Senior Staff Product Manager, Vision Systems (R3591)

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Boston, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X , YouTube and Instagram.

As a Vision Systems Product Manager , you’ll take the helm of one of Shield AI’s most dynamic and rapidly evolving product lines. You’ll be the driving force behind our North American vision systems strategy—shaping advanced AI/ML-powered capabilities that deliver unmatched situational awareness to defense and government operators. In this high-impact role, you’ll work at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and real-world mission needs, partnering closely with engineering, business development, and program teams to set priorities, solve complex challenges, and deliver solutions that make a difference on the front lines. If you thrive on innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and building products with real-world impact, this is your opportunity to lead from the front.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Product Strategy & Roadmap Development

• Define and manage the product strategy for vision systems, aligning with customer needs and emerging threats.
• Develop and maintain product roadmaps that prioritize mission-critical features and balance technical feasibility.
• Lead strategic planning to expand the vision systems portfolio based on customer feedback and operational insights.
• Engage with customers and acquisition stakeholders to shape long-term demand, influence requirements, and support progression from concept through evaluation to fielding End-User & Customer Engagement:
• Serve as the bridge between development teams, operators, program managers, and stakeholders.
• Leverage operational experience to translate mission needs into technical requirements and user-centric solutions.
• Engage with government sponsors and B2B partners to gather insights and validate product direction.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Execution

• Work closely with engineering teams to develop, validate, and deploy optical system capabilities, including but not limited to ATD and ATR.
• Drive feature prioritization and coordinate development efforts in collaboration with technical leads.
• Act as the product owner, effectively communicating strategy, priorities, and vision to internal stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain product documentation, including roadmaps, whitepapers, and concept of operations (CONOPs).

Market & Technology Awareness

• Track progress of vision system features and forecast future requirements.
• Monitor industry innovations and emerging competing or complementary technologies related to vision systems products.
• Identify opportunities for integrating new technologies and improving product performance.

Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including senior military leaders, program managers, and technical experts.
• Represent the product during technical exchanges, capability demonstrations, and stakeholder briefings.
• Support business development by articulating product value, mission relevance, and technical differentiation.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Systems Engineering, Aerospace, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in defense technology, optical systems, ISR applications, or related domains.
• Strong preference for candidates with manned ISR experience, particularly in maritime patrol, overland ISR, or mission system operation roles (e.g., WSO, sensor operator, airborne intelligence analyst).
• Ability to lead product strategy and development from concept to deployment.
• Experience with defense or government stakeholders, ideally within mission-critical or ISR-focused roles.
• Familiarity with ATD, ATR, multi-sensor fusion, and real-time image processing.
• Strong communication skills—able to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced degree in a relevant technical or business field (MBA, Systems Engineering, Computer Vision, AI/ML, Signal Processing).
• Experience with mission system and sensor integration on airborne systems.
• Knowledge of AI/ML techniques for ATD/ATR and multi-sensor fusion applications.
• Experience in cross-functional leadership within defense technology development.

$185,000 - $275,000 a year

Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.