Research and Development Director

At LeapThought, we're an enterprise company dedicated to building next-generation and deep-tech solutions across the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) sector that address real-world challenges and support teams throughout the entire project lifecycle. LeapThought’s mission is to innovate for the greater good and long-term sustainability of communities, built environments and economies — transforming cities, regions, and countries by working inclusively and collaboratively with local, regional, and global construction value chains and their ecosystems.

Founded in 2011, LeapThought is a global business with offices in the United States, New Zealand, Singapore, India and Brazil. Today, LeapThought serves customers across transportation, defense, utilities, AEC companies, regulatory authorities, healthcare, and commercial and residential property developers.

We are seeking a Director of Research and Development to join our Executive Team that oversee initiatives and activities across the group. This pivotal role is designed for a visionary leader passionate about driving progress through cutting-edge research and development. This position is located at our Asia HQ in Singapore and reports directly to the Group CEO, reflecting its critical importance to the organization's success.

Key Responsibilities:

· Leadership in Research and Development: Spearhead the development of high-performing R&D teams. Foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. Guide the team in identifying and pursuing new research initiatives and development projects.

• Product Engineering and Innovation: Lead product engineering efforts, integrating emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to develop solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers.

· Team Development and Mentorship: Cultivate a learning environment, mentoring team members and facilitating their professional growth and development. Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the team.

• Collaboration and Partnership: Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with academia, industry affiliates, and research institutions to enhance collaborative projects and stay ahead of the curve in technological advancements.
• Budget Management: Oversee the R&D budget, ensuring optimal allocation of resources towards projects with the highest potential impact and return on investment.
• Market and Technology Trends: Keep abreast of industry trends, technological advancements, and competitive landscapes to inform strategic decisions and maintain LeapThought's market leadership.
• Strategic Collaboration: Work closely with the revenue, marketing, and product teams to align R&D initiatives with business strategies, ensuring that product development is closely integrated with market needs and opportunities.
• Executive Direction: Collaborate with the CEO and other senior leaders to shape and execute the company’s strategic direction. Provide insights and recommendations on technology and product strategy to support corporate objectives.
• Executive Briefings: Deliver compelling executive briefings to stakeholders, clients, and partners, showcasing the innovative work and future direction of R&D at LeapThought.
• Product Roadmap Oversight: Oversee the development and execution of product roadmaps, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, market demands, and technological advancements.
• Intellectual Property Management: Lead efforts to protect and manage the company’s intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights, fostering an environment of creativity and innovation.
• Technical Pre-Sales: Act as a technical expert in pre-sales engagements, providing deep insights and demonstrations of our technology to potential clients.
• Sustainability and Ethical Innovation: Ensure that R&D practices align with sustainability goals and ethical standards, promoting responsible innovation.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor degree in Computer Sciences or Engineering.

· Extensive experience in R&D management in a tech-oriented environment.

· Proven track record of leading high-performing teams and successfully bringing innovative products to market.

· Strong understanding of cloud platforms, software engineering, architecture, patterns, AI, ML, and other emerging technologies.

· Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

· Ability to think strategically and execute tactically.

· Demonstratable experience working with the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) sector.

Join LeapThought and be part of a team that’s turning vision into reality with intelligent technology solutions that disrupt the status quo. If you are a strategic thinker, a passionate leader, and an innovator at heart, with a solid background in the AECO sector, we would love to hear from you.