Product Area Lead Developer Experience

Tribe DevEx and System Engineering

The tribe DevEx and System Engineering delivers the core capabilities of the One Engineering System at ING, which enhances developer productivity, improves system performance, and establishes a collaborative and innovative engineering culture, this leads to more efficient operations, higher-quality software, and a more agile and resilient organisation.

The Product Area Lead will lead the product area of Developer Experience within the tribe DevEx and System Engineering. Developer Experience focusses on creating flow, helping developers to focus (flow-state), and work more efficiently by automating repetitive tasks and easily find and reuse resources by providing tools like a Command Line Interface, Developer Portal, and Software Catalogue. Establishes tools and practices, for collaboration and communication between engineers (such as knowledge management, docs as code, collaboration tools), improving teamwork and establishes a continuous learning feedback loop, leading to more innovative solutions and faster problem-solving.

The Product Area Lead plays a pivotal role in shaping both the strategic direction and organizational structure of the product area and the domain it represents.

One of the core responsibilities of the Product Area Lead is to define the overarching product purpose, set the strategic direction, and establish the product roadmap, of the products and services within his/her area. This includes aligning product goals with business objectives and ensuring that product teams are focused on delivering solutions that are viable, feasible, and desirable. By fostering a deep understanding of user needs, market trends, and business constraints, the Product Area Lead ensures that product managers are equipped to drive meaningful outcomes.

Equally important, the Product Area Lead is responsible for developing and maintaining the hierarchical and functional reporting lines within the product area. This includes overseeing the structure and collaboration of product managers, business information analysts, designers, as well as some technical profiles. The role involves staffing, coaching, and mentoring product managers to build strong, empowered teams capable of delivering results. The Product Area Lead ensures that these teams are not only well-structured but also aligned in their mission and accountable for performance.

By combining strategic foresight with organizational leadership, the Product Area Lead ensures that the product function operates with clarity, cohesion, and impact.

Product Area Leads works in close collaboration with its peers, and within matrix organisation together with the IT Area Lead and Architecture Lead of this area they form a team, taking responsibility on why, what and how of product and services developed and provided.

In this function you report to the Tribe Lead DevEx and System Engineering.

Key Responsibilities

The Product Area Lead Developer Experience is responsible for:

• Oversee the development and management of products and services provided in his/her area.
• Ensuring a clear and optimized Developer Experience (DX) for Engineers and implementing automation tools and processes (Golden Path) to accomplish these tasks efficiently and effectively.
• Ensure that developer experience is measurable, using a data-driven approach to steer 1ES, and improve the overall DX.
• Collaborate closely with the DevEx and System Engineering Tribe, as well as other tribes within Engineering and Reliability, to align strategies and ensure cohesive project execution.
• Drive towards joint goals and form strong partnerships with the IT-Area Lead and other stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain a strategic product roadmap.
• Communicate product vision through storytelling and confidently present product updates to various audiences.
• Demonstrate senior-level expertise in product management, guiding and mentoring a team of product managers, and fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
• Establish and refine product management processes.
• Craft and share compelling product narratives.

Requirements

• 10-15+ years in software engineering / IT operations and/or software architect roles; has a passion for engineering, understands what software engineers’ needs are to produce software with speed and quality
• Very strong and proven product management skills, such as strategic thinking, OKRs, road-mapping, storytelling, communication, business case development, and has had proven exposure to senior management level (CxO, IT Leads, Tribe Leads)
• Proven experience of Customer and market Insights: deep understanding of user needs, customer behaviour, and market trends through research, analytics, and direct interaction with customers and users.
• Product lifecycle management: expertise in managing the end-to-end product lifecycle – from ideation, development, to launch and retirement
• Data Driven Decision Making: Strong analytical skills, with ability to use data to evaluate product performance, prioritize features, and drive continuous improvement
• As this is a technical domain the product manager should:
  • Understands modern Cloud Infrastructures, and Cloud Native Concepts.
  • Has experience with modern engineering concepts like: Design Patterns, Domain Driven Design, CI/CD, Shift/Left Right, Zero Touch Operations.
  • Has knowledge on engineering tools such as GitHub, Azure DevOps, Slack, Confluence, Maven, Gradle, Terraform, and such, IntelliJ, Visual Studio Code.
  • A plus is if the candidate has hands-on experience in one or more ‘modern’ programming Languages (Java, Kotlin, Go, Rust, Python)
• Passion for driving innovation and efficiency within teams.
• Proven track record as an individual contributor product manager, responsible for the value and viability of solutions.
• Ability to quickly learn new domains and a solid understanding of all major business areas.
• Proven experience in coaching and developing team members.
• Clear understanding of the role as the primary coach for product managers, distinct from managing products directly.
• Proven ability to engage constructively and collaboratively with both individual contributors and leaders at all levels.

Rewards and benefits

We want to make sure that it’s possible for you to strike the right balance between your career and your private life. You can find out more about our employment conditions at https://www.ing.jobs/netherlands/Why-ING/benefits.htm

The benefits of working with us at ING include:

• A salary between: €7.125 - €11.331
• 24-27 vacation days depending on contract
• Pension scheme
• 13th month salary
• Individual Savings Contribution (BIS), 3.5% of your gross annual salary
• 8% Holiday payment
• Hybrid working to blend home working for focus and office working for collaboration and co-creation
• Personal growth and challenging work with endless possibilities
• An informal working environment with innovative colleagues

About us

With 60,000 employees and operations in approximately 40 countries, there is no shortage of opportunities for people with initiative who want to help people take a step ahead in life and in business. Do you want to work at the cutting edge of what’s possible and at the same time ensure you work with integrity and hold the customer’s interests at heart? Do you want to be surrounded by progressive, inspiring, diverse and supportive colleagues? Then there is no better place to invest your talents than at ING. Join us. Apply today.