Director Terminal Operations Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

At SES Space & Defense, we are a trusted partner ensuring mission success for customers operating in the most demanding environments. As part of SES S.A., a global leader in satellite-enabled connectivity, we deliver multi-orbit, end-to-end satellite and technology solutions that provide secure, reliable, and high-bandwidth communications across the globe.

Our differentiated multi-orbit architecture combines GEO and MEO satellite systems with integrated terrestrial and network infrastructure to deliver resilient, low-latency, high-throughput connectivity at a global scale. With more than 120 satellites covering nearly the entire world, a global ground network, and thousands of deployed terminals supporting over 5,000 government missions annually, SES Space and Defense is a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government and national security community, allied governments, NATO, and agencies including NASA for mission-critical communications.

We strive to be the only solution when success is critical and recognize our people as our competitive advantage. At SES Space & Defense, you’ll work alongside a mission-driven team committed to integrity, honor, and accountability, delivering real-world impact across today’s most critical missions.

The Director, Product Management – Digital Platforms will lead the strategy, execution, and evolution of SES Space & Defense's digital platform portfolio, serving as the Product Manager for the Integrated Customer Terminal (ICT) platform. This platform provides a single pane of glass for customers, operators, engineers, and mission stakeholders to monitor, manage, and interact with the company's growing portfolio of products and services. Working across Engineering, Operations, Business Development, Strategy & Innovation, and Marketing, you will define the product roadmap, prioritize customer requirements, and lead the successful delivery of each platform release through the Integrated Product Development Process (IPDP). This role combines product strategy with hands‑on execution, balancing customer needs, business objectives, and technical priorities to deliver intuitive, mission-focused digital experiences. The ideal candidate is an experienced product leader who enjoys building software products, collaborating across disciplines, and driving continuous innovation within a complex technical environment.

• Update and maintain the ICT portal product roadmap for the digital platform portfolio, ensuring alignment with business objectives and customer mission needs
• Elicit, analyze, and prioritize requirements from customers, operations teams, engineers, and other stakeholders, translating them into a cohesive product roadmap for each ICT portal release
• Work with the Strategy & Innovation team to ensure the roadmap incorporates future capabilities and product enhancements
• Lead the integration of LEO, MEO, and GEO product support into the digital platform while supporting multi-orbit capabilities on tactical terminals
• Drive the integration of APIs from operational and business systems into the platform, ensuring seamless interoperability across the ecosystem
• Lead the Integrated Product Team (IPT) for each ICT portal release, managing full lifecycle product delivery in accordance with the Integrated Product Development Process (IPDP)
• Balance customer mission requirements, time‑to‑market objectives, cost, and quality throughout the product development lifecycle
• Author user stories and use case scenarios that define platform capabilities and guide software development priorities
• Partner closely with software development teams to communicate requirements clearly and ensure successful execution using industry best practices
• Work with Marketing to successfully launch new product releases and feature enhancements
• Guide development of intuitive user interfaces that incorporate Human Systems Integration (HSI) principles and deliver mission-focused user experiences
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement while serving as the voice of the customer across the organization

You are an experienced product manager who enjoys turning complex customer requirements into intuitive software solutions that deliver real operational value. You thrive working across engineering, operations, and business teams, balancing strategic product planning with the day‑to‑day execution required to deliver successful releases. Your background combines software product management, technical collaboration, and customer engagement, allowing you to communicate effectively with both developers and end users. You are comfortable leading cross‑functional teams, prioritizing competing demands, and making thoughtful tradeoffs that keep products moving forward. Most importantly, you’re energized by building digital platforms that simplify complex operations and improve the customer experience across a rapidly evolving satellite communications ecosystem.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 10+ years of software development and software product management experience with demonstrated success leading digital products from concept through delivery
• Hands‑on experience with software development and system integration
• Proven ability to gather, analyze, and prioritize requirements from diverse stakeholders and translate them into actionable product roadmaps
• Deep knowledge of Agile, Scrum, SAFe, and modern software development methodologies
• Strong understanding of Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) processes and product development best practices
• Experience developing user interfaces informed by Human Systems Integration (HSI) or human factors principles
• Demonstrated experience integrating APIs from operational and business systems into digital platforms
• Experience supporting satellite communications ecosystems, including LEO, MEO, GEO architectures and multi‑orbit tactical terminal capabilities, or comparable complex defense or aerospace environments
• Proven ability to work effectively across engineering, operations, product, and business organizations
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate product vision and technical requirements to both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Experience supporting defense, government, or national security customers preferred
• Familiarity with Operational Support Systems (OSS) and Business Support Systems (BSS) preferred
• Active security clearance or the ability to obtain one preferred
• SAFe POPM/PM, CSPO, Pragmatic Institute, or similar product management certifications preferred
• Advanced degree (MS or MBA) in a technical or business discipline preferred

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.