Director Software Engineering - AppSec Platform

Define the AI-era WAAP vision — set strategy for runtime API protection, bot and abuse defense, and AI security as machine traffic and agentic workloads reshape what "web application protection" means.

Shape the AI Security roadmap — identify where WAAP should invest next in AI Discovery (finding and inventorying AI/agent usage across an enterprise), AI red-teaming (proactively probing models and agents for weaknesses), and the AI firewall (governing and enforcing how models and agents are allowed to act) — a fast-moving space with significant room to define what good looks like.

Own architecture and platform depth — provide hands-on technical leadership across API discovery, runtime traffic analysis, and detection efficacy, continuing the move toward a unified, efficient architecture across the broader AST/WAAP stack.

Build and develop the team — hire, grow, and retain strong engineers and leaders, building on managers and senior ICs already in place across the org.

Partner directly with customers — engage with enterprise customers on escalations, roadmap input, and adoption of new AI-era protection capabilities.

Drive quality and enterprise readiness — own reliability, incident response, and production health across WAAP, closing execution gaps with rigor and discipline.

Contribute to the AppSec portfolio strategy — collaborate across AST and Software Supply Chain Security to ensure WAAP's roadmap reinforces a coherent, best-in-class security platform.

Represent Harness externally — engage with the security community, industry panels, and customers as a credible voice on API security and AI-era application defense.

You are a strong people leader with empathy and growth mindset. You lead with technical depth, not title. You've scaled distributed systems and engineering teams through hypergrowth, you learn fast in new domains, and you're drawn to the kind of ambiguity that comes with building in a space — AI security — that's still being invented. You think like a product engineer even in a leadership seat — close to the technical decisions, close to customers, and willing to get hands-on when it matters.

15-20 years of backend or platform engineering experience; 8+ years leading high-performing engineering teams.

Proven success building and scaling engineering orgs in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

Hands-on architectural experience with high-throughput, distributed systems and scalable APIs.

Strong interest in applying AI to security problems — discovery, detection, and response.

Clear, confident communicator who can operate across engineers, executives, and customers.

Organized, action-oriented leader who drives results while protecting team health.

BS in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.

A builder's instinct for applying AI/agentic approaches to security workflows, not just security to AI products.

Domain knowledge in application security, API security, WAAP/WAF, bot/abuse defense, or AI security is preferred

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