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 Defense Systems 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 a team of one (i.e., 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 projects, products, 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., C5ISR 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, and mission objectives.

Background in stratospheric or high-altitude systems, remote sensing, or earth observation technologies.

Knowledge of government contracting, compliance standards, or regulatory frameworks relevant to aerospace and defense industries.

Established network within the aerospace or government sectors to facilitate partnerships and customer engagement.

Requirements:

Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident

Must be located near Denver, CO

Benefits:

Equity Compensation in the form of Company Stock Options

Medical, Vision and Dental

Unlimited Vacation Days

Cell Phone Bill Stipend

Urban Sky is required to post this salary range per Colorado law. Your salary will be determined based on your abilities and experience.

Colorado Pay Transparency

$185,000 — $240,000 USD

NOTE: Research suggests that women and BIPOC individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes that they have the skills and the passion necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.

This position may require the candidate to deal with commodities, software, technology, defense articles, and/or technical data which are subject to the Export Administration Regulations and/or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Additional information may be requested so as to determine whether export authorization is required from the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. If authorization is required, employment will be contingent upon the Company successfully obtaining such authorization from the relevant government agency.

Urban Sky is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.