Director, Product Management (Grade M13)

SES Space & Defense is a trusted partner ensuring mission success for our customers by blanketing the globe with multi orbit end to end satellite and technology solutions which provide reliable, secure, and high bandwidth connectivity. We strive to be the only solution when success is critical, and we will take care of our employees because we recognize they are our competitive advantage.The SES S&D Team, along with our customers and partners, will achieve success through integrity, honor, and commitment.

The Director, Product Management role is responsible for understanding and validating customer desirements related to efficient and effective satellite communications networking, translating those desirements into product requirements, and overseeing the successful development of modernized satellite network deployment, operation management, and network analysis through the creation of enterprise management and control solutions and tools that facilitate simpler network operation and ultimately automation and improved reporting. This individual will lead various projects simultaneously and work with cross-functional teams to achieve goals and objectives.

The Director will be accountable for fostering a high-performance team culture, providing executive-level reporting and insight into product and project outcomes, and championing continuous improvement initiatives.

Market Analysis for Requirement Development & Validation

• Meet with customers to identify user desires, pain points, latent needs, and motivations, to be translated into product features and user stories.
• Translate market research into detailed, actionable product requirement documents (PRDs), including epics, features, and user scenarios.
• Analyze direct and indirect competitors to understand their strengths and weaknesses of product features and market positioning to identify opportunities for differentiation.

Product Development

• Use data-driven insights to rank potential product features based on market demand, technical feasibility, differentiation and alignment with business goals.
• Work with cross functional departments through the development process to create Minimum Viable Products as precursors to a final product offering.
• Employ Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) or prototypes to gather feedback from potential users, testing usability and functionality before full-scale development.
• Lead new Machine Learning, AI and Generative AI engagements to differentiate SES S&D product offerings and improve internal efficiency

Product Management

• Develop go-to-market strategies, business models, and other product launch criteria necessary for release of a product to the market.
• Manage the end-to-end process from ideation, technical design, prototyping, and testing to final launch.

Financial Management

• Participate in the development and management of annual IR&D/CAPEX and OPEX budgets targeted toward achievement of objectives that create new revenue or drive additional revenue for the business.
• Participate in monthly, quarterly, or annual performance and financial reviews of actuals versus budget in comparison with the achievements tied to strategic business plan.

Subcontractor, Vendor & Partner Management

• Manage major subcontractors (e.g. cloud providers, digital technology application providers, software developers, etc.) for statement of work (SOW) definition, performance monitoring, milestone tracking, and risk mitigation.

Organizational Development & Process Improvement

• Mentor product managers and product developers; build strong future leadership pipelines.
• Contribute to the development of product management processes, tools, templates, and best practices.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives to enhance execution efficiency and predictability.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer & Electronic Systems, Computer Engineering, Software Development, or related field required. Extensive knowledge in the field of satellite communications, satellite ground systems, enterprise management & control, preferred. Knowledge of Data Lake, Cloud, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence tools and solutions desired.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in digital transformation, cloud migration, data lake and related application development, activities required. Proven success driving organizations toward an automated operational environment through the use of machine learning, artificial intelligence tools and solutions preferred.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in a matrixed organization.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 suite, as well as ADO, Salesforce, Deltek Costpoint, and related software applications.
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance required. Active TS/SCI clearance preferred.

• Is a strategic thinker with the ability to align complex customer desirements with the company's forward product roadmap and development priorities to achieve high-level business goals.
• Demonstrates outstanding leadership skills, fostering team cohesion and mentoring future leaders.
• Thrives in dynamic environments, managing ambiguity while maintaining focus on execution and results.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and is committed to continuous improvement and organizational change with the ability to methodically and consistently convert Lessons Learned into organizational capability.

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.#LI-Remote #LI-DR1