Director of Engineering (m/f/d) at Affinidi · Berlin

About the Company Affinidi is a technology company dedicated to changing data ownership for good. We empower businesses and individuals with control and ownership of their data, with a comprehensive approach to managing their holistic identity – accounting for all aspects of their digital footprint while ensuring privacy and security. Affinidi’s technology enables users to benefit from decentralised digital identity solutions. We believe that everyone has the right to own and control their data, and we are committed to creating a trusted digital credentials ecosystem that empowers businesses and individuals to securely exchange data and services across borders and industries. About the role We are looking for an experienced and inspiring Director of Engineering for our global Affinidi Elements engineering organization. In this role, you will manage multiple teams and engineering leaders, driving delivery excellence, scaling engineering practices, and building a high-performing culture across our product portfolio. You will be responsible for aligning engineering execution with product strategy, creating an environment where innovation thrives, and enabling teams to deliver secure, scalable, and reliable systems. This role is ideal for a proven leader who excels at scaling organizations, mentoring engineering leaders, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. This position reports to VP of Engineering. Our Work Culture at Affinidi is shaped by the following tenets: We are unapologetically customer-focused We invest in cultures and teams to enable high performance We embrace experimentation and build fast We have the courage to be misunderstood We work together to unlock data What’s in it for you Define the technical strategy and architectural vision for the Affinidi Elements platform, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security. Architect complex distributed systems and ensure alignment with long-term product and business goals. Guide teams in applying asymmetric cryptography, zero trust, zero knowledge proofs, and decentralized technologies in real-world systems. Oversee and contribute to the design and development of high-scale, high-performance production systems. Lead multiple engineering teams, providing vision, direction, and coaching to managers, staff engineers, and senior ICs. Drive engineering execution across product and platform initiatives, ensuring on-time delivery of secure, performant, and customer-centric systems. Collaborate with product, design, and business stakeholders to define and execute the technology roadmap, aligning engineering outcomes with business strategy. Establish and evolve engineering best practices, delivery processes, and quality standards to scale teams effectively. Mentor and develop engineering leaders, fostering career growth, leadership depth, and technical excellence. Stay ahead of emerging technologies and bring innovative approaches to improve architecture, scalability, and developer experience. You will be a great match if you Have 15+ years of software engineering experience, with 5+ years in senior leadership roles managing multiple teams and engineering managers. Have a proven track record of scaling engineering organizations in high-growth environments. Demonstrate strong people leadership skills: coaching, mentoring, developing leaders, and fostering team growth. Have successfully led complex engineering projects from inception to delivery in fast-paced, global, and distributed environments. Are skilled at balancing strategic vision with practical execution, ensuring teams stay aligned and deliver value. Have strong expertise in cryptography (asymmetric/elliptic curve), blockchain, decentralized identity (SSI), and zero-knowledge proof systems. Are experienced in cloud-native environments (AWS serverless preferred), microservices, and event-driven architectures. Have been hands-on with programming languages such as JavaScript, TypeScript, Node.js, Dart, Rust (experience in C#, C++, GoLang, or React is a strong plus). Have demonstrated experience with system performance, optimization, and scaling challenges in production systems. Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence across technical and business stakeholders. Care deeply about engineering culture, team health, and organizational effectiveness. Thrive in startup-like environments, embracing change, experimentation, and innovation. What can you expect from us: Hybrid working model Flexible working hours Unlimited vacation policy Competitive compensation package Work within international environment Learning Budget Mobile Allowance Home Office Allowance Urban Sport Membership Sounds like you? Apply now! Equal Opportunity We believe in hiring different and diverse talent and providing a safe space where everyone can share their views without fear, where differences are celebrated, and where no one is left out. Inclusive cultures are the foundation for collaboration and innovation within our team. 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