Director of Engineering

Our client, Kenstan Lock Company, is a leading designer and manufacturer of highly engineered locking systems for the retail, government, and medical industries. We are assisting them in finding a strategic Director of Engineering to lead the development and evolution of their connected access control platform.

This role will drive the architecture, development, and delivery of the software systems that power our client's electromechanical lock ecosystem, including cloud infrastructure, mobile applications, identity integrations, and device connectivity.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience building Azure-based software platforms, integrating mobile applications and enterprise identity systems, and delivering solutions that support connected physical products. This leader will be technically strong, customer-facing, and capable of guiding cross-functional engineering teams to deliver secure, scalable enterprise solutions.

Please note - this role must report in-office in the Huntington, NY area.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Platform & Architecture Leadership

• Define and own the overall technical architecture for our client's cloud-connected access control platform.
• Lead the development of software systems supporting connected electromechanical products, including:
• Azure cloud services and APIs
• Mobile applications (iOS / Android)
• Device-to-cloud communication
• Identity and authentication services
• Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and enterprise-grade.
• Establish development standards, architecture best practices, and software quality frameworks.

Cloud & Identity Integration

• Architect and optimize Azure-based infrastructure, including App Services, Functions, IoT services, APIs, and data storage.
• Lead Microsoft Entra (Azure AD) integrations including:

• Single Sign-On (SSO) and federation
• Role-based access control

• Identity lifecycle management and provisioning
• Ensure strong security architecture, compliance, and data governance.
• Collaborate with enterprise customer IT teams to support complex identity environments.

Connected Product Integration

• Oversee the software and systems integration of connected electromechanical lock products.
• Partner closely with hardware, firmware, and mechanical engineering teams to ensure seamless device connectivity and product performance.
• Drive development of remote device management, diagnostics, and monitoring capabilities.
• Ensure reliability, security, and performance of software systems supporting deployed devices.

Engineering Leadership

• Lead and scale a multidisciplinary engineering organization including cloud, mobile, embedded, firmware, and QA teams.
• Mentor engineers and technical leaders while remaining a hands-on and credible technical contributor when needed.
• Establish modern engineering practices including:

• Agile development
• DevOps and CI/CD pipelines
• Automated testing and release management

Customer & Enterprise Engagement

• Serve as a technical leader in enterprise customer conversations.
• Support strategic accounts during integration and deployment.
• Translate complex enterprise requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor to customers and partners.

Job Requirements and Qualification

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related STEM field.
• 10+ years of engineering experience with 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience leading development of cloud-based software platforms.
• Strong expertise with Microsoft Azure architecture and services.
• Deep knowledge of Microsoft Entra (Azure AD) and enterprise identity integrations.
• Experience building software systems supporting connected devices or IoT-enabled products.
• Experience integrating mobile applications with cloud platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams delivering complex products.
• Customer-facing experience working with enterprise IT organizations.

Nice-to-haves:

• Experience with electromechanical locking systems or access control technologies.
• Understanding of hardware-integrated product development.
• Familiarity with manufacturing environments and product lifecycle considerations for physical products.
• Experience collaborating with contract manufacturers and production teams.
• Background working with retail fixture or physical security product companies.