Director of Product Management

Shield AI; Greater London; On-site; GBP 128,000 - 192,000; Full time

Job summary

A high-tech defense company in the UK seeks a Product Manager to lead strategy and execution for autonomous systems. The role involves defining product vision, managing the product lifecycle, and fostering cross-functional partnerships. Requirements include a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Computer Science, over 12 years of product management experience, and strong leadership skills. Preferred qualifications include UK security clearance. The salary range is between £128,000 and £192,000 annually.

Benefits

Comprehensive international benefits package

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in product management, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven success in leading hardware/software product lines.
• Deep experience in autonomy, robotics, aerospace/defense.

Responsibilities

• Define and communicate product vision aligned with mission.
• Own the end-to-end product lifecycle.
• Serve as the voice of the customer within the organization.
• Lead and grow a team of high-performing product managers.
• Establish key product performance metrics.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication skills

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Computer Science

Job description

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description

Shield AI is building the world’s best AI pilots for aircraft—and we’re looking for a Product Manager to lead the strategy, execution, and roadmap for our core autonomous systems and platforms.

In this high-impact role, you’ll work across engineering, design, ops, BD, and leadership to deliver mission-critical products that drive real-world results. You’ll bring clarity, speed, and alignment to complex programs—balancing near-term delivery with long-term innovation.

We want a product leader who thinks big, executes fast, and thrives in high-stakes environments. If you’re driven by impact and ready to help shape the future of autonomous defense, we’d love to meet you.

At Shield AI, you won’t just lead products. You’ll help define the next era of autonomy.

What you'll do

• Product Strategy and Vision: Define and communicate a compelling product vision aligned with Shield AI’s mission and long-term growth objectives. Translate strategic goals into executable product roadmaps that guide cross-functional development and investment decisions.
• Roadmap Development and Execution: Own the end-to-end product lifecycle; from concept and requirements definition through delivery and sustainment. Prioritize features and capabilities based on customer needs, operational impact, technical feasibility, and business goals. Ensure timely delivery of high-quality, mission-critical capabilities.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner closely with Engineering, Solutions Architecture, Program Management, and Business Development to ensure product priorities are aligned, well-scoped, and executable. Build trusted relationships across teams to drive focus, decision-making, and accountability.
• Customer and Market Engagement: Serve as the voice of the customer within the organization. Gather direct feedback from field users, military operators, and international partners to inform product decisions. Represent Shield AI in customer discussions, demos, and briefings as a senior product expert.
• Team Leadership and Development: Lead and grow a team of high-performing product managers. Foster a culture of ownership, agility, technical curiosity, and continuous improvement. Mentor team members in strategic thinking, product execution, and customer-centric innovation.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Establish key product performance metrics and use data to drive prioritization, product performance assessments, and iteration. Identify opportunities for continuous improvement through qualitative and quantitative feedback loops.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience in product management, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven success in leading hardware/software product lines through multiple lifecycle stages, from concept to fielded capability.
• Deep experience in autonomy, robotics, aerospace/defense, or other mission-critical technologies.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; able to convey complex ideas to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Self-starter with a track record of operating effectively in ambiguity and aligning diverse stakeholders toward a common goal.

Preferred qualifications

• UK security clearance
• Autonomy, perception background

Our international team members are employed through our Employer of Record (EOR) and receive a comprehensive international benefits package on top of base salary. For full details on compensation and benefits, please consult your talent acquisition partner.

128000 - 192000 GBP a year