Job Type
Full-Time Regular
Location
Anywhere U.S. Based


Head of R&D - NG911

Location: U.S. Based (REMOTE)

Software R&D and Product Management Manager

Overview

Peskind Executive Search has been retained by a leading provider of Emergency 911 technology solutions to identify a highly accomplished Software R&D and Product Management Manager. This confidential role will oversee the innovation, development, and lifecycle management of mission-critical software supporting Emergency 911 services.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in IP-based telecommunications software—spanning both back-end routing systems and front-end user interfaces—and will have a proven ability to lead product strategy from concept through deployment. This is a high-impact leadership position requiring a balance of technical acumen, product management discipline, and the ability to guide cross-functional, multi-national teams in delivering next-generation public safety solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

  • Define and execute the R&D roadmap for Emergency 911 software products, ensuring alignment with NENA i3 and related standards.

  • Track emerging technologies in public safety communications (NG911, IP-based call routing, GIS integration) and incorporate advancements into product strategy.

Product Management

  • Lead end-to-end product lifecycle activities: market analysis, requirements development, roadmap planning, prioritization, release management, and post-deployment support.

  • Engage with key stakeholders—including PSAPs, telecom carriers, and government agencies—to translate operational needs into actionable product features.

  • Develop business cases, pricing models, and go-to-market strategies for new software solutions.

R&D Oversight

  • Lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams through design, prototyping, and delivery of resilient, scalable, and standards-compliant software.

  • Oversee interoperability testing and ensure products meet NENA and related regulatory certifications.

  • Advance modern development methodologies, including Agile practices, DevOps, and CI/CD automation.

AI-Enabled Development & Testing

  • Champion the integration of AI-powered tools for software development, code review, and automated testing to accelerate engineering velocity.

  • Promote the use of AI-driven test generation, regression automation, and defect prediction to enhance software robustness and security.

  • Partner with Data & AI teams to evaluate emerging AI technologies and embed them into development workflows.

  • Cultivate a culture of innovation by piloting and scaling AI-enabled engineering practices across teams.

Collaboration & Compliance

  • Build strong relationships with industry bodies, standards groups, and technology partners to stay ahead of evolving regulatory and technical requirements.

  • Ensure all solutions comply with federal, state, and local regulations governing emergency communications.

Innovation & Quality

  • Drive innovation in areas such as location accuracy, multimedia call handling (text, video, data), and cloud-native NG911 solutions.

  • Establish rigorous QA practices to ensure reliability in mission-critical environments where system performance is paramount.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related discipline.

  • 8+ years of experience in software product development, including at least 3 years in product management or R&D leadership.

  • Demonstrated success delivering compliant, mission-critical software solutions.

  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement capabilities.

Desired Skills

  • Strong knowledge of Emergency 911 systems, NENA i3 standards, and public safety communications.

  • Experience with GIS, SIP protocols, and IP-based call routing.

  • Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and microservices architectures.

  • Ability to balance innovation, compliance, and customer needs.

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.