• Design and implement a comprehensive rapid prototyping framework, including workflows, toolchains, and success metrics, to streamline iterative development.

• Independently develop functional prototypes for high-priority initiatives, focusing on APIs, microservices, and modular components that can seamlessly transition into production.

• Integrate customer and stakeholder feedback into iterative development cycles, ensuring prototypes align with strategic objectives.

• Define and document best practices for rapid development, code quality, and performance optimization, creating reusable blueprints for future projects.

Technical Innovation and Development (40%)

• Use advanced technical skills to rapidly prototype solutions, leveraging modern frameworks, programming languages, and cloud technologies.

• Build microservices and lightweight APIs to enable modular integration with existing systems, ensuring scalability and compatibility.

• Leverage real-time data pipelines, AI/ML frameworks, and analytics tools to create functional proofs of concept.

• Conduct performance tuning and technical validations, ensuring prototypes meet reliability and scalability requirements for production handoffs.

Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing (10%)

• Work closely with product management, engineering, and data science teams to identify high-impact opportunities for prototyping.

• Provide technical guidance and insights to stakeholders, translating complex technical concepts into actionable recommendations.

• Facilitate knowledge transfer and create detailed technical documentation for prototypes, ensuring seamless transitions to production teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Rapidly prototype, test, and iterate on new ideas with minimal supervision or resources.

• Prioritize initiatives based on business value, feasibility, and technical complexity.

• Operate as both a strategist and executor, balancing hands-on development with long-term planning.

• Evaluate and integrate new tools and technologies to enhance the prototyping process.

Qualifications:

Technical Skills and Experience:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

• Experience:

  • 10+ years of technical experience in software development, architecture, or engineering.

  • At least 3 years in a role focused on rapid prototyping, innovation labs, or proof-of-concept development.

• Programming Expertise:

  • Proficiency in Python, JavaScript (e.g., Node.js, React), and backend frameworks like Flask or Spring Boot.

  • Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., GCP, AWS, or Azure) and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).

• Architecture Knowledge:

  • Strong understanding of modular systems, microservices, API design, and real-time data pipelines.

  • Familiarity with AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch) and analytics tools (e.g., Looker, BigQuery).

• Development Practices:

  • Expertise in agile methodologies, CI/CD pipelines, and version control systems (e.g., Git).

  • Experience with performance tuning and system optimization in prototype environments.

Leadership and Soft Skills:

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

• Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines and align technical efforts with business priorities.

Competencies:

• Technical Rigor: Delivers high-quality code that is modular, scalable, and ready for production handoff.

• Strategic Vision: Identifies and prioritizes initiatives that align with business objectives and technical feasibility.

• Innovation Mindset: Pushes boundaries with creative, cutting-edge solutions while balancing practicality.

• Agility: Operates effectively in an iterative development environment with evolving priorities.

Key Outcomes:

• Build and deliver at least three functional prototypes in the first 12 months, demonstrating business value and technical feasibility.

• Develop a standardized rapid prototyping framework, including reusable templates and best practices, within the first six months.

• Transition validated prototypes to production teams with minimal rework, reducing time-to-market for new features by 30%.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.