Product Manager
Job Type: Full Time (Remote Canada / Hybrid - Ottawa)
Total Compensation: CAD $140,000 - $165,000 base salary - Placement within range based on experience and qualifications
Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing vacancy at Anvil. We are actively hiring for this role
The Role
We're looking for a Product Manager to drive the execution of a complex, mission-critical software platform serving military customers. The platform addresses some of the hardest problems in tactical and operational intelligence in particular: high data density and velocity across heterogeneous sources, decision cycles measured in minutes, interoperability across coalition partners, and reliable operation in communications-degraded environments.
Working closely with product leadership, you'll translate product strategy into an executable roadmap, driving discovery, aligning engineering and design around clear priorities, and building relationships with users and other government stakeholders. You'll bridge the gap between military operational and intelligence practice and modern software development, ensuring the platform delivers value where operators need it most.
This is a high-ownership role on a multifunctional team. You'll work alongside design and engineering leads, reporting directly to senior product leadership. Our learning-oriented culture is transparent, collaborative, and strongly encourages work-life balance.
Required Qualifications
Security Clearance
Eligible for Government of Canada Top Secret security clearance
Experience
- 5+ years of product management experience, including at least 2 years delivering complex, data-intensive software in defence, national security, or regulated environments
- Proven product discovery skills: leading user interviews, observation, and workshops, and turning findings into confident decisions under uncertainty
- Track record of turning ambiguous operational requirements, doctrine, or standards into clear product decisions and shipping them to real users
- Experience delivering products where user feedback is limited, such as no telemetry, restricted access, or classified deployments
- Experience balancing competing priorities across multiple stakeholder groups
Skills & Competencies
- Exceptional written and verbal communication, from developers to senior military officers
- Ability to read and apply technical standards and doctrine (e.g., NATO STANAGs, defence publications) without needing translation
- Technical depth to engage engineers on architecture trade-offs while keeping product judgment
- Intellectual curiosity and a drive to deeply understand users, the domain, and the technology
- Familiarity with agile and tools such as Jira, Confluence, Google Workspace, and AI tools like Claude
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Geography, Political Science) or equivalent experience
Nice to Have...
- Background in defence, national security, public safety, or policing, through service, civilian work, or close customer partnership
- Experience with geospatial tools, analytical workflows, or operational workflows such as ISR, IRMCM, or analytical production
- Experience working with or alongside government organizations
What You'll Do
Strategy & Roadmap
- Translate product strategy into a prioritized, executable roadmap for Forge, with a clear product narrative for internal and external stakeholders
- Turn doctrine, NATO standards, and operational requirements into well-defined product decisions, informed by gaps in the C5ISR tool landscape
Discovery & Stakeholder Engagement
- Lead discovery through workshops, exercise observations, SME interviews, and after-action reviews, including in air-gapped and comms-degraded environments
- Build relationships with government customers, operational units, and defence partners, representing the user to engineering and engineering constraints to stakeholders
Execution & Delivery
- Define clear epics and requirements, including acceptance criteria and operational constraints, for the Product Owner and engineering team
- Weigh near-term operational needs against long-term architectural investments, and support releases through demos and acceptance activities
Measurement & Communication
- Define operationally relevant success metrics and track progress against them
- Write the product and decision documentation that keeps stakeholders and engineering aligned
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salaries
- Flexible health benefits package through Equitable
- Industry-leading employer retirement contributions match
Work Environment
- Remote and Hybrid (Ottawa market) work model combining remote flexibility with meaningful in-person collaboration
- Modern office in the historic Carriageway building in beautiful downtown Ottawa
- Access to downtown amenities, transit, and Ottawa's vibrant cultural scene
What You'll Experience
- Work alongside dedicated professionals who value excellence and collaboration
- Contribute to projects with real-world security impact
- Join a culture where your expertise and ideas matter
Application Process
To apply for this role, please submit your CV and cover letter. The application process will likely include:
- A preliminary call with our HR team which will be a chance for you to find out more about Anvil and the role.
- An initial interview to discuss your experience and suitability for the role.
- A technical interview to assess your competencies.
Use of AI in Recruitment: Anvil does not use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for this position. All applications are reviewed by members of our recruitment team. However, we do use AI for scheduling, note taking and other administrative functions.
