Director of Product Management

THE OPPORTUNITY

Silvus is seeking a Director of Product Management who will report to the Vice President of Product on the Product team.  The successful individual in this role will be the architect and leader of Silvus’ Product Management organization. This role goes beyond managing products — it’s about building the discipline of Product Management at Silvus from the ground up. This is a hands-on, high-impact leadership role ideal for someone who thrives in both strategic vision and organizational creation. It is well suited for an entrepreneurial technologist who enjoys interacting with customers, has a healthy sense of adventure, and enjoys traveling

The Director of Product Management position is based at Silvus Technologies’ Engineering and R&D Office in Irvine, CA, near the vibrant Irvine Spectrum and is on a hybrid schedule; a minimum of 4 days onsite per week is expected. On-site days are Monday through Thursday, with at least 1 of those days per week spent at Silvus Technologies’ headquarters in West Los Angeles, CA.

SUCCESS FACTORS

• Defining how the company evaluates markets, prioritizes opportunities, and brings products to life - across hardware, software, and integrated systems.
• Building scalable processes, hire and mentor a high-performing team, and embed a market-and customer-driven mindset across the company.
• Establishing a market-driven framework for portfolio prioritization - aligning customer needs, competitive insights, and business potential to guide investment.
• Working closely with the Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Operations teams, and bringing structure and clarity to how Silvus evaluates opportunities and executes them.

WHY JOIN SILVUS

• Build a Product Management organization from the ground up at a fast-growing, mission-driven technology leader.
• Shape the product strategy and market direction for cutting-edge tactical communication systems.
• Work with exceptional engineers and program leaders on technologies that protect lives and enable critical missions.
• Play a defining role in scaling one of the most innovative companies in defense technology.

The following is a list of at least some of the current essential job functions of the position. Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time at its discretion.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Build the Product Management Organization

• Be the founding leader of this team, initially focusing on strategic oversight and hands-on product ownership before scaling a dedicated team.
• Design, build, and lead a high-performing Product Management team — including recruiting, mentorship, and professional development.
• Define and institutionalize Silvus’ Product Management frameworks: roadmap planning, requirements management, portfolio governance, and lifecycle ownership.
• Champion the Product Management mindset across the company — helping teams think in terms of markets, customers, value, and lifecycle impact.
• Serve as the connective tissue between the Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Operations teams to align decisions with business strategy and customer needs. (e.g. partner with the Sales team to develop compelling product narratives and training; collaborate with the Operations team to forecast product demands and manage lifecycle transitions).

Market & Portfolio Strategy

• Develop a clear market-driven product strategy that identifies where Silvus should play, win, and invest.
• Lead portfolio prioritization based on market potential, ROI, and strategic value.
• Direct customer and OEM partner interaction as an ongoing activity.
• Partner with leadership to define long-term growth opportunities in defense and adjacent markets.
• Contribute to pricing, positioning, and go-to-market decisions grounded in data and customer insight.

Execution & Process Discipline

• Act as product owner for one or more key product lines during the team’s rapid growth phase.
• Oversee the full product lifecycle, ensuring clear definition of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and subsequent releases for hardware, software, and integrated systems.
• Drive cross-functional alignment through the New Product Introduction (NPI) process — from concept to launch.
• Implement tools and systems for configuration management, product documentation, and version control.
• Establish, implement, and monitor key metrics and OKRs for product and team performance, with a specific focus on tracking post-launch success, customer adoption, and associated revenue growth.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of Product Management experience, including at least 3–5 years in a director or senior leadership role.
• Proven success building or scaling a Product Management organization in a complex technology company (hardware + software + systems).
• Strong technical background and ability to engage deeply with engineering teams.
• Demonstrated strength in market analysis, business case development, and data-driven prioritization.
• Security Clearance: Active U.S. Government SECRET clearance or the ability to obtain one within 12 months of hire.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen due to clients under U.S. government contracts.
• All employment is contingent upon the successful clearance of a background check.

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• MBA or equivalent experience.
• Experience in defense, government, or mission-critical communications markets.
• Builder’s mentality - eager to create structure, process, and a product management mindset where it doesn’t yet exist.
• Strategic, market-oriented perspective with an instinct for business value.
• Ability to balance hands-on product ownership with organizational leadership.
• Collaborative and empowering leadership style that drives accountability and results.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Office environment.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to do the following:
  • Lift equipment up to 20 lbs. for the set-up of demonstrations and testing.
  • Perform bending and reaching movements to place items on lower and higher shelves.