Senior/Staff Product Manager (U. S. Air Force)

Skylight is a digital consultancy that helps government agencies improve public services through design and technology. They are looking for a Senior/Staff Product Manager to lead cross-functional teams and manage product strategy and execution for the U.S. Air Force, focusing on modernizing user experience and delivering scalable software solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Lead a cross-functional, cross-organizational team of researchers, designers, engineers, and subject matter experts to deliver high-impact products and services
• Translate user and partner needs into a cohesive product strategy that outlines vision, objectives, success metrics, product roadmap, and backlog
• Manage product direction and scope — from early user research through implementation
• Write and prioritize user stories, then organize them into clear release plans
• Facilitate team ceremonies like planning sessions, stakeholder syncs, and retrospectives
• Leverage data and feedback to inform the product roadmap, making thoughtful decisions about priorities and trade-offs
• Collaborate closely with government teams to share digital skills and product knowledge
• Navigate bureaucratic complexities with creativity, helping simplify processes along the way
• Coordinate with government partners to ensure seamless integration with their existing tools and processes

Requirements:

• Solid understanding of lean product principles (like MVP) and how to apply them across the product life cycle to reduce risk, validate assumptions, and speed up learning
• Experience with greenfield product development
• Ability to craft a product strategy that's rooted in a clear problem definition, focuses on outcomes (not just features), and includes success criteria
• Proven skill in executing that strategy by breaking down scope into smaller, high-value chunks, maintaining a prioritized backlog of validated user stories, and guiding the team through iterative development
• A strong technical background that lets you discuss operational needs, system reliability, and technical constraints — and then turn that knowledge into a user-focused roadmap
• Understanding of human-centered design and how it can drive product direction
• Comfort working across disciplines — researchers, designers, engineers, etc. — to get things done
• Experience managing clients and stakeholders in a way that builds trust, alignment, and a healthy team environment
• Knowledge of various software development methodologies (e.g., agile, lean) and how to put them into practice
• Demonstrated ownership of end-to-end product delivery in complex technical systems
• Experience leading cross-functional delivery teams
• Experience delivering products in defense or similarly regulated environments
• Ability to work successfully within a professional services environment (e.g., can communicate effectively with clients)
• Passionate about creating better public outcomes through great government services
• A mindset and work approach that align with Skylight's core values
• Ability to travel for work from time to time
• Prior military service or direct support to tactical or special operations communities
• Experience with AI/ML
• Experience in management consulting or digital services firms
• Prior work on secure or classified programs
• Prior experience working in the civic tech space
• Experience working in a remote-team environment