Product Manager – Sonar

DCS Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

DCS Recruitment is supporting a specialist defence and maritime technology organisation in Hampshire, recruiting a Product Manager to own a sonar product family across its lifecycle, combining engineering judgement with practical leadership.

The role works with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Service and Business Development, tackling production issues, trials and product changes, with a focus on high-reliability environments and underwater acoustics.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on experience with technically complex electro-mechanical products.
• Ability to resolve production issues and support trials in a high-reliability environment.
• Experience with failure investigations and corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Take technical ownership of a sonar product family throughout development, manufacture, operational service and future evolution.
• Provide hands-on support for production and manufacturing issues with engineering teams to reach resolutions.
• Support sea trials, product demonstrations and other operational activities requiring specialist knowledge.
• Lead or coordinate failure investigations, root-cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Manage engineering changes, configuration requirements, component obsolescence and product updates.
• Define and influence the product roadmap to meet customer and market requirements.

Skills

Sonar systems knowledge

Underwater acoustics

Cross-functional engineering delivery

Root-cause analysis

Engineering change & configuration

Job description

Product Manager – Sonar

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Hampshire

Permanent

Technical product ownership

DCS Recruitment is supporting a specialist defence and maritime technology organisation in the appointment of a technically accomplished Product Manager based in Hampshire . The position will take ownership of an established sonar product family across its full lifecycle. This is not a traditional, commercially led product management position. It requires a strong understanding of sonar and underwater acoustics, together with the engineering judgement needed to support complex products through manufacture, operation and future development.

The successful candidate will work across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Service and Business Development, providing the technical leadership that connects product development, production, customer use and long-term capability planning. The role will be closely involved in resolving production issues, supporting trials, investigating failures and managing product change.

The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a defence or other high-reliability engineering environment and will bring practical experience of technically complex, electro-mechanical products. Experience with forward-looking sonar or intruder-detection sonar would be particularly valuable.

Key Responsibilities

• Take technical ownership of a sonar product family throughout development, manufacture, operational service and future evolution
• Provide hands‑on support for production and manufacturing issues, working with engineering and operational teams to reach effective resolutions
• Support sea trials, product demonstrations and other operational activities where specialist product knowledge is required
• Lead or coordinate failure investigations, root‑cause analysis and the implementation of corrective actions
• Manage engineering changes, configuration requirements, component obsolescence and product updates
• Define and influence the product roadmap, ensuring future capabilities reflect customer, operational and market requirements

Key Skills

• Strong technical knowledge of sonar systems and underwater acoustics
• Experience supporting complex electro‑mechanical products through manufacture and operational life
• Practical experience of production support, technical problem‑solving and cross‑functional engineering delivery
• Experience of failure investigation, root‑cause analysis and corrective action
• Knowledge of engineering change, configuration management and component obsolescence

Desirable Skills

• Experience within defence, maritime or another high‑reliability engineering environment
• Experience with forward‑looking sonar or intruder‑detection sonar systems
• Exposure to autonomous or remotely operated underwater systems
• Experience shaping product roadmaps and defining future technical capability

What you get in return

• The opportunity to take genuine technical ownership of an advanced sonar product family
• A varied role spanning engineering, manufacturing, trials, customer support and future product strategy
• The chance to work with highly capable teams delivering specialist underwater technology

The employer values diversity and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds.

DCS Recruitment and all associated companies are committed to creating a working environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly, regardless of gender, gender identity, disability, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, age, or nationality