Principal Product Manager, Industrial AI – Aerospace and Defense

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Illinois.

📋 Description

• Define the operational model and long-term product strategy for Industrial AI Initiatives within aircraft, engine, and component maintenance, ensuring alignment with company goals and market prospects.

• Identify category-level opportunities and perform thorough market and competitive analyses, including TAM/SAM/SOM assessments, for AI-enabled Aerospace & Defense maintenance solutions.

• Collaborate with airlines, MRO providers, OEMs, and defense operators to collect requirements, validate solutions with authentic customer insights, and ensure products meet or surpass expectations.

• Utilize domain knowledge, customer feedback, and insights from subject matter experts across Line and Base Maintenance, engine overhaul, records and compliance, and asset management processes to guide AI product specifications.

• Oversee AI governance within the domain — establishing quality benchmarks, safety and compliance standards, and responsible-AI guidelines for AI features used in safety-critical maintenance situations.

• Work alongside engineering and data science teams for AI-native delivery, defining AI features and AI-assisted workflows, and creating institutional standards and PRD schemas utilized across the domain.

• Develop the investment rationale and financial models to support and prioritize the AI product portfolio, maintaining clear accountability for portfolio and P&L.

• Formulate and execute go-to-market strategies, pricing, and sales initiatives for Industrial AI products, presenting roadmap and investment updates to senior leadership and the board.

⛳️ Requirements

• A degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM discipline; an MBA is advantageous.

• Over 10 years of relevant product management or leadership experience with increasing responsibilities, ideally in enterprise, industrial, Aerospace & Defense, manufacturing, asset-intensive, or regulated software sectors.

• Preferred experience with aviation maintenance operations, asset-intensive industries, or other regulated operational settings, with the capability to effectively collaborate with domain experts to develop AI-enabled product initiatives from inception to deployment.

• Familiarity with aviation, industrial, or other regulated operational processes is desirable, including knowledge of how AI/ML tools should be validated, governed, and responsibly implemented in safety-critical or compliance-sensitive environments.

• Aerospace & Defense domain experience is preferred but not mandatory. Candidates with robust AI product leadership, enterprise software experience, and a proven ability to quickly acquire domain knowledge will be considered.

• Experience in collaborating with AI-augmented engineering and data science workflows, skilled in financial modeling, market sizing, and business case development, along with experience in managing portfolio and P&L accountability.

• Extensive experience in managing through influence, mentoring other product managers, and driving results via cross-functional teams.

• Outstanding communication and presentation abilities, with experience engaging with customers, senior leadership, and the board.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible paid time off, including sick leave and holidays.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• 401K plan with company contributions.

• Flexible spending accounts.

• Life insurance and disability benefits.

• Tuition assistance.

• Opportunities for community involvement and volunteering events.