AVP - Research and Technology Innovation

Lead transformative R&D to drive aggressive growth in Fintech and adjacent domains, leveraging deep tech (AI/ML, IoT, Embedded Systems, Cybersecurity) to build world-class, secure identity and payment solutions. Establish clear expectations, hold team members accountable and incentivize proactive issue resolution to deliver world class innovative solutions. Security & Identity Management : Ensure cutting-edge research in decentralized ID (DID), blockchain identity systems, MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication), and cybersecurity innovations. Strategic Leadership & Impact Areas: Identity & Security Leadership:  Pioneer decentralized ID (DID), blockchain identity, MFA, and cybersecurity R&D. AI/ML & Deep Tech Innovation:  Spearhead development of biometrics (face/Finger/iris/voice), fraud detection, predictive analytics, and IoT/wearables integration. Product & IP Generation:  Translate research into prototypes/PoC’s/MVPs and secure patents for novel algorithms/designs. Tech Roadmap & Transformation:  Define and execute R&D strategy aligned with fintech regulations and market demands. Integration Architecture : Ensure seamless integration of AI, IoT data, cloud platforms, and identity solutions into existing fintech ecosystems. Technical Leadership Team Building & Mentoring : Building high-performing R&D teams, stakeholder management, strategic thinking. Operational Responsibilities Team Building:  Foster a culture of creativity, accountability, and research excellence. Resource Management:  Optimize R&D budget allocation and track project ROI. Cross-Functional Collaboration:  Bridge R&D with Product, Engineering, Data Science, and Regulatory teams. Ecosystem Engagement:  Manage vendors, academic partners, and startups for joint innovation. Compliance and Risk Management Risk Assessment in New Technologies : Evaluate technological risks (e.g., data privacy, ethical AI usage, IoT vulnerabilities) and put mitigation plans in place during the research phase. Key Differentiators for Candidates: Proven Impact:  Demonstrate how your R&D leadership directly drove product innovation/growth in Fintech. IP Portfolio:  Highlight filed/granted patents relevant to AI, identity, or embedded systems. Thought Leadership:  Showcase conference presentations, whitepapers, or standards body participation. Technical Agility:  Ability to connect deep tech (Embedded, AI, IoT, Security) into cohesive solutions. Growth Mindset:  Passion for building teams and scaling innovation in a high-growth environment. Internal Evangelism : Promote a culture of innovation, learning, and agility inside the organization, regularly conducting workshops, hackathons, and ideation programs. Stakeholder & Vendor Management Collaborate with clients, internal teams, academia and third-party vendors. Evaluate and manage outsourcing partners and technology providers. Ideal Candidate Profile: Bachelor’s/master’s degree in engineering (Electronics, Computer Science, or related field) PhD-calibre leader  with 15+ years’ experience, blending Fintech domain expertise, hands-on AI/Embedded/IoT skills, you excel at translating market needs into IP-protected innovations while managing complex stakeholder and vendor relationships. Product Development, and Project Management with  proven Fintech expertise . Jira, Git, MPP or debugging tools expertise Technical Mastery:  Embedded systems, software architecture, product lifecycle management. Domain Knowledge:  Payment systems, digital wallets, banking APIs, embedded hardware. Leadership:  Building high-performing R&D teams, stakeholder management, strategic thinking. Desirable Traits: AI/ML Depth:  Hands-on experience in identity/fraud-focused AI model development. Cybersecurity & Identity:  Mastery of secure identity frameworks (DID, MFA) and fintech security principles. IoT Ecosystem:  Hardware/software integration for wearables/smart devices. Cloud & Data:  Cloud-native architecture and big data analytics implementation. IP & Compliance:  Proven patent filing experience and regulatory awareness (finance/data). Agile R&D:  Project management in fast-paced, iterative research environments. A technically deep, Passion for mentoring and evangelizing innovation is essential.