Director of Engineering, Product Infrastructure and Release Engineering

About the Role

Mechanical Orchard is reinventing how the world's most critical software gets modernized by focusing on system behavior rather than code alone. This approach turns modernization from a high-stakes, failure-prone effort into a repeatable, confidence-building process. The company prioritizes proof over promises and progress over theatrics, making it an attractive workplace for those who care deeply about quality, rigor, and doing the right thing.

Reporting to the VP of Engineering, the Director of Product Infrastructure and Release Engineering will provide strategic direction, product thinking, and cross-functional alignment. This role requires a deep understanding of infrastructure products, installation and deployment workflows, and operational enablement for customers and forward-deployed engineering teams.

What You Will Do

• Own the end-to-end infrastructure product vision, including installers, deployment tooling, reference architectures, and operational patterns.
• Define and evolve a cohesive infrastructure roadmap aligned with Platform architecture, customer needs, and GTM strategy.
• Partner closely with Product Leadership to balance near-term customer needs with long-term platform scalability and repeatability.
• Establish infrastructure as a product with clear value propositions, constraints, supported configurations, and lifecycle expectations.
• Drive standardization where possible while enabling extensibility for complex enterprise environments.
• Define platform architecture and roadmap decisions to ensure deployability, operability, and customer-environment compatibility are first-class concerns.
• Ensure infrastructure requirements are surfaced early in platform design discussions.
• Champion architectural patterns that reduce installation complexity, operational burden, and long-term support cost.
• Partner with Security and Compliance to ensure infrastructure designs meet enterprise and regulatory expectations.
• Partner with Infra Delivery Leadership to define installation and deployment strategy across customer and Mechanical Orchard environments.
• Ensure installation processes are repeatable, measurable, and continuously improving, leveraging the latest advancements in AI to support execution.
• Build Mechanical Orchard's system for reliable software releases, by defining standards, providing tools, and establishing clear boundaries between the release engineering team and platform product teams.

What We Are Looking For

• 8+ years of experience in engineering leadership, preferably in a role overseeing infrastructure or release engineering.
• Strong background in GTM and Excel, with the ability to drive strategic direction and product thinking.
• Experience managing and growing high-performing engineering teams.
• Proven track record of defining and executing infrastructure product vision and roadmap.
• Strong understanding of platform architecture, customer needs, and GTM strategy.
• Ability to partner effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product Leadership, Security, and Compliance.
• Experience with installation and deployment workflows, and operational enablement for customers and forward-deployed engineering teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to drive standardization and extensibility.
• Experience with AI-driven execution and continuous improvement.

Nice to Have

• Experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance standards.
• Experience with cloud-based infrastructure and deployment platforms.
• Familiarity with Mechanical Orchard's technology stack and modernization strategy.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive compensation package.
• Opportunity to work with a cutting-edge technology stack and innovative modernization strategy.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a team of experienced professionals.
• Flexible working hours and remote work options.
• Professional development opportunities, including training and conference attendance.
• Access to the latest tools and technologies, including AI-driven execution and continuous improvement platforms.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including mental health support and employee assistance programs.
• Generous PTO and vacation time, with flexible scheduling and work-life balance.

• When applying, make sure to highlight your experience with GTM and Excel, and how you've driven strategic direction and product thinking in previous roles.
• Showcase your ability to manage and grow high-performing engineering teams, and your experience with installation and deployment workflows.
• Be prepared to discuss your approach to balancing near-term customer needs with long-term platform scalability and repeatability.
• Research Mechanical Orchard's technology stack and modernization strategy to demonstrate your understanding of the company's mission and values.
• Emphasize your analytical and problem-solving skills, and your experience with AI-driven execution and continuous improvement.
• Prepare examples of your experience with regulatory requirements and compliance standards, and your ability to partner effectively with cross-functional teams.