Product Area Lead Continuous Integration

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 fosters a collaborative and innovative engineering culture, this leads to more efficient operations, higher-quality software, and a more agile and resilient organisation.

Continuous Integration and Delivery Product Area

The Product Area Lead will lead a team of product owners, focusing on Continuous Integration and Delivery within the DevEx and System Engineering tribe. Continuous Integration and Delivery automates and supports the end-to-end process from build to deployment, significantly reducing manual effort and accelerating the delivery pipeline in providing speed while maintaining quality. Establishes a closed control loop in CI/CD which is an automated system where feedback is collected, and guardrails (e.g., controls) are applied to make sure that software is developed and delivered conform defined policies.

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

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. 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 organization. This includes overseeing the structure and collaboration of product owners, 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 for Continuous Integration & Delivery is responsible for:

• Determine the strategic direction of Continuous Integration & Delivery products and services in collaboration with the tribe lead DevEx and System Engineering. Develop and execute a strategic vision to enhance the SDLC, including the setup, maintenance, and optimization of Continuous Deployment (CD) processes.
• Oversee the further automation of the delivery pipeline, ensuring it supports the entire end-to-end process from build to deployment. This includes integrating tools and practices that streamline the CI process, reducing manual intervention and increasing efficiency.
• Implement and manage the enhanced Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) with closed control loop support which supports the DevEx to establish automated workflows, such as the Golden Path.
• Enhance the SDLC with agentic AI framework to improve efficiency, productivity, and quality.
• Ensure a seamless flow for developers by building guardrails and maintaining a data-driven approach to Continuous Integration (CI) and works closely with Tribe SRE on Continuous Delivery and seamless Operations.
• Guide and mentor a team of product managers, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment. Demonstrate empathy and strong interpersonal skills to hire, guide, and mentor team members.
• 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.
• Build and maintain strong connections with stakeholders to align strategies and ensure successful project execution.

Requirements

• 10-15+ years of experience in software engineering, IT operations, and/or software architecture roles.
• Deep understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and CI/CD pipeline automation.
• 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
• Experience and Knowledge of/with engineering tools such as GitHub, Azure DevOps, Maven, Gradle, and Terraform.
• Experience in managing and optimizing complex systems with the closed control loop.
• Excellent leadership skills.
• 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.