Associate Product Manager

SubSea Craft Limited; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Bonus scheme

Life insurance

Critical illness cover

25 days leave

Christmas shutdown

Wellbeing day

Parental leave

Private healthcare

Training & learning

Flexible working

Inclusive culture

Job summary

SubSea Craft Limited is seeking an Associate Product Manager to help shape autonomous watercraft and UAV capabilities for defence and commercial use. You will work with engineers and product peers to gather requirements, articulate user needs, and contribute to roadmaps and capability plans.

This role suits recent graduates or those with limited experience who are eager to learn, with a focus on curiosity, communication, and hands-on development in a fast‑paced, innovative environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Aerospace, Robotics, Product Management, or another relevant STEM discipline.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex ideas clearly.
• Comfortable working with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and maintenance of product requirements for UAV and autonomous system applications.
• Assist in translating technical concepts into clear product requirements, user stories, and capability descriptions.
• Help prepare presentations, product documentation, business cases, and customer-facing materials.
• Participate in product demonstrations, trials, workshops, and customer engagements.
• Develop an understanding of defence, autonomy, and UAV markets while building product management skills through hands‑on experience.
• Contribute to the development of concepts of operation (CONOPs) and mission‑focused use cases.
• Facilitate collaboration between engineering, business development, and operational teams.
• Support the maintenance of product roadmaps and capability development plans.
• Engage with engineers, operators, and customers to understand operational challenges and user needs.

Skills

Excellent communication

Stakeholder management

Organisational skills

Security clearance eligibility

Travel willingness

Curiosity & learning

Analytical mindset

Interest in UAVs/autonomy/defence

Education

Engineering / Computer Science / Physics / Math / Aerospace / Robotics (STEM)

Job description

• Salary: Up to £35,000 DOE
• Full Time
• Permanent

Who we are:

SubSea Craft is a fast growing, privately-funded, UK-based innovative maritime technology company specialising in next-generation, high-performance watercraft and systems. We operate at the intersection of advanced engineering, cutting-edge design, and user-centric innovation, delivering safe, effective, and enabling solutions for both commercial and defence applications.

What We Offer

• Pension Contribution – Pension scheme with the option to contribute via salary sacrifice.
• Annual Bonus Scheme – Eligibility to participate in the company’s annual discretionary bonus scheme, linked to individual and company performance.
• Life Assurance and Critical Illness Cover – Comprehensive protection including Life Assurance (4x salary) and Critical Illness Cover for added financial security.
• Annual Leave – Entitlement to 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Christmas Leave – A Christmas shutdown is typically observed.
• Wellbeing Day – An additional Wellbeing Day each year to focus on personal health and wellbeing.
• Family Leave – Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
• Private Healthcare – Access to comprehensive private healthcare coverage to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Professional Development – Commitment to ongoing learning and career growth, supported by training programmes and access to LinkedIn Learning.
• Flexible Working – Opportunities for flexible working arrangements to promote work–life balance.
• Inclusive Culture – A professional environment that values diversity, innovation, and collaboration.

Role Overview

As an Associate Product Manager, you will support the development of innovative autonomous and uncrewed aerial capabilities for defence and commercial applications.

Working alongside experienced product managers, engineers, and operational subject matter experts, you will help gather requirements, understand user needs, analyse emerging technologies, and contribute to the development of product roadmaps and capability plans.

This role is ideal for a recent graduate or someone with limited experience who is passionate about technology, enjoys solving complex problems, and wants to build a career in product management within a highly innovative environment.

We're less interested in extensive experience and more interested in candidates who demonstrate curiosity, initiative, strong communication skills, and a desire to learn.

Responsibilities Will Include

• Support the development and maintenance of product requirements for UAV and autonomous system applications.
• Assist in translating technical concepts into clear product requirements, user stories, and capability descriptions.
• Help prepare presentations, product documentation, business cases, and customer-facing materials.
• Participate in product demonstrations, trials, workshops, and customer engagements.
• Develop an understanding of defence, autonomy, and UAV markets while building product management skills through hands‑on experience.
• Contribute to the development of concepts of operation (CONOPs) and mission‑focused use cases.
• Facilitate collaboration between engineering, business development, and operational teams.
• Support the maintenance of product roadmaps and capability development plans.
• Engage with engineers, operators, and customers to understand operational challenges and user needs.

Required

Qualifications and Experience:

• Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Aerospace, Robotics, Product Management, or another relevant STEM discipline.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex ideas clearly.
• Comfortable working with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance (SC minimum).
• Willingness to travel occasionally within the UK and internationally (1-2 times per year for up to 5 days).
• Curious, proactive, and eager to learn in a fast‑paced environment.
• Analytical mindset with strong problem‑solving capabilities.
• Strong interest in UAVs, autonomous systems, aerospace, defence technology, or emerging technologies.

Desirable

• Experience participating in student engineering teams, competitions, start‑ups, or entrepreneurial projects.
• Experience using data analysis, research, or project management tools.
• Comfortable working in unclear situations and with complex defence organisations.
• Understanding of military, defence, security, or autonomous systems applications.

Note: Due to the nature of work undertaken at SubSea Craft, the selected candidate must be capable of meeting the security requirements of the position, which would include as a minimum existing right to live and work in the UK, Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), with UK National security clearance required for certain roles.*

Values:

Our people are our greatest asset, we continually strive to provide an excellent working environment to enable our team to do their best work. We have an agile professional workforce: we are founded on the belief that our people are valued and our business is trusted, inclusive and commercially-adept.

What We Expect From You

• Teamwork, mutual respect and collaboration
• Initiative and independent working
• Honesty and integrity
• Business and commercial awareness
• Agility, adaptability and continuous development

We are committed to building an inclusive, diverse workplace where everyone can thrive. If you require any support or adjustments to interact with us, please let us know.

• Please note that all offers of employment are conditional and subject to satisfactory DBS, driving licence and reference checks. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify candidates from employment. We will consider criminal record information alongside the wider range of evidence gathered at the application, interview, and pre-employment checking stages.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to everyone. If you are shortlisted, we will aim to contact you within 14 days of your application or the closing date (if stated). We may retain your details for future suitable roles unless you advise us otherwise.

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