Based in Munich, this full-time Product Manager role focuses on shaping the perception and sensor fusion capabilities for uncrewed combat aerial vehicles at Helsing. This position suits experienced professionals who want to translate complex operational needs into clear product roadmaps within the defense technology sector.
Role Overview
This position involves owning the product vision and roadmap for the full perception software stack of uncrewed combat aerial vehicles at Helsing. The professional in this role collaborates with software engineers, AI specialists, systems engineers, and flight test teams to drive airborne perception capabilities from initial requirements to flight testing. The work centres on delivering reliable situational awareness and navigation solutions for uncrewed aircraft while maintaining human oversight.
Key Responsibilities
Own the product strategy and roadmap for airborne perception, covering sensor processing, data fusion, situational awareness, and navigation to align releases with operational capabilities.
Translate operational needs and customer requirements into structured product requirements, measurable key performance indicators, and verification criteria for engineering and flight test teams.
Collaborate with perception, fusion, autonomy, and navigation engineers to balance architecture-level trade-offs involving performance, latency, bandwidth, size, weight, power, and schedules.
Define how perception outputs and the common operating picture support mission autonomy, collaborative operations, and human operators, including communication of uncertainty.
Partner with systems engineering, flight test, and safety teams to develop test and evidence strategies spanning simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, and flight campaigns.
Shape the perception data strategy alongside data and machine learning infrastructure teams by planning collection campaigns, simulation needs, and synthetic data requirements.
Engage directly with customers, operational users, and partners to gather feedback, run demonstrations, and keep the roadmap aligned with real-world operational value.
Requirements
Shipped sensing, perception, or data fusion capabilities as a product manager, technical product owner, or systems architect in sectors such as aerospace, defense, autonomous vehicles, or robotics.
In-depth understanding of sensor data processing, multi-target tracking, and multi-sensor data fusion.
Experience taking a complex capability through requirements, integration, and testing into the field or flight environments.
Proven ability to transform ambiguous operational or customer needs into structured requirements, metrics, and a prioritized roadmap.
Clear written and verbal communication skills tailored for engineers, program leaders, customers, and senior military stakeholders.
Eligibility to obtain national security clearance and ability to travel to test sites, customers, and partners.
Nice to Have
Background in collaborative or distributed fusion across multiple platforms operating under constrained or intermittent datalinks.
Knowledge of perception-aided navigation, such as visual, image-based, or terrain-referenced navigation in GNSS-degraded environments.
Familiarity with military aviation, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, or electronic warfare through industry experience or aircrew service.
Understanding of tactical data links, command and control interfaces, and common operating picture concepts like Link 16 and NATO standards.
Experience with airworthiness, safety, and certification processes for airborne software including DO-178C.
Hands-on experience with machine learning-based perception, simulation, or synthetic data for training and validation.
Prior work with European defense customers and procurement agencies such as BAAINBw.
Skills and Tools
EO/IR and RF sensor processing
Radar and ESM
Multi-target tracking and multi-sensor data fusion
GNSS-denied and perception-aided navigation
Tactical data links and C2 interfaces
Simulation and synthetic data infrastructure
Salary and Benefits
Competitive salary and VSOP options
Relocation support including up to €2,500 and four weeks of temporary accommodation
Yearly learning allowance of €500
Health and wellness provisions including gym memberships and mental health support via Nilo.health
Regular company events and monthly social allowances
Enhanced parental leave offering 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers and 6 weeks for secondary caregivers
Family support benefits including five days of paid family emergency leave, 100 percent remote work options during pregnancy, and phased return to work options
About the Company
Helsing operates as a defense artificial intelligence company with the mission to protect democracies, achieve technological leadership, and safeguard open societies. The organization maintains an open and transparent culture that encourages healthy debates on the ethical implications and benefits of technology in defense.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should visit the official Helsing careers page to submit their application.
