UAS Senior Product Manager

Prestwick Aerosystems; Bingen (WA); Hybrid; USD 147,000 - 236,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Tuition Assistance

Job summary

Airbus Helicopters seeks a Senior Product Manager – Flexrotor UAS to own and execute the multi-year roadmap for our premier dual-use uncrewed platform. You will translate defense and commercial market demands into predictable block releases, reporting to the Head of Programs.

You will lead cross-functional alignment across Engineering, Sales, Operations and Leadership, balancing commercial and defense needs while guiding product readiness and customer-facing materials.

Qualifications

• Must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering in a related field.
• Ten years of progressive experience in technical product management or similar roles.
• Five years in aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, or UAS/VTOL allowed.
• Experience leading roadmaps with block release methodology and end-to-end readiness.
• Ability to synthesize inputs from Engineering, Production, Training, and Sales.
• Strong relationships across international teams and global business units.
• Capability to equip global sales teams with platform data and trade analyses.
• Deep understanding of PLM and backlog prioritization in a multi-market context.

Responsibilities

• Lead Dual-Market Product Roadmap and ensure block release readiness.
• Coordinate across Engineering, Production, Flight Ops, Training, and Support.
• Own backlog prioritization and feature grouping for hardware and software.
• Provide data-driven storytelling to executives and stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Product mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Excel

Job description

Airbus is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities.

Notice: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

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Job Description

Are you a strategic leader in autonomous systems ready to shape the future of uncrewed aerial systems on a global scale? Airbus Helicopters is seeking a Senior Product Manager – Flexrotor UAS to own and execute the multi-year product roadmap for our premier dual-use uncrewed platform. Reporting directly to the Head of Programs, you will serve as the strategic nexus connecting Engineering, Sales, Operations, and Senior Leadership, translating complex defense and commercial market demands into predictable, high-impact block releases.

Meet the Team

The Airbus Helicopters Flexrotor Program offers one of the most sophisticated small tactical unmanned aerial systems (STUAS) with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). It can be used day or night by US and allied forces for a diverse range of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) on land and at sea.

Your Working Environment

Nestled in the heart of the spectacular Columbia River Gorge in Bingen, WA, our workplace offers innovation and the ability to contribute to game-changing solutions while enjoying the flexibility to spread your wings. Whether it's solving complex challenges, or celebrating victories, you’ll be part of a cohesive crew that thrives on innovation and the beauty that the Northwest has to offer!

How We Care for You

Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”).
Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program.
Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high-deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages. As a leader in our field, Airbus Helicopters, Inc. provides relocation assistance for qualified positions and a comprehensive compensation and benefits package.

Your Challenges

• Roadmap Leadership & Cross-Functional Release Readiness : 30% Drive Dual-Market Product Roadmap: Own, define, and execute the multi-year product roadmap for the Flexrotor platform, balancing the requirements of commercial enterprise clients (e.g., maritime, energy, ISR) and defense/government entities. Orchestrate Launch & Release Readiness: Lead cross-functional alignment across Engineering, Production/Manufacturing, Flight Test, Training, and Customer Support to ensure all operational capabilities, technical documentation, training materials, and supply chains are fully prepared for each block release. Feature Backlog Management: Build, prioritize, and maintain the product feature backlog using a structured block release approach to strategically group hardware enhancements, software capabilities, and payload options into predictable deployment cycles. Predictable Schedule Execution: Work closely with Program Management and Engineering leadership to guarantee block releases hit target dates, fulfilling sales pipeline commitments and operational customer timelines.
• Technical Capture & Global Sales Enablement : 30% Global Sales & Customer Support: Partner with and support the global sales team during customer engagements across commercial and military sectors. Provide deep platform data, technical specifications, and trade analyses to demonstrate how Flexrotor satisfies specific mission profiles and operational requirements. Technical Capture & Proposals: Support technical capture activities for complex B2B and B2G opportunities, ensuring proposed capabilities align with upcoming block release schedules and core platform strategy. Value Proposition & Collateral: Translate complex engineering achievements into high-impact value propositions, capability briefs, proposal modules, and customer-facing product literature tailored to commercial or defense audiences. Engineering & Production Alignment: Collaborate directly with Engineering and Production teams to evaluate technical feasibility, payload integrations, and manufacturing scalability for new platform capabilities.
• Senior Leadership Influence & Execution : 20% Executive Alignment: Craft compelling, data-backed business cases and deliver executive presentations to secure internal investments for future block release features. Cross-Functional Influence: Drive cross-departmental accountability across matrixed teams (Sales, Engineering, Flight Operations, Regulatory, Finance) without direct authority to ensure milestone delivery. Strategic Partnerships: Conduct due diligence and lead evaluations for third-party technology integrations (e.g., advanced payloads, AI algorithms, comms packages, autonomous workflows) to broaden the platform's commercial and defense value.
• Commercial Strategy & Unit Economics : 20% Financial & Pricing Strategy: Build unit-economic models, establish pricing frameworks, and structure solution packages across block release baselines to maximize portfolio profitability across all market segments. Offering Definition & Commercial Packaging: Maintain accurate product offerings, optionality matrices, and pricing baselines in coordination with sales, finance, and program office teams. Regulatory & Operational Alignment: Support cross-divisional strategy reviews, ITAR/export compliance screenings, civil/military airspace regulatory alignment, and operational efficiency initiatives.

Your Boarding Pass

• Must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or a highly related technical engineering field).
• Must have a minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in technical product management, solutions engineering, system architecture, or technical program management.
• Must have a minimum of five (5) years of experience in aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, or unmanned aerial systems/vertical take-off and landing (UAS/VTOL).
• Must have demonstrated experience leading product roadmaps using a block release methodology and driving end-to-end product readiness across manufacturing, training, and operational functions.
• Proven ability to synthesize inputs from Engineering, Production, Training, and Sales into cohesive, market-ready block releases.
• Exceptional relationship-building and networking capabilities across international teams and global corporate business units.
• Strong ability to equip global sales teams with platform data, technical trade studies, and messaging.
• Deep understanding of product lifecycle management (PLM) and block release / backlog prioritization methodologies.
• Strong financial acumen with verified capability in building unit-economic models and business cases.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel or equivalent (for financial modeling and data-driven dashboards), and familiarity with modern work management, roadmap visualization, and product planning tools.
• Travel Required: 25% Domestic and International.
• Citizenship: Must be a US Person under ITAR definition (U.S. Citizen, green card holder or person covered under our existing ITAR license).

Physical Requirements

• Onsite or remote: 80% onsite in Bingen/20% remote.
• Vision: able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings. Daily.
• Hearing: able to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms. Daily.
• Speaking: able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications. Daily.
• Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts. Daily.
• Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Daily.
• Lifting: able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Daily.
• Pushing / Pulling: able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools. Occasionally.
• Sitting: able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on the computer. Daily.
• Squatting / Kneeling: able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving. Daily.
• Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor. Daily.
• Travel: able to travel independently and at short notice. Occasionally.
• Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents): able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces. Daily.
• Personal Protective Equipment required: Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site.
• Administrative position only PPE required: Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits, appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor.

Salary and Benefits

Salary range based on the required profile: $147k - $236k/year. Actual minimum and maximum may vary based on geographic differential. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors.

This position offers the following benefits:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Prescription insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• Basic & Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance
• Short and Long-term Disability insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off including paid holidays
• Tuition Assistance
• Bonus(es) subject to performance criteria.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status.

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief. Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all.