Senior Product Manager, UAS Development

About the Role

Tempest is Firestorm's modular fixed wing unmanned aircraft system (UAS). One airframe reconfigures in the field for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and one way attack missions. It carries electronic warfare and communications payloads, and it is built and repaired at the point of need with xCell, our deployable microfactory.

As Senior Product Manager for Tempest, you own the product. You decide what Tempest is, who it serves, what it must do, and in what order new capability arrives. You prove that the aircraft we deliver meets the expectations of the operators who fly it.

You own the what and the why. Program management owns the when and the how much, and engineering owns the how. You will work alongside both every day, and you will be the person they look to when a product decision needs to be made.

This role is for someone who has taken hardware from requirements to fielding. You are as comfortable at a test range or with a unit as you are in a design review. You know a product is finished only when it works for the user in the field.

What You'll Do

Product definition and requirements:

• Own the product definition. Set the missions and users Tempest serves, the configurations we offer, and what each must deliver.
• Own the requirements. Write and maintain capability and system level requirements with threshold and objective values and measurable acceptance criteria, traced to operator needs and concepts of operations (CONOPS).
• Make the product call. Decide when capability, unit cost, schedule, and producibility pull against each other, with program management and engineering at the table.
• Keep one source of truth. Maintain the Tempest capability baseline and product documentation, so business development (BD), capture, and customers work from the same facts.

Roadmap and business case:

• Own the roadmap. Decide which configurations, payloads, and capabilities come next, and why. Tie each choice to customer demand, funding signals, acquisition timelines, and technology readiness.
• Build the business case. Justify new configurations and major investments, and provide product input to pricing.
• Know the competition. Track competing systems and turn what you learn into positioning and roadmap decisions.

Validation, test, and delivery:

• Define done. Set the acceptance criteria and operational validation for each release that prove Tempest meets operator expectations, not only the specification.
• Shape the test plan. Work with engineering and flight test so ground test, flight test, and demonstrations validate the requirements that matter most. Be at the tests and read the data.
• Make the readiness call. Decide when each release is ready for a customer from a product standpoint. Program management owns the delivery schedule and execution.
• Weigh the operator experience. Factor setup time, training burden, maintainability, and field repair with xCell into every decision.

Customers and field feedback:

• Be the voice of the operator. Spend regular time with military operators, program offices, and allied and partner users to understand their missions, constraints, and buying paths.
• Own the feedback loop. Gather field feedback with our Mission Success Team, define the metrics that show how Tempest performs in the field, and turn what you learn into requirement and roadmap changes.
• Support the win. Give BD and capture the technical content, demonstrations, customer briefings, and white papers they need.
• Communicate clearly. Share product decisions, risks, and status with leadership, engineering, and customers.

Required Qualifications

• Experience. 7+ years in product management, systems engineering, program management, or engineering roles on hardware or electromechanical systems, including at least 3 years owning a product's definition, requirements, or roadmap.
• Hardware delivered. You have taken a hardware product from development through test and customer acceptance into production or fielding.
• Requirements and test. You have written requirements with measurable acceptance criteria and used test results to decide whether a product was ready.
• Industry. Experience in defense, aerospace, or another regulated hardware industry.
• Technical fluency. You can read a system architecture, follow a performance trade across weight, power, range, endurance, and payload, and understand why a change is hard.
• User focus. A record of gathering needs directly from end users and turning them into product decisions.
• Communication. Clear, concise writing and briefing. You can explain a trade to an operator, a program office, and an engineer.
• Education. Bachelor's degree, or equivalent practical experience.
• Eligibility. U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Engineering degree. Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering.
• Pilot certificate. Private pilot certificate. We value the judgment and understanding of complex systems that flying builds. Significant military aviation or UAS operating experience counts too.
• UAS products. Experience with Group 2 or 3 fixed wing aircraft, loitering munitions, or one way attack systems.
• Part 107. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 remote pilot certificate, or willingness to earn one within 60 days of hire.
• Military service. Especially as an operator or maintainer of unmanned systems.
• Defense acquisition. Other transaction authority (OTA) agreements, rapid fielding, and work with program offices.
• Open architecture. Modular open systems approach (MOSA) architectures and integration of third party payloads, such as electro optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors, electronic warfare, or communications relays.
• Production. Additive or distributed manufacturing, or products designed for repair in the field.
• Capture. Supporting proposals, white papers, or captures.
• Export control. Working knowledge of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) as they apply to allied and partner sales.

Work Environment

• Based at our Headquarters in San Diego, CA
• This role requires an on-site presence
• We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.

Compensation

US Salary Range: $140,000 - $170,000 USD 

The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certifications, specialized skills, geographic location, and business needs. Actual compensation may vary, and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve.

Benefits & Perks

Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Equity grants for new hires
• Unlimited PTO
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November, & December
• Generous Parental Leave 
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• FSA 
• DCFSA
• HSA
• Hospital Indemnity insurance 
• Critical Illness insurance 
• Accident insurance 
• Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well

Export Control Compliance

To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.

Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at careers@launchfirestorm.com so we can provide the support you need.

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $143,000 – $170,000 per year.