Picogrid logo

Head of Product

Picogrid
Full-time
On-site
El Segundo, California, United States
$150,000 - $250,000 USD yearly
AI Product Manager

Who we are

Picogrid builds hardware and software infrastructure to connect and control the systems that power critical industries. Our platform unifies sensors, platforms, and operators to power mission planning, autonomous system control, and real-time decision-making.

We partner directly with operators, technology companies, and federal agencies to deliver rapidly deployable, mission-critical capabilities where they’re needed most, often on short timelines and in challenging conditions. Our technology is trusted in active operations, not just test environments, and we move quickly to close real-world capability gaps for those on the front lines.

Joining Picogrid means working on high-impact problems at the intersection of autonomy, national security, and cutting-edge technology. You’ll be part of a small, elite team that builds and ships systems used by the leading organizations around the world. We operate with urgency, ownership, and a deep respect for the mission.

Role Overview

Picogrid is seeking a Head of Product to lead product strategy across our entire portfolio of hardware-integrated software systems. This senior leadership role is responsible for defining long-term product vision, building a high-performing team, and driving coordinated execution across engineering, design, business development, and field operations.

The ideal candidate blends technical fluency, user-first thinking, and strategic rigor to develop solutions that solve real-world operational problems and scale to support mission-critical deployments worldwide.

You’ll work directly with military users, government partners, and internal teams to shape products that are intuitive, fast, and reliable under pressure. The role demands both strategic clarity and tactical decisivenessβ€”balancing customer urgency, technical feasibility, and long-term platform direction.

Mission and Scope

Picogrid’s customers operate in the most dynamic and high-stakes environments in the world. They rely on our platform to plan missions, control autonomous systems, process data, and act decisively. The product challenges span domains including distributed compute, edge processing, secure networking, real-time command and control, and sensor fusion.

As Head of Product, you will set direction across this surface area, determining what we build, why it matters, and how it gets delivered. You’ll build a team of product managers and interface closely with engineering, field teams, and leadership to prioritize high-impact work and ship at pace.

The scope will be diverse and dynamic. Success requires strong leadership, technical depth, and the ability to rapidly execute across multiple complex product lines in parallel.

Core Responsibilities

  • Own the product vision and roadmap across all of Picogrid’s products, ensuring strategic alignment with company objectives and customer needs.

  • Drive prioritization of features and capabilities, balancing short-term delivery with long-term differentiation.

  • Build and lead a high-performance product organization that collaborates seamlessly across engineering, design, deployment, and GTM.

  • Represent the voice of the user: deeply engage with military operators, program managers, and partners to translate operational realities into software requirements.

  • Design and implement process across the product lifecycle, from concept through launch and iteration.

  • Collaborate with the CEO and executive team to inform company strategy and key product bets.

  • Track and analyze product KPIs and usage data to guide decisions and measure impact.

  • Stay at the edge of emerging defense technology and AI developments to ensure Picogrid’s platform remains technically and tactically superior.

Required Qualifications

  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance

  • Experience working in fast-paced defense, aerospace, or dual-use technology companies

  • 7+ years of Product Management or Program Management experience working across both hardware and software products, with at least 3 in a senior or executive role owning multiple product lines.

  • Demonstrated success delivering complex software platforms with hardware or field-deployed components.

  • Experience managing cross-functional teams in high-velocity, resource-constrained environments.

  • Deep user empathy and a track record of building solutions that are loved by technical and operational users.

  • Exceptional communication skillsβ€”able to work across technical, operational, and executive audiences.

  • Demonstrated engineering management capability; proven technical and personnel leadership qualities

Preferred Qualifications

  • Active U.S. Top Secret security clearance

  • Background in systems engineering, computer science, or a related technical field

  • Familiarity with the DOD acquisition ecosystem, end-user workflows, or SOCOM-style deployments

  • Experience building and managing teams around a unified product vision

  • Direct experience with customer-facing, high-stakes product delivery in national security contexts

Benefits

  • Meaningful stock options with a high potential upside as an early-stage company

  • 401(k) with employer matching

  • Full health coverage

  • Relocation assistance provided

  • Unlimited PTO (two-week minimum) and 11 paid holidays per year

  • Paid parental leave for both parents

  • Lunch provided when working in-office and fully stocked kitchenette

  • Complimentary EV charging when working in office

Export Control Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. Β§ 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. Β§ 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.