CortAIx UK Factory Product Owner

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

At Thales, we architect solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely, keep armed forces prepared for the future and support critical infrastructure around the world. We innovate across aerospace, defence, digital security and space, helping our customers make smarter decisions and operate more effectively in an increasingly connected world.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Product Owner to join our UK cortAIx Factory, helping to shape, define and deliver the next generation of AI and Data Enablement capabilities across Thales UK and our customer landscape.

This is a customer-facing role where you'll work closely with internal stakeholders, operational users and engineering teams to transform complex business and operational needs into innovative AI and data-driven solutions. With a particular focus on UK Front Line Commands and Defence customers, you will play a key role in accelerating the adoption of digital technologies, data exploitation and AI capabilities across the business.

Location – Glasgow / Crawley / Bristol

What the role has to offer

As part of the UK cortAIx Factory, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Influence and deliver AI and data solutions across UK military and defence domains
• Work with cutting-edge technologies and emerging capabilities within the Thales cortAIx ecosystem
• Collaborate with digital engineering teams across the UK, France and Canada
• Support projects delivering strategic impact across both defence and civil markets
• Engage directly with senior stakeholders, operational users and decision-makers
• Help shape the future of digital transformation within Thales UK

What you'll be doing

Reporting into the UK cortAIx Factory leadership team, you will act as the voice of the customer, ensuring business needs are translated into deliverable outcomes and aligned with product strategy.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the primary interface between the UK cortAIx Factory and UK business units/functions
• Facilitating workshops and stakeholder engagement activities to understand business challenges and define requirements
• Developing and communicating a clear product vision and roadmap
• Managing and prioritising product backlogs, including epics, features and user stories
• Working closely with engineering, architecture and systems teams to guide solution development
• Ensuring delivered capabilities meet operational requirements and customer expectations
• Defining use cases, value propositions and business benefits to support future investment decisions
• Supporting digital transformation initiatives and change adoption activities
• Promoting the value and capabilities of the cortAIx Factory across the wider organisation
• Supporting the adoption of common processes, methodologies and digital toolsets across UK businesses

About you

We're looking for someone with a strong understanding of Defence operations, stakeholder engagement and emerging digital technologies, who can translate complex operational challenges into impactful AI and data-driven solutions.

Essential Experience

• Strong knowledge of UK Defence operational environments, military command structures and decision-making processes
• Experience working with Defence customers, military headquarters, Front Line Commands or operational units
• Proven ability to engage with senior military stakeholders and understand complex operational requirements
• Experience operating as a Product Owner, Requirements Manager or similar customer-facing role
• Strong understanding of data exploitation, digital transformation and AI-enabled technologies
• Experience facilitating workshops, requirements gathering and stakeholder engagement activities
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to translate operational needs into prioritised product requirements and deliverable outcomes
• Experience producing requirements documentation, briefings and business cases
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaborative working tools

Highly Desirable

• Experience working within Command and Control (C2/C4ISR) environments
• Knowledge of Defence Intelligence processes, information advantage capabilities and intelligence exploitation workflows
• Operational, military or defence industry experience relating to new technology experimentation procurement or delivery supporting frontline operations e.g. Special Operations community
• Experience delivering solutions for military users working in complex, mission-critical environments
• Understanding of emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Data Platforms, Digital Twins and Advanced Analytics
• Experience working with Defence Digital, Strategic Command, Front Line Commands or intelligence-focused organisations
• Broad understanding of IT disciplines including infrastructure, architecture, cyber security and service management
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum delivery environments
• Previous experience as a Product Owner within a technical, digital or software-focused environment
• Experience with modelling, analysis or simulation tools

Benefits at Thales

We believe in empowering our people both professionally and personally. Our benefits package includes:

• Competitive salary
• Performance-related bonus
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• Contributory pension scheme
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme and mental wellbeing support
• Employee discounts and lifestyle benefits
• Learning and development opportunities
• Career progression across the UK and our global organisation

Security Clearance

Due to the nature of this role, candidates must be eligible to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) clearance.

Whilst current SC clearance would be advantageous, candidates who do not currently hold clearance will be supported through the clearance process.

To be eligible for SC clearance, applicants will generally need to have resided in the UK for the previous five years, although shorter periods may be considered subject to additional checks.

For further information, please refer to the UK Security Vetting guidance available on GOV.UK.

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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!