Head of Engineering

Our client is changing the way that IT security teams secure their employees. To secure businesses today, security teams must start by protecting where modern work lives: the web browser. 

Our client starts by securing the browser blind spot and providing visibility and response capabilities to challenge threats organizations face daily. Their platform enables security teams to promote continuous awareness, tackle SaaS risk, and intelligently respond to cyber threats across the business.

As the Head of Engineering, you will spearhead the development of their browser-based security platform, shaping its technical direction while leading a lean engineering team through the exciting phase of scaling up. This is a unique opportunity to lay the groundwork for an engineering culture prioritizing their clients' experience, innovation, and resilience. You’ll collaborate with product and leadership teams to deliver a world-class solution that addresses the complex challenges of modern enterprise security.

Based in Austin, Texas, they are backed by top-tier venture firms. Their experience comes from multiple cybersecurity industry leaders, and they are dedicated to developing and implementing the most advanced browser security solutions. They are building a team of ambitious and knowledgeable individuals from diverse backgrounds passionate about creating the best user experience for their customers.

Their hybrid team meets in person at least three days a week.

Responsibilities

Engineering Vision and Strategy
Define and communicate the technical vision, balancing strategic priorities with a hands-on approach. This role isn’t just about overseeing but actively shaping the architecture, diving deep into problem-solving, and guiding the team through complex technical challenges.

Hands-On Leadership
Act as a player-coach, directly contributing to the codebase and architectural decisions, particularly in the early stages. Lead by example—whether it’s whiteboarding solutions, conducting code reviews, or troubleshooting critical issues side-by-side with your team.

Team Building and Development

Recruit, mentor, and lead a diverse team of engineers, scaling the organization thoughtfully to meet our growing product demands and business objectives.

Product Delivery and Technical Execution
Drive the end-to-end development process, ensuring high-quality, secure, and maintainable code. Lead the team in building scalable systems supporting a dynamic security product.

Cross-Functional Leadership
Collaborate with product, sales, and sales engineering to align technical capabilities with strategic business needs, balancing feature velocity with long-term platform goals.

Operational Excellence
Establish processes that ensure security, uptime, and stability across all systems, with a strong focus on monitoring, testing, and improving our platform’s performance.

R&D and Innovation
Champion a culture of learning and experimentation within the team, keeping Keep Aware at the forefront of industry best practices and emerging technology in the security landscape.

Qualifications

Experience

7+ years in software engineering with 3+ years in a technical leadership role. Experience in enterprise cybersecurity, network and email security, endpoint security, identity and access management, or related fields is preferred.
Startup Mindset and 0-to-1 Experience
Proven track record of building products or engineering teams from the ground up, especially in early-stage or high-growth environments. Ability to thrive with limited resources, making strategic decisions that establish a solid foundation for future scale and iteration.

Technical Mastery
Demonstrated experience building secure, scalable platforms with a strong grasp of cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, and secure development practices.
Leadership & Communication
Proven ability to guide, inspire, and grow an engineering team. Clear communicator who can work effectively across teams and present technical concepts to stakeholders.

Strategic & Analytical Thinking
Forward-thinking problem solver with an understanding of both product-level and business-level considerations, ensuring technology supports strategic objectives.

Adaptability and Resilience
Comfortable navigating ambiguity and change in a high-growth environment, focusing on impactful solutions as the company scales.

Benefits

● Competitive salary and stock options
● Comprehensive health, vision, and dental coverage
● Three weeks of PTO, excluding holidays
● Flexible work schedule with a hybrid model