Research and Development Lead

About Tripstack

We are travel tech entrepreneurs, changing the way millions of people travel.

Our proprietary virtual interlining technology provides access to billions of travel itineraries by combining flights from different airline carriers that don’t traditionally work together. We take our customers from point A to B via C, including land transportation, at the lowest possible price. We are impacting the way people travel and provide higher margin opportunities to our partners that are some of the largest in the travel industry.

We pride ourselves on the performance-driven environment we have created for our teams to prosper and excel in. We come to work ready, to challenge and be challenged. We’re big enough to give our teams support but small enough that every person makes a difference. There are plenty of challenges to champion.

Role Overview:
As the Research and Development Lead, you will be responsible for driving innovation and growth within our product offerings. You will lead a talented team dedicated to developing and enhancing the company’s technology platform, focusing on leveraging data science, machine learning, and other emerging technologies. This role requires a strategic thinker who can manage end-to-end R&D processes, develop proof of concepts, and bring new ideas to market, ensuring we meet customer needs while driving business success.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead advanced research and development projects focused on enhancing and growing our product offerings.
- Own the innovation pipeline, from initial research, ideation, and proof of concepts through to the full product development cycle.
- Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to identify emerging trends, technologies, and market opportunities that will drive innovation.
- Set the vision for new product features and initiatives, optimizing user experience and incorporating cutting-edge technology to meet market demands.
- Develop strategic recommendations to support the growth of the business, using data and insights to inform product development and innovation.
- Create business cases, financial models, and operational plans to evaluate new initiatives and ensure their alignment with the company’s growth strategy.
- Foster an environment of creativity and innovation, encouraging collaboration between product teams, engineers, and research experts.
- Ensure smooth transitions from R&D to product development and market launch, while maintaining a focus on performance measurement and success metrics.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to secure leadership buy-in for key initiatives and ensure alignment with overall company objectives.
- Stay ahead of industry trends by conducting research, participating in thought leadership, and attending conferences or workshops relevant to R&D and innovation.

**Requirements**:

- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (MBA or Master’s degree preferred).
- 8+ years of experience in R&D, strategy, product development, or consulting, with proven success in bringing new products or innovations to market.
- Expertise in managing end-to-end research projects, from concept through to implementation.
- Experience in strategic planning, product lifecycle management, and financial modeling.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with a track record of building and maintaining stakeholder relationships.
- Ability to thrive in fast-paced, cross-functional environments and manage complex projects.
- Proven ability to distill complex ideas into actionable strategies and communicate them effectively to stakeholders at all levels.
- Proficiency in emerging technologies such as data science, machine learning, AI, and other tools relevant to R&D.
- Emotional intelligence, leadership, and facilitation skills to inspire and manage a high-performing R&D team.

**Benefits**

**What it takes to succeed here**:
Ambition and dedication to make a difference and change the way people travel; Where we always play to each other's strength in a high performing team reaching for our common goal. We hold ourselves to the highest expectations, and move with a sense of urgency and hold ourselves accountable and win by staying true to what we believe in.

Learn more about our values here

What we offer

We offer an opportunity to work with a young, dynamic, and a growing team composed of high-caliber professionals. We value professionalism and promote a culture where individuals are encouraged to do more and be more. If you feel you share our passion for excellence, and growth, then look no further. We have an ambitious mission, and we need a world-class team to make it a reality. Upgrade to a First Class team

TripStack thanks all applicants for their interest, however only those selected to continue in the process will be contacted.