Vice President & Product Line GM

Ladders; Petaluma (CA); On-site; USD 246,000 - 393,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

Ladders seeks a Vice President & Product Line GM to own the performance and strategic direction of a major product line in the Aerospace & Defense space. This on-site role partners with executives, engineering, commercial teams, and customers to shape product vision and drive market and financial outcomes from Petaluma, CA.

You will lead product strategy, investment decisions, and operational execution in a defense-oriented environment, with responsibility for long-range plans and

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience in the military UAS market.
• Understanding of emerging commercial verticals, especially in B2B segments.
• Working knowledge of UAS airworthiness certification processes.
• Experience in product road mapping, R&D, and product sustainment.
• Proven track record in business development and sales for defense products.
• Ability to manage departmental or project budgets.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Own orders, pricing, investment allocation, and customer satisfaction for the product line.
• Report on financial drivers and market dynamics during business reviews.
• Lead the development of the annual operating plan and 5-year strategy.
• Support company-level strategy development.
• Manage project prioritization and resource allocation.
• Create buy-in for product vision with internal teams and key customers.
• Establish and analyze product line performance metrics.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Product strategy

Business development

Stakeholder management

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Vice President & Product Line GM to join the team of a leader in the Aerospace & Defense space.

In this on-site leadership role, you will own the performance and strategic direction of a major product line. You will partner closely with executive leadership, commercial teams, engineering, and customers to shape product vision, guide investment decisions, and drive market and financial outcomes. The role requires a strong blend of product strategy, business development, and operational execution in a complex defense-oriented environment.

Location: Petaluma, CA

Compensation: $245,500 - $393,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Own orders, pricing, investment allocation, and customer satisfaction for the product line
• Report on financial drivers and market dynamics during business reviews
• Lead the development of the annual operating plan and 5-year strategy
• Support company-level strategy development
• Manage project prioritization and resource allocation
• Create buy-in for product vision with internal teams and key customers
• Establish and analyze product line performance metrics

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience in the military UAS market
• Understanding of emerging commercial verticals, especially in B2B segments
• Working knowledge of UAS airworthiness certification processes
• Experience in product road mapping, R&D, and product sustainment
• Proven track record in business development and sales for defense products
• Ability to manage departmental or project budgets
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K with company matching
• 9/80 work schedule
• Paid holiday shutdown

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.