Product Line Manager- Tactical Communications

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. • CLARKSBURG, MD

6d • $144,534 - $184,682 • Hybrid

About The Position

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI) is hiring a Product Line Manager – Tactical Communications for its Clarksburg, Maryland office. The role reports directly to the Product Line Director and is responsible for maintaining the tactical communications product strategy, roadmap, and investment plan. The roadmap and IR&D budget plan must cover a three-year period, receive senior management approval, and be updated periodically.

The Product Line Manager works with Business Development, program, and technical teams to identify customer needs, assess potential product features and new markets, determine technical and financial feasibility, and develop funding plans or business cases for senior management. The role ensures program-level decisions align with product strategy across families of products, participates in program design reviews, and supports business capture and proposal development. It also maintains the tactical radio section of the TDSI Product Catalog and approved standard pricing, supports strategic partnerships, and coordinates customer feedback.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance, subject to a government security investigation. The position requires up to 30% travel. The annualized pay range is $144,533.70–$184,681.95, with a target incentive compensation plan of 10%. The role is based in a hybrid working environment and offers a 9/80 schedule.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance and undergo a government security investigation.
• At least 5 years of technical experience in government contracting.
• Excellent organizational skills and work ethic.
• Effective oral and written communication skills and the ability to manage multiple projects.
• Ability to communicate effectively and build relationships with external and internal customers.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Project, or equivalent tools.
• Ability to work in a team environment and interact with employees across departments and functions.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.
• Ability to uphold and support the Thales Code of Ethics and maintain high ethical standards, including compliance with company procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical area.
• Experience developing and maintaining a budget.
• Experience with NSA-certified products or products subject to the Risk Management Framework (RMF).

Responsibilities

• Maintain a three-year Product Roadmap and IR&D Budget Plan, obtain senior management approval, and update the plans periodically.
• Coordinate with Business Development to solicit customer requirements, guide the Product Roadmap, address key customer needs, and identify capabilities for expansion into new markets.
• Work with program and technical teams to determine the cost, schedule, and feasibility of adding product features or products, and work with Business Development to identify customer funding where possible.
• Work with Business Development to define market size and timing and prepare business cases for senior management to determine whether IR&D investment is warranted.
• Ensure program- and project-level decisions align with product strategy across product families with common hardware and software baselines, and promote common ancillaries where possible.
• Participate in program design reviews, including bid reviews, post-award kickoffs, SDR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and PRR reviews.
• Support business capture and proposal development for the Communications business line, including technical writing, cost development, capture strategy, win themes, discriminators, and price-to-win activities.
• Maintain the tactical radio section of the TDSI Product Catalog, including radios, optional features, and ancillaries, and maintain approved standard pricing for catalog items.
• Support the primary PLM-TC lead on strategic partnerships to promote growth within and beyond organic communications products, including SIGINT/EW, expeditionary communications, CMOSS, and 5G.
• Listen to and respect audience questions to understand needs, and share information appropriately.
• Coordinate with customers to provide necessary customer feedback.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Yearly incentive compensation plan; the role’s target incentive compensation plan is 10%.
• Medical insurance for employees and eligible family members.
• 401(k) program with up to 7% company contribution and 100% immediate vesting.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday leave.
• Paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave.
• 9/80 work schedule, with every other Friday off.
• Hybrid working environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed