Head of Product H/F at Alta Ares

Paris, Ile-de-France, France -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

09 Jun, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

11 Mar, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Product Development, Hardware Development, System Architecture, DFM, DFA, Field Testing, Iteration, Hardware-Software Integration, Producibility, Supply Chain, Export Control, Team Leadership, MLOps, AI, Counter-UAS, ISR

Industry

Software Development

Description

About Alta Ares Alta Ares is a deeptech startup founded in 2024, building real-time AI for defense operations (ISR, C-UAS). Our primary clients are NATO-aligned militaries, with regular deployments during live exercises. Raised €2M pre-seed in May 2025 Products include: Real-time AI ISR module deployable on drones and tactical platforms Counter-UAS solution enabling autonomous drone takeover under GNSS-denied environment Full-stack MLOps platform for training & deploying military-grade AI models Data fusion and trajectory prediction Position details Location: Paris, France, with frequent travel to operational theaters, customer sites, manufacturing partners, and field testing locations Reports to: Head of Engineering Position objective: Own end-to-end hardware product development for one of Alta Ares’ flagship counter-drone systems. Drive the complete product lifecycle from concept to operational deployment, balancing rapid iteration based on operational feedback with robust, defense-grade engineering. Ensure system readiness, reliability, and manufacturability while supporting field testing and deployment in operational theaters. Contract: Full-time, permanent position (CDI) Role & Mission Product Ownership & Strategy Own end-to-end product development for assigned counter-drone system Define product roadmap based on operational feedback from Ukraine and customer requirements Drive product specifications, architecture decisions, and technical trade-offs Balance innovation, cost, manufacturability, and time-to-market Report to Head of Hardware / Engineering on product progress, risks, and strategic decisions Hardware Development & Engineering Lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts (mechanical, electrical, RF, sensors) Drive system architecture and design for operational robustness Oversee development from concept through prototyping, testing, and production transfer Ensure Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles Manage integration of subsystems and third-party components Field Testing & Iteration Collaborate with deployment teams and end-users to gather operational feedback Analyze field performance data to drive continuous improvement Manage rapid iteration cycles based on evolving threats and user needs Coordinate field testing in operational theaters (including Ukraine) Balance battle-tested evolution with product stability Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Software/AI teams on hardware-software integration Work with Manufacturing to ensure producibility and production readiness Collaborate with Sales on customer requirements and technical presentations Interface with Supply Chain on component selection and sourcing Coordinate with Compliance on certifications and export control Technical Leadership Build and mentor engineering teams working on the product Establish engineering best practices and documentation standards Foster culture of innovation, rigor, and operational focus Manage external engineering partnerships and vendors Candidate profile 8+ years in hardware product development, with at least 3 years leading complex products Proven track record shipping electromechanical systems end-to-end Experience in defense, aerospace, robotics, or autonomous systems Background managing multidisciplinary technical teams Demonstrated success with rapid iteration and field deployment Nice to Have Experience with counter-drone, UAS, or ISR systems Knowledge of rapid iteration and field deployment in operational theaters Exposure to NATO standards, airspace regulations, and defense certification Familiarity with high-reliability production and supply chain management Experience collaborating with international or multicultural engineering teams

Responsibilities

The Head of Product will own the end-to-end hardware product development for a counter-drone system, defining the roadmap based on operational feedback and customer requirements. This role involves leading multidisciplinary engineering efforts, overseeing development from concept to production transfer, and managing integration of subsystems.