Stealth Startup
We are seeking a
Director of R&D – Software
to lead the architecture, execution, and scaling of our
global software platform . This role owns
backend systems, cloud infrastructure, mobile applications, and security , while providing
strong people leadership
to a distributed, cross-border engineering organisation.
Based in
San Jose , this leader will work closely with executive leadership, product, hardware, AI, and design teams in the US, while
directly leading and managing the core software R&D team in Shenzhen .
Fluency in Mandarin is required
to enable direct communication, technical reviews, and people management without reliance on translation.
This is a
hands-on leadership role , not a pure people-manager position. The ideal candidate combines
deep technical judgement
with
exceptional management discipline , capable of driving execution at scale while raising the bar for engineering quality, security, and delivery predictability.
Key Responsibilities Technical & Platform Leadership
Own the
end-to-end software architecture
across:
Mobile applications (iOS & Android)
APIs, data pipelines, and integrations
Security, privacy, and compliance frameworks
Define and evolve
scalable, secure, and reliable system architecture
to support global consumer products and future AI-driven capabilities
Establish
engineering standards
for code quality, testing, CI/CD, reliability, and security
Partner with Product and Hardware leaders to ensure
tight software–hardware integration
across the full product lifecycle
Lead, mentor, and grow
backend, app, and security engineering teams , with the
core execution team based in Shenzhen
Manage managers and senior ICs across regions, setting
clear expectations, accountability, and career paths
Drive a culture of
ownership, engineering excellence, and continuous improvement
Conduct performance reviews, talent calibration, and succession planning across US and China teams
Communicate
fluently in Mandarin and English
for technical discussions, 1:1s, and team forums
Execution & Delivery
Translate product and business goals into
clear technical roadmaps and execution plans
Own
delivery predictability , balancing speed, quality, and long-term platform health
Drive cross-functional execution with Product, AI, Hardware, QA, and Operations teams
Identify and resolve
technical debt, scalability risks, and security vulnerabilities
Security & Compliance
Own platform-level
security architecture and best practices
Ensure compliance with relevant
data privacy, security, and regulatory standards
Lead incident response planning, audits, and continuous security improvements
Act as a
primary bridge between US leadership and China R&D teams
Ensure alignment on architecture, priorities, and execution between San Jose and Shenzhen
Represent software R&D in executive and cross-functional forums in both languages
Required Qualifications
10+ years of software engineering experience, including
5+ years in engineering leadership
roles
Proven experience leading
backend, cloud, and mobile app teams
at scale
Strong understanding of
distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, APIs, and data platforms
Solid background in
security best practices , system reliability, and privacy-by-design
Demonstrated success managing
international or cross-border engineering teams
Fluency in Mandarin Chinese and English (Required)
— written and spoken
Strong people-management skills with a track record of
building high-performing teams
Ability to operate at both
strategic and hands‑on technical levels
Excellent communication skills with technical and non‑technical stakeholders
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in
consumer technology, IoT, or hardware‑connected platforms
Familiarity with
mobile + cloud ecosystems
supporting global consumer products
Experience scaling platforms from
growth stage to global scale
Exposure to
AI/ML platform integration
is a plus
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Stealth Startup by 2x
Get notified about new Director of Research Development jobs in
San Jose, CA .
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Director of R&D – Software
to lead the architecture, execution, and scaling of our
global software platform . This role owns
backend systems, cloud infrastructure, mobile applications, and security , while providing
strong people leadership
to a distributed, cross-border engineering organisation.
Based in
San Jose , this leader will work closely with executive leadership, product, hardware, AI, and design teams in the US, while
directly leading and managing the core software R&D team in Shenzhen .
Fluency in Mandarin is required
to enable direct communication, technical reviews, and people management without reliance on translation.
This is a
hands-on leadership role , not a pure people-manager position. The ideal candidate combines
deep technical judgement
with
exceptional management discipline , capable of driving execution at scale while raising the bar for engineering quality, security, and delivery predictability.
Key Responsibilities Technical & Platform Leadership
Own the
end-to-end software architecture
across:
Mobile applications (iOS & Android)
APIs, data pipelines, and integrations
Security, privacy, and compliance frameworks
Define and evolve
scalable, secure, and reliable system architecture
to support global consumer products and future AI-driven capabilities
Establish
engineering standards
for code quality, testing, CI/CD, reliability, and security
Partner with Product and Hardware leaders to ensure
tight software–hardware integration
across the full product lifecycle
Lead, mentor, and grow
backend, app, and security engineering teams , with the
core execution team based in Shenzhen
Manage managers and senior ICs across regions, setting
clear expectations, accountability, and career paths
Drive a culture of
ownership, engineering excellence, and continuous improvement
Conduct performance reviews, talent calibration, and succession planning across US and China teams
Communicate
fluently in Mandarin and English
for technical discussions, 1:1s, and team forums
Execution & Delivery
Translate product and business goals into
clear technical roadmaps and execution plans
Own
delivery predictability , balancing speed, quality, and long-term platform health
Drive cross-functional execution with Product, AI, Hardware, QA, and Operations teams
Identify and resolve
technical debt, scalability risks, and security vulnerabilities
Security & Compliance
Own platform-level
security architecture and best practices
Ensure compliance with relevant
data privacy, security, and regulatory standards
Lead incident response planning, audits, and continuous security improvements
Act as a
primary bridge between US leadership and China R&D teams
Ensure alignment on architecture, priorities, and execution between San Jose and Shenzhen
Represent software R&D in executive and cross-functional forums in both languages
Required Qualifications
10+ years of software engineering experience, including
5+ years in engineering leadership
roles
Proven experience leading
backend, cloud, and mobile app teams
at scale
Strong understanding of
distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, APIs, and data platforms
Solid background in
security best practices , system reliability, and privacy-by-design
Demonstrated success managing
international or cross-border engineering teams
Fluency in Mandarin Chinese and English (Required)
— written and spoken
Strong people-management skills with a track record of
building high-performing teams
Ability to operate at both
strategic and hands‑on technical levels
Excellent communication skills with technical and non‑technical stakeholders
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in
consumer technology, IoT, or hardware‑connected platforms
Familiarity with
mobile + cloud ecosystems
supporting global consumer products
Experience scaling platforms from
growth stage to global scale
Exposure to
AI/ML platform integration
is a plus
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Stealth Startup by 2x
Get notified about new Director of Research Development jobs in
San Jose, CA .
#J-18808-Ljbffr