Director of Product - Platform, Payload & Services

Canaan Partners; United States; Remote; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan with Wellness Allowance

Unlimited vacation

Parental leave policy

Annual company-wide holidays

Job summary

Kepler Communications is scaling its product leadership to strengthen its presence across Europe and accelerate development of its growing portfolio. We are seeking a Director of Product - Platform, Payload & Services to lead strategy, roadmap development, and execution across Kepler’s four core product lines.

This is a senior leadership role aligning business objectives with product innovation. This role requires a strategic yet execution-focused leader who thrives in fast-paced, highly

Qualifications

• 10+ years in product management with leadership experience.
• Experience owning complex product portfolios or multiple product lines.
• Proven track record of building and executing product roadmaps in technical domains.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the product strategy for multiple product lines across platform, payload, and services.
• Own integrated roadmaps and ensure alignment with company priorities.
• Collaborate with engineering, sales, and GTM teams to drive launches and adoption.
• Represent Kepler at industry events and with key customers and regulators.

Skills

Product Strategy

Leadership

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Space/Defense Domain

Roadmap Execution

Global Stakeholder Management

Communication

Education

BS/BA in engineering or business

Job description

At Kepler Communications, we're not just imagining the future of on-demand space connectivity - we're leading it!

Our mission is to provide real-time on-orbit connectivity for critical missions, enabling a new era of data-driven intelligence and innovation. With 33 satellites launched to date, Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time, continuous space communications while supporting advanced on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities.

Industry-leading technology is only part of the story. What sets Kepler apart is our team: bold thinkers, skilled builders, and passionate problem-solvers who thrive on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space. We believe great ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to creating an environment where you can grow, lead, and make a global impact.

If you’re ready to reach higher, move faster, and do work that shapes the future space economy - this is your launchpad.

Come build the future with Kepler!

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation designed to recognize and reward your contributions.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance —including dependents.
• 401(k) and an annual Wellness Allowance.
• Unlimited vacation, supportive parental leave policy, and company-wide holiday shutdown.
• Semi-annual company-wide parties and regular (virtual and team events.
• Relocation packages available for approved roles.
• $1,500 annual professional development fund to support your growth.
• Town Halls, Celebration Calls and Frequent company-wide events to stay connected and engaged.
• We're a certified Great Place to Work®, seven years in a row at our Canadian Headquarters.

As we scale globally, we are expanding our product leadership team to strengthen our presence across Europe and accelerate the development of our growing portfolio.

We are seeking a Director of Product - Platform, Payload & Services to lead strategy, roadmap development, and execution across Kepler’s four core product lines. This is a senior leadership role responsible for aligning business objectives with product innovation, ensuring Kepler delivers market-leading solutions to customers across the space industry.

This role requires a strategic yet execution-focused leader who thrives in fast-paced, scaling environments, brings clarity to ambiguity across teams, and is passionate about building transformative products in the space technology sector.

This role is remote-first within Europe, Canada or US, working closely with global teams across North America and beyond.

Key Responsibilities:

• Product Strategy & Vision:
  • Lead product strategy for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) use cases across Kepler's platform, payload, and space infrastructure services, enabling real-time data relay, tasking, and delivery for defense and commercial customers
  • Define and scale end-to-end ISR product offerings by integrating payload capabilities, space-based communications, and ground/data services to support low-latency, mission-critical intelligence workflows
  • Drive development of ISR-focused solutions that leverageKepler's platform for persistent connectivity, rapid data downlink, and in-mission responsiveness across distributed space assets
  • Define and drive the product vision and long-term strategy across Kepler’s product portfolio and translate company objectives into clear, actionable product initiatives
• Identify new market opportunities across Europe and globally, including government, commercial, and defense sectors and act as a key voice of the customer, incorporating feedback into product evolution
• Roadmap Ownership:
  • Own and maintain integrated roadmaps for Kepler’s four product lines, ensuring alignment with company priorities
• Cross-Functional Leadership:
  • Partner closely with engineering, solutions architects, sales, and commercial operations teams to deliver products successfully
  • Lead cross-functional planning processes, including quarterly and annual product planning and collaborate with go-to-market teams to ensure successful launches and adoption
• Execution & Delivery:
  • Oversee execution from concept through launch and iteration and establish clear success metrics for each product line
  • Ensure timely delivery while managing risk in a highly technical, hardware-software integrated environment
• Market & Customer Engagement:
  • Build strong relationships with European, Canadian and US customers, partners, and regulatory stakeholders
  • Represent Kepler at industry events, conferences, and customer engagements and monitor competitive landscape and industry trends to inform strategy
• Leadership & Growth:
  • Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and customer focus
  • Help scale product processes and best practices as Kepler grows

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience in Product Management, with at least 3+ years in a leadership role
• BS/BA in engineering, business, or related field
• Experience working with a mix of Canadian, US, and European commercial and defense customers, regulators, or markets
• Proven experience owning complex product portfolios or multiple product lines
• Strong track record of building and executing product roadmaps in technical domains
• Experience working in space, satellite, defense, or deep tech industries
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally in global, distributed teams
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity across teams
• 15-25% travel within Europe and North America with travel to Kepler HQ in Toronto
• "Demonstrates a willingness to adopt and effectively utilize AI-assisted engineering tools, applying sound judgment to improve productivity, quality, and innovation while continuously adapting to evolving technologies"

Bonus Points:

• Familiarity with satellite communications, networking, or mission operations
• MBA or advanced degree in engineering, business, or related field
• Ability to collaborate across time zones with teams in North America

Equal Opportunity Employer

Kepler is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact our People & Culture team at [e-mail], and we will work with you to meet your needs.