Engineering Leadership Built on Discernment, Stewardship, and Strategic Clarity
Jason Ng (top left) with his immediate family.
As Director of Engineering at Iris Technology, Jason Ng leads teams building mission-critical Tactical power and Aerospace electronics, where reliability, schedule, and execution carry real consequences. His work supports Defense and Space programs operating in extreme environments, where failure is not an option.
Jason’s leadership is grounded in discernment and clarity. He focuses on identifying real constraints, removing friction for engineering teams, and making decisions that compound over time. Rather than inserting himself into every technical detail, he creates the conditions for engineers to focus on design, validation, and delivery, then trusts and empowers them to execute.
Over more than two decades in Defense engineering, this approach has produced ruggedized, MIL-STD-qualified systems relied on by warfighters and scientists alike.
Foundations of a Leadership Style
Orange County, late 1980s — future engineer, early curiosity.
Jason grew up in Orange County as a second-generation Chinese-American, shaped by strong family influences, team sports, and church engagement. Basketball, water polo, and doubles tennis taught him early that success depends on teamwork, communication, timing, and trust rather than individual heroics. Serving on multi-generational church committees reinforced the value of patient collaboration, valuing ideas, and assuming positive intent towards a common goal.
His father, an RF antenna engineer at Hughes Aircraft and TRW (and eventually Northrop Grumman) during the late-Cold War, introduced him to the Defense industry at a young age. Jason remembers visiting RF test facilities and watching teams operate complex equipment while building genuine friendships, not just working relationships. Those experiences shaped how he views leadership and team building today. Progress happens when people are aligned, supported, and committed to mutual success together.
UCLA Engineering, June 2007 — Jason graduated two quarters ahead of schedule, pursuing a full-time opportunity at Northrop Grumman and a future with Jessica.
At UCLA, Jason studied electrical engineering with a biomedical focus, initially drawn to prosthetics and technology for medical applications to directly help people. A college internship at Northrop Grumman ultimately redirected his path. When the opportunity became a full-time role, Jason chose to begin his career, marry his high school sweetheart Jessica, and build long-term stability.
“What I eventually realized was that working in Defense helps people, too. Soldiers and national security decision-makers rely on sensors and systems that must perform in dangerous environments.”
Choosing Iris Technology
After growing as a systems engineer at Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, Jason was drawn to join the team at Iris Technology for its culture, pace, and new technical opportunities. Iris offered fewer management layers, faster decisions, and the opportunity to directly influence the company's direction and see his contributions make an immediate impact.
Jason (middle right) at a company “team bonding” event at an indoor race track.
“I was drawn to the curiosity here,” Jason says. “There was a willingness to explore new technology and solve hard problems without unnecessary bureaucracy.”
Jason joined the company with a nearly four-decade legacy delivering ruggedized AC and DC hybrid power systems, from 1W to 10kW, designed to operate under extreme heat, cold, vibration, sand, and combat conditions. Iris also supports aerospace programs with payload control electronics and optical systems developed for NASA and Defense partners, functioning in radiation-intense and thermally volatile space environments.
These are systems built for consequence.
Merlin-3 Single Battery Radio Power Adapters from Iris Technology's Tactical Power Manager line. MIL-STD certified ruggedized power solutions for communications systems in hostile environments.
Leading Engineering at Iris
Stepping into the new role of Director of Engineering a few years ago, Jason now focuses on decisions that quietly multiply effectiveness. Leading his team of electrical, mechanical, software, firmware, and systems engineers is focused on creating openings for effective action at all levels and in all phases of the process.
He authorized internal development of an automated testing infrastructure not tied to a specific contract. The result was an 80 percent reduction in test time across programs, recovering hundreds of engineering hours and improving program predictability.
He also removed a critical scheduling constraint by authorizing a second thermal chamber, allowing multiple programs to advance in parallel without compromising qualification timelines.
“These weren’t flashy decisions,” Jason says, “but they eliminated friction engineers felt every day.”
Test engineers at Iris Technology reviewing system diagnostics together.
Jason stays attuned to emerging technology and its practical implications. In late 2022, he initiated internal conversations around generative AI well before it entered mainstream Defense workflows, viewing it through the lens of engineering productivity rather than hype.
He also works directly with customers, translating requirements into reality, offering thoughtful pushback when constraints demand it, and taking responsibility when concerns are valid.
“Our engineers handle execution extremely well. My role is to see patterns, anticipate constraints, and clear the path.”
Leadership That Serves
Jason maintains a close relationship with his father, regularly discussing leadership challenges and the dynamic realities of engineering work. Those conversations reinforce priorities beyond work: perspective, balance, and responsibility.
Jason and his wife Jessica have now been married for over 20 years and are raising two sons. Together, they have built the stable foundation that Jason values since the beginning of his career and continues to stabilize his well-being through the journey.
“I love my family life,” Jason says. “Having a home full of love is something that shouldn't be taken for granted. I really cherish that.”
When asked what advice he offers younger engineers, Jason keeps it simple:
“Take risks, but commit to them. If you leave as soon as things get hard, you miss the growth.”
Jason Ng leads with discernment rather than ego. His approach blends strategic clarity with stewardship and accountability. He recognizes patterns early, allocates resources deliberately, and removes obstacles before they slow teams down.
It's an approach that reflects Iris Technology itself: precise, dependable, and built for missions where performance matters.
Inspired by Jason's Leadership Spotlight? Reach out to learn how his leadership powers Iris Technology's cutting-edge solutions. Contact us or follow on LinkedIn for more insights.