Product Development Manager

Silentium Defence; City of Salisbury; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Silentium Defence is seeking experienced Product Development Managers in South Australia. The role involves taking ownership of advanced technology products, leading multidisciplinary teams through the full lifecycle from ideation to production. Candidates should have a strong engineering background, with a focus on leadership, governance, and project management, and must be Australian citizens eligible for NV1 Security Clearance. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative defense solutions.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in product management.
• Experience in managing products from inception to production.
• Proficiency in engineering governance and design approval processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain product roadmaps aligned to business strategy.
• Lead teams through the full product lifecycle.
• Drive product definition and prototyping.

Skills

Leadership in product management

Proven track record in product development

Ability to manage multidisciplinary teams

Understanding of engineering principles

Change control and configuration management

Problem-solving methods

Education

Degree in electronic, systems, or mechanical engineering

Job description

Silentium Defence is entering an exciting new phase of growth, and we are seeking multiple experienced Product Development Managers to take ownership of the development and delivery of advanced technology products that protect those who matter.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain product roadmaps aligned to business strategy and market demand
• Lead multidisciplinary teams through the full product lifecycle — ideation to production
• Drive product definition, prototyping, and design for manufacture
• Collaborate across engineering, production, and commercial teams
• Champion disciplined engineering governance and delivery processes
• Manage suppliers, subcontractors, and strategic partners
• Ensure products meet quality, schedule, and contractual requirements
• Identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement

About You

You bring strong leadership experience in product management and product development, with a proven track record of managing products from inception through to production. You are experienced in applying engineering principles and structured problem‑solving methods across complex, multidisciplinary environments, working seamlessly across software, electronics and mechanical domains, including full system integration. You have a strong command of engineering governance and design approval processes, alongside hands‑on experience developing and managing project schedules, budgets, configuration management and change control. You are comfortable leading subcontractors, influencing senior stakeholders and driving alignment to deliver outcomes, with demonstrated success taking concepts through design, validation and into manufacturing at scale. You are degree‑qualified as an Engineer in an electronic, systems or mechanical discipline and bring a practical, delivery‑focused mindset to building products that perform in the real world.

Application Eligibility

Due to the nature of our work within the Defence industry, applicants must be Australian Citizens and eligible to obtain and maintain an NV1 Security Clearance, with the potential to secure a higher-level clearance if required. Only applicants who meet these mandatory requirements will be considered.