Director, Product Management (Grade P13)

SES Space & Defense is a trusted partner ensuring mission success for our customers by blanketing the globe with multi orbit end to end satellite and technology solutions which provide reliable, secure, and high bandwidth connectivity. We strive to be the only solution when success is critical, and we will take care of our employees because we recognize they are our competitive advantage. The SES S&D Team, along with our customers and partners, will achieve success through integrity, honor, and commitment. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director, Product Management role is responsible for understanding and validating customer desirements related to efficient and effective satellite communications networking, translating those desirements into product requirements, and overseeing the successful development of modernized satellite network deployment, operation management, and network analysis through the creation of enterprise management and control solutions and tools that facilitate simpler network operation and ultimately automation and improved reporting.  This individual will lead various projects simultaneously and work with cross-functional teams to achieve goals and objectives.

PRIMARY RESPOSIBILITIES

Market Analysis for Requirement Development & Validation

• Meet with customers to identify user desires, pain points, latent needs, and motivations, to be translated into product features and user stories. 
• Investigate opportunities for hosted payloads and augmentations on our future constellation updates
• Identify requirements and features for our next generation user terminals, which may support LEO, MEO, and GEO satellite connections and tracking.
• Translate market research into detailed, actionable product requirement documents (PRDs), including epics, features, and user scenarios. 
• Analyze direct and indirect competitors to understand their strengths and weaknesses of product features and market positioning to identify opportunities for differentiation.

Product Development

• Use data-driven insights to rank potential product features based on market demand, technical feasibility, differentiation and alignment with business goals. 
• Work with cross functional departments through the development process to create Minimum Viable Products as precursors to a final product offering.
• Employ Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) or prototypes to gather feedback from potential users, testing usability and functionality before full-scale development.
• For hosted payloads, user terminals or other hardware development, track the requirements, testing, and validation from cradle to grave to ensure full compliance to the product needs. 

Financial Management

• Participate in the development and management of annual IR&D/CAPEX and OPEX budgets targeted toward achievement of objectives that create new revenue or drive additional revenue for the business.
• Participate in monthly, quarterly, or annual performance and financial reviews of actuals versus budget in comparison with the achievements tied to strategic business plan.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer & Electronic Systems, Computer Engineering, Software Development, or related field required.  Extensive knowledge in the field of satellite communications, satellite ground systems, satellite user terminals, as well as related operations. 
• 12+ years of progressive experience in government SATCOM.  Experience with gathering use cases, developing vendor requirements, development, testing and deployment preferred.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in a matrixed organization.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 suite, as well as ADO, Salesforce, Deltek Costpoint, and related software applications.
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance required.  Active TS/SCI clearance preferred.

Tha idea candidate:

• Is a strategic thinker with the ability to align complex customer desirements with the company’s forward product roadmap and development priorities to achieve high-level business goals.
• Demonstrates outstanding leadership skills, fostering team cohesion and mentoring future leaders.
• Thrives in dynamic environments, managing ambiguity while maintaining focus on execution and results.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and is committed to continuous improvement and organizational change with the ability to methodically and consistently convert Lessons Learned into organizational capability.

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.  #LI-Hybrid #LI-DR1