Derik Hammer

Engineering Leadership with a Product Soul

Most engineering leaders talk about "velocity." I talk about value.

I have spent my career at the intersection of complex systems and business growth. If your engineering team feels like a "black box" where features go in and nothing comes out, or if there is a wall of distrust between your Product and Engineering departments, I'm the person who tears that wall down. I build engineering cultures obsessed with the "Why" behind every line of code.

The "Bilingual" Advantage

Three years ago, I took action on a piece of advice that I received from a former Subway (Franchise World Headquarters) CIO that changed my career trajectory. He told me that truly elite engineering leaders don't just manage technical debt; they speak the native language of the business.

I took that advice literally.

I stepped away from Engineering leadership for a three-year "Engineering Hiatus" in Product Management. This wasn't a career pivot. It was tactical immersion. I wanted to feel the pressure of a roadmap firsthand. I wanted to sit in the meetings where revenue targets are set and understand exactly why certain trade-offs are made.

Today, I'm back in Engineering as a "bilingual" leader. I bridge the gap between technical execution and business strategy in a way traditional candidates cannot. I don't just deliver projects. I deliver business outcomes.

The Turnaround Artist

I specialize in fixing broken processes. I've stepped into organizations where the relationship between Product and Engineering was non-existent. By implementing high-transparency workflows and refocusing the team on customer impact, I turn frustrated developers into product-minded engineers.

I believe that when an engineer understands the business impact of their feature, they build better software. It's that simple.

• Process over Chaos: I replace "agile-ish" confusion with repeatable, predictable delivery cycles.
• Trust over Friction: I repair the bridge between the executive suite and the dev team.
• Impact over Activity: I ensure every sprint moves the needle on your North Star metric.

Need to get your team back on track?

If your delivery has stalled or your departments are at odds, let's talk. I help companies find the friction points that are slowing down their technical teams and eating their margins.

I'm happy to share the frameworks I've used to rebuild trust and output at my previous stops. Just reach out if you'd like a copy of:

• The Product-Engineering Alignment Audit: A 10-point diagnostic I use to identify why high-output teams start to drift or lose focus.
• First 90 Days: The Engineering Turnaround Playbook: My step-by-step manual for stepping into a "broken" culture and rebuilding it into a business-centric powerhouse.

If you’re evaluating candidates for Director-level engineering leadership, I’d be glad to walk through these frameworks in an interview or intro call.