Forward Deployed Product Manager (Manassas, VA / Senior)

Spear AI•Manassas, VA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re seeking a skilled Forward Deployed Product Manager to build the next-generation data management and artificial intelligence platform for maritime domain awareness. As a Forward Deployed Product Manager, you’ll work on-site with customers — embedded in the mission, navigating ambiguous requirements, and solving hard problems in the field. You’re part product manager, part technical advisor, and wholly accountable for making the mission succeed. The position requires an active U.S. Secret clearance and is on-site at customer locations. Spear AI is a growing defense contracting company dedicated to delivering cutting-edge solutions that support our nation’s security. As we expand, we’re building a culture where innovation meets mission-critical work. We operate with a flat organizational structure that empowers every team member to make an impact, collaborate directly with leadership, and contribute to projects that matter. Whether you’re joining our Hardware, Software, or Services division, you’ll work alongside talented professionals committed to excellence and to advancing the capabilities that keep our nation safe and secure. Spear AI builds sonobuoy sensors that are deployed into the water and collect edge data. We also work with the U.S. Navy to collect and process their SONAR data. You’ll have an opportunity to work on real-world projects that directly impact warfighter capabilities and mission success.

Requirements

4+ years of product management experience with technical products or platforms — not project management, not program management; you’ve owned a roadmap and made the hard prioritization calls.
Deep fluency in discovery methodology — you have a toolkit (jobs-to-be-done, continuous interviewing, opportunity solution trees, or equivalent) and a track record of using it to find the right problem before building the wrong solution.
Strong written and verbal communication — you can write a crisp one-pager, run a structured customer interview, and present confidently in a program review in the same afternoon.
Demonstrated ability to define product strategy from ambiguous inputs — operators won’t hand you a PRD; you need to go get the insight yourself.
Comfort operating in constrained, high-stakes environments where schedules are real, feedback loops are long, and the cost of building the wrong thing is high.
Familiarity with software development workflows — you can contribute meaningfully to planning cycles, write acceptance criteria that engineers can actually execute against, and know when to push back on scope.
Ability to work on-site at customer locations as required by the role.

Nice To Haves

Experience with IoT devices and sensors.
Digital signal processing or acoustics background.
Geospatial analysis and GIS experience.
Familiarity with working in multi-team engineering environments.
Prior experience supporting DoD programs or working with U.S. Navy customers.

Responsibilities

Own discovery end-to-end — You don’t wait for requirements to arrive in a document. You’re conducting structured interviews, shadowing operators in the field, mapping workflows, and surfacing unmet needs before they become expensive misses. Discovery isn’t a phase — it’s a continuous practice.
Define what gets built and why — Translate operator pain, mission gaps, and strategic objectives into crisp problem statements, user stories, and acceptance criteria. You’re the one who decides what’s worth building next and can defend that call with evidence.
Shape the product vision at the edge — Maintain a living, prioritized roadmap grounded in real field context. You’re not just grooming a backlog — you’re making opinionated bets on where the platform needs to go and bringing the team along with you.
Embed with customers on-site — Live and breathe their workflows, constraints, and environment. You’re not a visitor; you’re a teammate with a different badge. You understand the mission deeply enough to push back when a feature request is actually a symptom of a bigger problem.
Bridge the gap between engineering and the field — Communicate customer context back to the team with enough technical depth that engineers can act on it immediately, without a game of telephone. You write specs that don’t need three clarification meetings to execute.
Drive deployments and validation — Coordinate releases, integration milestones, and acceptance testing directly with the customer. You’re present for the moment of truth and accountable for the outcome.
Represent Spear AI with credibility — Build trusted relationships with program offices, operators, and technical counterparts. You’re the face of the product in the room — and you’ve done enough homework to earn that position.

Benefits

Unlimited PTO — Take the time you need to recharge and maintain work-life balance.
Dedicated sick time — Your health and well-being come first.
Comprehensive health and benefits – Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your family protected.
11 Paid Holidays — Enjoy time off throughout the year to celebrate and spend time with loved ones.
Professional development — Educational opportunities and resources to help you grow your skills and advance your career.
Collaborative environment — Work directly with leadership in our flat organizational structure, where your ideas and contributions matter.
Mission-driven work — Contribute to projects that directly support national security and make a real-world impact.
Growth opportunities — Join us during an exciting expansion phase where you can help shape our future.
401(k) with company match.
Onsite / Remote / Flexible work arrangements or hybrid options (position dependent).
Relocation assistance (position dependent).
Referral bonuses.
Performance bonuses.
Life insurance and disability coverage.
Technology home office setup stipend.
Professional certification reimbursement (position dependent).