Product Manager – Dual-Use Unmanned Systems (UA)

Stealth Startup • Oakland, CA

1d

About The Position

We are seeking a Product Manager to lead the delivery, adoption, and evolution of our dual-use unmanned systems. This role is the critical link between operators, procurement officials, and our internal engineering teams. You will own the delivery of systems from concept through fielding, ensuring that our products meet operational needs, comply with regulatory frameworks, and achieve mission success.
This position requires deep familiarity with unmanned systems technology, user environments, and defense/government procurement dynamics. You will represent the product and the company credibly to both operators in the field and senior decision-makers in procurement and defense organizations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in product management, field engineering, or technical program roles, ideally with unmanned systems or dual-use technologies.
• Strong technical knowledge of UAV platforms, mission planning software, sensors, payloads, and operational environments.
• Proven ability to translate operator requirements into actionable product specifications.
• Experience working with government procurement or defense organizations, with awareness of international procurement frameworks.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage credibly at both the operator and senior decision-maker levels.
• Ability to travel for demos, field trials, and customer engagements.

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on experience with UAV hardware/software or flight operations.
• Familiarity with ITAR/export control and aviation safety standards.
• Experience with dual-use (defense and commercial) product development.
• Background in customer-facing technical demonstrations or training.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary liaison with operators to gather requirements, insights, and structured feedback.
• Engage with government procurement officials, program managers, and senior military leaders to align product direction with strategic needs.
• Lead product demonstrations, field evaluations, and delivery acceptance reviews.
• Translate real-world use cases into clear, actionable product requirements.
• Own the end-to-end delivery of systems, ensuring schedules, milestones, and acceptance criteria are met.
• Collaborate closely with engineering to define specifications, prioritize features, and validate prototypes and production units.
• Oversee field testing and trials, ensuring the product performs under operational conditions.
• Provide structured feedback loops between users, procurement stakeholders, and internal teams.
• Maintain deep understanding of unmanned systems technologies, including airframes, payloads, software, sensors, and mission profiles.
• Track competitor offerings, emerging technologies, and evolving mission requirements across defense and commercial markets.
• Monitor regulatory and compliance requirements (ITAR, EAR, FAA, EASA, allied procurement rules) and integrate them into roadmap planning.
• Contribute to long-term roadmap decisions by balancing customer needs, technology feasibility, and regulatory constraints.
• Represent the product credibly in conversations with operators, procurement officers, and senior defense leadership.
• Coordinate internally with engineering, supply chain, and operations to ensure deliveries are aligned with commitments.
• Support leadership with insights into market positioning, competitive dynamics, and product readiness.

Benefits

• Direct impact on mission success by shaping unmanned systems used across defense and commercial markets.
• The opportunity to bridge the gap between operators, procurement officials, and cutting-edge engineering teams.
• A collaborative, mission-driven culture with strong technical expertise.
• Growth pathways into senior product and program leadership roles.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior