Director of Product Innovation

Aireon deployed the world's first global space-based air traffic surveillance system, providing real-time aircraft monitoring capabilities around the world, including over the poles, over the oceans and in remote areas.

Aireon data enables safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly aviation travel, resulting in significant CO2 emission reductions. More than 20 Air Navigation Service Providers representing more than 40 countries - including NAV CANADA, NATS (UK), Air Traffic and Navigation Services (South Africa), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and ASECNA (Africa) -- rely on Aireon data to navigate aircraft in their airspaces.

We are committed to offering an employment experience and benefits package that enables you and your family to grow with us and to share in our success.

We are seeking a Director of Product Innovation to lead the ideation, discovery, prototyping, and technical feasibility for emerging products at Aireon. This role is critical to our mission of identifying and scaling new product opportunities, leveraging market trends, customer insights, and rapid experimentation to drive innovation in the aviation market.

As the leader of our Ideation team, you will own the end-to-end innovation pipeline, from ideation and prototyping to MVP development. You will work cross-functionally with engineering, data science, product management, marketing, and sales to design, build, and support product launch of new solutions that drive innovative solutions to aviation's most challenging problems.

This role is ideal for a strategic, data-driven, and entrepreneurial leader with a proven track record in SaaS innovation and rapid prototyping.

What You'll Do

Product Discovery & Validation

In support of Product Management and Sales, identify new product opportunities and leverage our global aircraft surveillance solution through analysis of market trends, customer pain points, and competitive gaps.
• Develop a structured approach to ideation, validation, and prioritization of new product ideas.
• Lead customer research, user testing, and feedback loops to ensure market alignment.
• Rapid Prototyping & MVP Development.
• Drive a cross-functional team of engineers and data scientists to build and test prototypes.
• Lead the development of requirements via rapid prototyping.
• Leverage methodologies to iterate quickly and validate market.

Rapid Prototyping & MVP Development

• Drive a cross-functional team of engineers and data scientists to build and test prototypes.
• Lead the development of requirements via rapid prototyping.
• Leverage methodologies to iterate quickly and validate market.
• Develop and leverage predictive analytics and machine learning models to assess feasibility and refine prototypes.
• Develop and implement data analytics tools and methodologies to extract insights from customer interactions, flight surveillance data, and competitive intelligence to validate product opportunities.

Market Testing & Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy

Partner with Engineering, Product Management, Marketing and Sales to create pilot programs and beta launches for early adopters.

Support the development of pricing models, value propositions, and competitive positioning.

Drive early customer acquisition and iterate based on feedback.

Define structured approach to hand-off from ideation to product development team.

Foster a culture of experimentation, learning, and innovation across the company.

Required Qualifications

• Eight or more years of experience in design or development of SASS products
• Proven track record of building and launching new products, from concept to market adoption.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams, including engineers, designers, and data scientists.
• Experience with early-stage GTM, pricing strategies, and product positioning.
• Strong data-driven decision-making and ability to define and track key success metrics.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to drive alignment across teams.

Desired Qualifications

• Previous experience designing and deploying products in an aviation environment
• Background in data science, AI, and/or machine learning.
• Previous experience leading incubators, innovation teams, or startup accelerators.

About You

You are a customer-centric. Be a partner with the customer, understand their needs, and incorporate them into every aspect of our service and interactions.

You strive for results. Action-oriented and goal-oriented in your decision-making process, however your professionalism and influential communication style helps you deliver results.

You are collaborative. You're a team player who puts the interest of the team above your own. You invite, respect, and integrate diverse ideas, styles, and preferences every day. You display a positive attitude, are open, and enjoy contributing.

Technology and aviation is your passion. It doesn't just provide a paycheck, you are genuinely interested in what you do and the impact that it has on others.

1-3-6-12 Month Plan

In the first month we'll expect you to...

• Get onboarded and train with your manager
• Get acclimated into the role
• Understand the tools and different stakeholders
• Review existing product portfolio, market research, and competitive landscape.

At 3 months we'll expect you to...

• Define a structured approach to ideation, validation, and prioritization of new product ideas.
• Identify quick wins and ongoing initiatives that require immediate focus.

At 6 months we'll expect you to...

• Work with Sales and Product Management to identify initial concepts
• Iterate Based on Customer & Data Insights
• Establish a clear handoff process from Ideation to Product Development teams

At 12 months we'll expect you to...

• Transition validated prototypes to full-scale product development.
• Partner with Engineering and Product teams to ensure scalability and integration.
• Implement a structured Innovation Playbook for continuous idea generation.

About the Team

• We have a team of 7 team members located globally
• We collaborate across the organization with connections to all departments within Aireon
• We connect through Teams, Email, and regular meetings

Perks and Benefits

• Premium medical, dental and vision plan

• Life Insurance and AD&D

• Short Term and Long Term Disability

• Health Savings Account (HSA)

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• Retirement 401K plan with Employer Matching

• Education Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement

• Paid Time Off, Sick Leave, Floating Holidays

• Paid Parental Leave

• Company Sponsored Events

• Employee Referral Program

Aireon is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or status as a protected veteran. EOE of Minorities/Females/Vets/Disability and other protected categories.