Principal of R&D Operations

Principal of R&D Operations

The Principal of R&D Operations manages the processes that turn Fusable’s portfolio strategy into consistent, predictable execution across Product, Engineering, and Data. The role focuses on three areas: SDLC management, Commercial Interlock management, and financial and monthly R&D reporting. Across each, the Principal builds appropriate governance into how work is planned, approved, delivered, and reported, partnering closely with Product, Engineering, Finance, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success leaders.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Execution & Governance

• Translate portfolio strategy into an executable R&D operating plan across product lines.

• Establish R&D governance: decision rights, approval gates, and operating cadences.

• Manage the end-to-end SDLC process, from intake through release.

• Operationalize the planning hierarchy (Build Programs, Epics, Features, Stories) and its approval gates.

• Standardize handoffs between Product Management, Product Owners, Design, and Engineering.

• Administer Asana, Jira, and Confluence so they reflect the process and produce reliable delivery data.

Commercial Interlock

• Manage the Commercial Interlock process that aligns Product, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Customer Success from roadmap to revenue.

• Facilitate SKU approval so pricing, packaging, and revenue mapping are agreed before launch.

• Maintain the release calendar and coordinate launch readiness across the owning teams.

• Clarify ownership and decision rights, escalating cross-functional conflicts to leadership.

Financial & Monthly R&D Reporting

• Own monthly R&D reporting on spend vs. budget, capacity, delivery, and risk.

• Partner with Finance on R&D budgeting and forecasting.

• Manage R&D capitalization tracking so CapEx/OpEx treatment is documented.

• Link R&D investment to adoption, retention, and revenue outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, engineering, computer science, or a related field.

• 8+ years in R&D, engineering, or product operations, or a PMO, in a software or data business.

• Proven experience managing an SDLC across multiple product and engineering teams.

• Administrator-level experience with Asana, Jira, and the Atlassian suite.

• Working knowledge of R&D budgeting, forecasting, and software capitalization.

• Experience running a go-to-market or commercial readiness process.

• Strong analytical and communication skills; able to influence senior leaders without formal authority.

Preferred Skills

• Scrum and agile delivery experience; CSM, PSM, or SAFe certification a plus.

• SaaS or data business experience, including subscription metrics such as ARR, retention, and renewal.

• Experience introducing process change while work is in flight.

• A pragmatic view of governance: controls that inform decisions, not paperwork.

Success in This Role

Success is measured by consistent, predictable execution of the R&D portfolio against plan: an SDLC that teams follow, a Commercial Interlock that brings launches to market with every function aligned, and monthly reporting that gives leadership an accurate view of spend, capacity, and delivery.