Director of Product: Stratospheric Defense Systems

About Urban Sky

Urban Sky is a venture-backed aerospace startup that pioneers utilization of the stratosphere and reimagines the way humans view and analyze the earth. We design, build, operate, and sell stratospheric balloon systems, and the data we collect supports a wide range of applications, from real-time wildfire monitoring to urban mapping. Our technology is also employed by government customers including the Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and others.

Urban Sky sends flight vehicles to the stratosphere on a weekly basis.

Our team consists of engineers, makers, developers, and doers who believe in the power of human potential when passion meets utility within a small, supportive team. At Urban Sky we strive to create a team culture grounded in candor, inclusion, respect and empowerment.

We aim to build the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver and are seeking self-starting, open-minded, and hard-working team members.

About

The Role

Urban Sky is seeking a Director of Product:
Stratospheric DoD Systems & Remote Sensing to lead our Product team in Denver, CO. In this role, you will be responsible for leading the end-to-end product strategy, development, and lifecycle management of our stratospheric balloon systems, payloads, software and data products. You will be the only Product person at the Company. You will play a critical part in defining product roadmaps, aligning customer needs with technical capabilities, and driving innovation to expand our impact in aerospace and earth observation.

Collaborating closely with engineering, operations, and business teams, you will ensure our products deliver exceptional value to commercial and government customers, including the DoD and NASA.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive product strategy and roadmap for Urban Sky’s stratospheric balloon systems, payloads, software and data products, ensuring alignment with company goals and market demands.

• Interact routinely with end-users, principally including the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, NASA, and others.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, operations, and sales, to translate customer requirements into innovative, scalable, and reliable product solutions.

• Oversee product lifecycle management, from ideation and development to launch and iteration, while monitoring performance metrics and customer feedback to drive continuous improvement.

• Develop detailed resource and project management plans and work with our finance department to develop financial models to support justification for resourcing net new projects or redirecting resources to higher priority products, projects, or features.

• Act as a key point of contact for strategic customer relationships, including government partners like the DoD and NASA, to ensure product offerings meet their mission-critical needs.

• Lead relationships and dialogue with third-party DoD payload providers (i.e., C5

ISR systems), ensuring successful integration of priority third-party payloads onto Urban Sky’s Microballoon platform.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aerospace, business, or a related field; advanced degree (MBA or technical MS) preferred.

• Direct experience working with and developing Department of Defense (DoD) products, including familiarity with DoD procurement processes, requirements, and mission objectives.

• Thorough understanding of DoD requirements with regards to networking, cybersecurity, regulations, etc.

• 7+ years of product management experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role, ideally in aerospace, remote sensing, or a related high-tech industry.

• Proven track record of developing and launching complex technical products, with strong understanding of hardware and software integration.

• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, manage cross-functional teams, and build relationships with government and commercial customers.

Nice-to-Haves / Preferred Skills

• Direct experience working with the U.S. Army Special Operations Forces (SOF), including familiarity with their procurement processes, requirements,…