Engineering Manager, Product Experience (PX)

Istari Digital is a digital engineering software company focused on creating scalable digital engineering ecosystems. They are seeking an Engineering Manager to lead the Product Experience team in building modern web applications and AI-powered capabilities for aerospace and defense customers, while ensuring high-performance user experiences and secure environments.

Responsibilities:

• Lead Technical Direction
• Own frontend and developer tooling architecture across our platform
• Drive best practices in JavaScript/TypeScript (React, Node.js, testing, performance, build systems)
• Guide integration of AI capabilities (LLMs, retrieval systems, copilots, workflow automation)
• Ensure systems are secure, scalable, and operable in constrained or air-gapped environments
• Lead Product-Centered Engineering
• Work closely with Product, Design, and customers to translate real user workflows into product capabilities
• Contribute to product discovery by participating in customer conversations, demos, and feedback sessions
• Help shape product direction by combining technical insight with customer needs and platform strategy
• Ensure engineering decisions support long-term product usability, adoption, and value
• Manage & Grow the Team
• Lead, mentor, and hire engineers focused on frontend, DX, and AI-enabled workflows
• Establish strong execution practices that balance speed, quality, and reliability
• Translate product goals into clear technical plans and milestones
• Partner Cross-Functionally
• Collaborate closely with Product and Design to deliver elegant, technically complex tools
• Engage directly with customers to understand engineering workflows, constraints, and unmet needs
• Represent engineering in product discussions and help align roadmap decisions with technical realities

Requirements:

• 8+ years in software engineering; 3+ years leading teams
• Experience working directly with customers or end users to shape product direction
• Strong product instincts and ability to translate user needs into technical solutions
• Deep expertise in JavaScript/TypeScript ecosystems (React, Node.js)
• Experience with back-end services in Python or Go
• Experience building developer tools, platforms, or complex web applications
• Practical experience integrating AI into products (LLMs, embeddings, AI-assisted UX)
• Strong architectural judgment in secure or regulated environments
• Clear communicator comfortable engaging with customers, product teams, and engineering leaders
• Experience in aerospace, defense, or other regulated domains (ITAR, FedRAMP, CMMC)
• Background in simulation, CAD/CAM, digital engineering, or technical developer platforms
• Experience leading distributed teams