Defence Product Director

Product Director

Location: United Kingdom (Remote)

Salary: £140,000–£180,000 depending on experience

Package: Significant equity package

Security Clearance: Active DV preferred. Active SC with ability to obtain DV considered.

Executive Summary

Our client is developing one of the UK's most ambitious sovereign defence technology platforms, combining Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Autonomous Systems and deterministic Command & Control technologies. The Product Director will join the executive leadership team to shape the product strategy for sovereign defence capability supporting the UK MOD, NATO and Five Eyes partners.

Critical Experience:

• UK Military capability development

• Product leadership within Defence or National Security

• AI, Robotics or Autonomous Systems

• UAV/UAS (Drone) technologies

• Command & Control (C2)

• Military systems implementation

• Systems integration

• NATO capability or multinational defence programmes

• Defence procurement

• Executive stakeholder management

The Opportunity:

This is a strategic executive appointment rather than a traditional Product Director role. The successful candidate will translate military operational requirements into market-leading defence products, working alongside engineers, AI specialists and defence stakeholders while shaping the long-term product vision.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and own the strategic product vision and roadmap.

• Lead AI, Robotics, Autonomous Systems and C2 product strategy.

• Translate operational military requirements into product capability.

• Work closely with engineering teams.

• Engage with MOD, Defence Digital, DE&S, Dstl, NATO and Tier 1 defence organisations.

• Build and lead the Product function.

• Represent Product with customers, investors and executive stakeholders.

Essential Experience:

• Product leadership within Defence, National Security or Sovereign Technology.

• AI-enabled defence capability.

• Robotics and autonomous systems.

• UAV/UAS implementation.

• Command & Control systems.

• Military systems integration.

• NATO interoperability.

• Defence procurement.

• Executive stakeholder management.

Highly Desirable:

• UK Special Forces capability programmes (desirable, not essential).

• Defence Digital

• Strategic Command

• DE&S

• Dstl

• Royal Signals

• Defence Intelligence

• Royal Navy autonomous systems

• RAF RPAS / ISTAR / Rapid Capabilities

• GCHQ

• NCSC

Technical Knowledge:

AI • Machine Learning • Robotics • Autonomous Systems • UAV/UAS • Drone Swarming • C2 • C4ISR • ISTAR • Mission Systems • Human-Machine Teaming • Electronic Warfare • Counter-UAS • Secure Communications • Systems Integration • Edge Computing • AI Governance • Product Strategy

Leadership Profile:

• Executive and Board-level credibility.

• Strategic thinker.

• Able to influence senior military leaders and government stakeholders.

• Comfortable balancing engineering excellence with commercial delivery.

• Passionate about sovereign defence capability.

Ideal Background:

Candidates are likely to come from DE&S, Defence Digital, Strategic Command, Dstl, Royal Signals, Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, Defence Intelligence, UK Space Command, GCHQ, NCSC or Tier 1 defence organisations delivering AI, Robotics, UAV or C4ISR capability.

Apply Now

Defence Product Director

Job Details