UAS Senior Product Manager

Airbus Helicopters is seeking a Senior Product Manager - Flexrotor UAS to own and execute the multi-year product roadmap for our premier dual-use uncrewed platform.

About the role

Reporting directly to the Head of Programs, you will serve as the strategic nexus connecting Engineering, Sales, Operations, and Senior Leadership, translating complex defense and commercial market demands into predictable, high-impact block releases.

The Airbus Helicopters Flexrotor Program offers one of the most sophisticated small tactical unmanned aerial systems (STUAS) with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). It can be used day or night by US and allied forces for a diverse range of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) on land and at sea.

This position is based in Bingen, WA, offering a workplace that balances innovation with the natural beauty of the Columbia River Gorge.

Responsibilities

• Roadmap Leadership & Cross-Functional Release Readiness (30%)
  • Drive Dual-Market Product Roadmap: Own, define, and execute the multi-year product roadmap for the Flexrotor platform, balancing the requirements of commercial enterprise clients (e.g., maritime, energy, ISR) and defense/government entities.
  • Orchestrate Launch & Release Readiness: Lead cross-functional alignment across Engineering, Production/Manufacturing, Flight Test, Training, and Customer Support to ensure all operational capabilities, technical documentation, training materials, and supply chains are fully prepared for each block release.
  • Feature Backlog Management: Build, prioritize, and maintain the product feature backlog using a structured block release approach to strategically group hardware enhancements, software capabilities, and payload options into predictable deployment cycles.
  • Predictable Schedule Execution: Work closely with Program Management and Engineering leadership to guarantee block releases hit target dates, fulfilling sales pipeline commitments and operational customer timelines.
• Technical Capture & Global Sales Enablement (30%)
  • Global Sales & Customer Support: Partner with and support the global sales team during customer engagements across commercial and military sectors. Provide deep platform data, technical specifications, and trade analyses to demonstrate how Flexrotor satisfies specific mission profiles and operational requirements.
  • Technical Capture & Proposals: Support technical capture activities for complex B2B and B2G opportunities, ensuring proposed capabilities align with upcoming block release schedules and core platform strategy.
  • Value Proposition & Collateral: Translate complex engineering achievements into high-impact value propositions, capability briefs, proposal modules, and customer-facing product literature tailored to commercial or defense audiences.
• Engineering & Production Alignment
  • Collaborate directly with Engineering and Production teams to evaluate technical feasibility, payload integrations, and manufacturing scalability for new platform capabilities.
• Senior Leadership Influence & Execution (20%)
  • Executive Alignment: Craft compelling, data-backed business cases and deliver executive presentations to secure internal investments for future block release features.
  • Cross-Functional Influence: Drive cross-departmental accountability across matrixed teams (Sales, Engineering, Flight Operations, Regulatory, Finance) without direct authority to ensure milestone delivery.
  • Strategic Partnerships: Conduct due diligence and lead evaluations for third-party technology integrations (e.g., advanced payloads, AI algorithms, comms packages, autonomous workflows) to broaden the platform's commercial and defense value.
• Commercial Strategy & Unit Economics (20%)
  • Financial & Pricing Strategy: Build unit-economic models, establish pricing frameworks, and structure solution packages across block release baselines to maximize portfolio profitability across all market segments.
  • Offering Definition & Commercial Packaging: Maintain accurate product offerings, optionality matrices, and pricing baselines in coordination with sales, finance, and program office teams.
  • Regulatory & Operational Alignment: Support cross-divisional strategy reviews, ITAR/export compliance screenings, civil/military airspace regulatory alignment, and operational efficiency initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or a highly related technical engineering field).
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in technical product management, solutions engineering, system architecture, or technical program management.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, or unmanned aerial systems/vertical take-off and landing (UAS/VTOL).
• Demonstrated experience leading product roadmaps using a block release methodology and driving end-to-end product readiness across manufacturing, training, and operational functions.
• Proven ability to synthesize inputs from Engineering, Production, Training, and Sales into cohesive, market-ready block releases.
• Exceptional relationship-building and networking capabilities across international teams and global corporate business units.
• Strong ability to equip global sales teams with platform data, technical trade studies, and messaging.
• Deep understanding of product lifecycle management (PLM) and block release/backlog prioritization methodologies.
• Strong financial acumen with verified capability in building unit-economic models and business cases.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel or equivalent (for financial modeling and data-driven dashboards), and familiarity with modern work management, roadmap visualization, and product planning tools.
• 25% domestic and international travel required.
• Must be a US Person under ITAR definition (U.S. Citizen, green card holder, or person covered under our existing ITAR license).

Physical Requirements

• Work Environment: 80% onsite in Bingen, WA / 20% remote.
• Vision: Able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment with screens, read documents, reports, and engineering drawings. Daily.
• Hearing: Able to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms. Daily.
• Speaking: Able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information, and participate in communications. Daily.
• Equipment Operation: Able to operate personal computer, telephone, copiers, fax machine, and related office equipment, and use electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors. Daily.
• Carrying: Able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Daily.
• Lifting: Able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Daily.
• Pushing/Pulling: Able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools. Occasionally.
• Sitting: Able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on the computer. Daily.
• Squatting/Kneeling: Able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving. Daily.
• Standing: Able to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor. Daily.
• Travel: Able to travel independently and at short notice. Occasionally.
• Walking: Able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces. Daily.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits; appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor.

Pay

Salary range: $147,000 - $236,000/year. Actual minimum and maximum may vary based on geographic differential. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
• Basic & Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan.
• Paid time off including paid holidays and generous paid parental leave program.
• Tuition Assistance.
• Bonus(es) subject to performance criteria.
• Relocation assistance for qualified positions.
• Competitive base salary with incentive compensation, including potential profit-sharing schemes.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).