Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Senior Product Line Manager - Land Vehicles

Location: Glasgow, UK (with some UK and international travel)
Function: Strategy & Marketing
Reports to: Head of Strategy, Product Management & Marketing

Help Shape the Future of Product Management at Thales

As Thales Optronics & Missile Electronics (OME) continues its transition from a project-focused organisation to a product-led business, we are looking for an experienced Senior Product Line Manager to lead our Land Vehicles portfolio.

This is a highly influential role for a seasoned Product Management professional who can bring deep expertise, strategic thinking and product leadership into a complex defence environment. You will play a key role in shaping product strategy, driving growth, embedding product management best practice and mentoring the next generation of Product Line Managers.

Working across the UK and international teams, you will collaborate with customers, stakeholders and cross-functional teams to ensure our products meet evolving market needs and deliver long-term business success.

About the Role

As the lead for the Land Vehicles Product Line, you will define and deliver the strategy, growth and performance of a portfolio of advanced electro-optical products and systems.

You will identify growth opportunities, support capture and bid activities, develop product roadmaps and business cases, and ensure our products remain aligned with customer requirements and market demands.

This role requires an experienced communicator and influencer who can build strong relationships across customers, engineering, programmes, sales, business development and leadership teams, while helping to drive a product-led culture across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the Land Vehicles product line strategy, driving business performance, growth and the adoption of product-led thinking across the organisation.
• Shape product roadmaps, investment cases and long-term plans using customer, market and competitor insights.
• Build strong relationships with customers and stakeholders, identifying growth opportunities and supporting business development and capture activities.
• Lead the management of the product portfolio throughout its lifecycle, including market positioning, pricing, forecasting and innovation.
• Collaborate across Engineering, Programmes, Finance, Commercial, Supply Chain, Sales and Business Development to deliver product objectives.
• Work closely with international colleagues to align product strategies and maximise opportunities across the wider business.
• Mentor and support Product Line Managers, helping to strengthen product management capability and best practice.
• Influence and engage a broad range of stakeholders, effectively balancing priorities, driving alignment and constructively challenging where needed.

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience in Product Management or Product Line Management, ideally within the defence sector or a similarly complex, high-technology environment.
• Strong understanding of market analysis, product strategy, roadmapping and lifecycle management, with a track record of delivering business growth.
• Knowledge of Land Systems, Defence Electronics, Electro-Optics or related technologies, with an appreciation of customer and operational needs.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and driving outcomes within complex, matrixed and multinational organisations.
• Ability to balance customer requirements, commercial objectives and technical considerations to make effective business decisions.
• Experience supporting organisational change, ideally helping businesses adopt a more product-led approach.
• Strong leadership and coaching capability, with experience mentoring and developing Product Managers or cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage credibly with customers, senior leaders and technical specialists.
• Commercially minded, strategic and proactive, with the confidence to challenge priorities and manage competing demands.
• Highly organised, collaborative and self-motivated, with a passion for innovation, continuous improvement and delivering customer value.
• Degree qualified in Engineering, Business or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience. Product Management certifications would be beneficial.

This role is based in Glasgow, and regular on-site presence will be required to support effective stakeholder engagement, team leadership and business collaboration.

Security Clearance Requirement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions.  This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. 

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years.  In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
 

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

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