---
title: 'Product Manager - Drone Stack at Applied Intuition'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/product-manager-drone-stack-applied-intuition-sunnyvale-5jgeg7fes47r'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-08'
---

# Product Manager - Drone Stack at Applied Intuition

- **Company:** [Applied Intuition](https://feeny.ai/companies/applied-intuition)
- **Location:** Sunnyvale, CA
- **Compensation:** $150k–$180k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-05-07
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/applied/2d428add-0d4c-4bdb-97b5-7b37e91b9526/application

> Own product strategy and execution for DroneStack, transitioning bespoke defense solutions into scalable products. Conduct primary research with military operators and partner with engineering to ship autonomous drone software and hardware.

## Job description

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at [applied.co](http://applied.co). We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positions

## About the role

Applied Intuition's DroneStack team builds autonomous software and hardware that enables swarms of unmanned aircraft to find, fix, track, target, and engage in contested and denied environments. Our technology — from the Acuity ISR+Strike autonomy stack to the Axle edge compute hardware — is deployed on real platforms with real operators, across multiple airframe vendors and mission sets. The team has proven the technology through successful field demonstrations and live deployments. Now the challenge shifts: we need to move from delivering bespoke solutions for individual programs to building products that scale across customers, platforms, and theaters. That's where you come in.

We're hiring a Product Manager to own strategy, research, and execution for DroneStack. You won't need to arrive as a drone or defense expert — what matters is that you're a fast, rigorous learner who can immerse yourself in a complex technical domain and emerge with clarity about what to build and why. You'll conduct primary research with military operators in the US and abroad, translate what you learn into product strategy, and work with a strong engineering team to ship products that give warfighters a decisive edge. At Applied Intuition, you will:

- Own product strategy for DroneStack. Define the roadmap that transitions the team from program-driven deliveries to a scalable, multi-customer product line. Make hard prioritization calls across ISR, strike, hardware, and tooling.
- Become the voice of the operator. Conduct primary user research — in the field, at bases, and with international partners — to deeply understand how operators plan, execute, and debrief autonomous missions. Travel up to 20% of the time, including internationally.
- Drive the programs-to-products transition. Identify the patterns across current customer engagements and define the abstractions, configurations, and interfaces that turn one-off solutions into repeatable products.
- Shape product design and experience. Work with engineering to design operator interfaces (mission control, mission planning, mission review) that are intuitive enough for non-technical users to operate without engineering support in the field.
- Set the technical direction with engineering. Partner with the engineering manager and technical leads to balance near-term delivery commitments with long-term product architecture. You don't need to write the code, but you need to understand the system well enough to make informed tradeoffs.
- Build and communicate a market thesis. Develop a point of view on where the autonomous drone market is heading — across DoD service branches, allied nations, and commercial applications — and position Applied Intuition to capture it.
- Represent the product internally and externally. Be the connective tissue between DroneStack engineering, Applied Intuition's defense business development team, and customers. Present at demos, program reviews, and industry events.

We're looking for someone who has:

- 5–7 years of product management experience across at least two meaningfully different environments (different industries, product types, company stages, or customer segments). We value breadth and adaptability over narrow specialization.
- A track record of shipping products, not just features. You've owned a product end-to-end — from research and strategy through design, build, launch, and iteration. You've made the hard calls about what not to build.
- Exceptional research instincts. You know how to learn a market from scratch: talking to users, studying workflows, reading doctrine, attending field exercises, and synthesizing what you find into actionable product direction. You've done this at least once in a domain that was new to you.
- Comfort with deep technical systems. You don't need a background in autonomy, robotics, or aerospace — but you should have experience working on technically complex products (hardware + software, real-time systems, developer tools, infrastructure, etc.) and be energized by learning how things work at a systems level.
- Strong design sensibility. You care about how products feel to use, not just what they do. You've collaborated closely with designers or driven UX decisions yourself, particularly for workflow-heavy or operations-focused tools.
- Clear, structured communication. You can write a crisp product brief, present a strategy to senior leadership, and run a productive design review with engineers. You tailor your communication to the audience — whether that's a general officer or a software engineer.
- BS/BA degree in a technical or analytical field (Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Economics, or similar). Advanced degrees are welcome but not required.

Nice to have:

- Experience with defense or government customers, even outside of autonomy (understanding of acquisition cycles, program structures, or operational environments)
- Experience working on products that span hardware and software
- Prior work at an early-stage or high-growth company where you wore multiple hats
- Exposure to international markets or customers
- Experience founding a company or leading a 0-to-1 product initiative

Security Requirements:

- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Must hold or be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

For more information about U.S. security clearances: click [here](https://www.state.gov/securityclearances). Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment. Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position. Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws. FOR US-BASED ROLES: Applied Intuition is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and interview experience to applicants who are disabled veterans and other applicants with disabilities or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations are available, requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy in any way, and you are not required to disclose the nature of your disability or medical condition in order to make a request. If you require an accommodation please contact careers@applied.co. We will work with you!

## About Applied Intuition

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Applied Intuition builds software and digital infrastructure to bring physical AI — autonomous driving and robotics — to every moving machine on the planet.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C; $1.5B total funding raised)
- **Headquarters**: Sunnyvale, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2017
- **Founders**: Qasar Younis (CEO) and Peter Ludwig (CTO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Autonomous driving, robotics, defense technology, simulation and validation software for ADAS/AD systems.
- **Target customers**: B2B — automotive OEMs (18 of top 20 global automakers), trucking, construction, mining, agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Defense and its allies.
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “To build physical AI that creates a safer, more prosperous world.”

## Products & Services
- **Tools for Vehicle Intelligence**: Simulation, validation, and data management platforms for ADAS and autonomous vehicle development. SaaS and software tools for engineers building intelligent machines.
- **Vehicle OS**: An operating system for vehicles that manages over-the-air updates, data pipelines, and in-vehicle software, enabling automakers to deploy and maintain software-defined vehicles at scale.
- **Self-Driving Systems / Autonomy Stack**: End-to-end autonomous driving solutions, including perception, planning, and control, designed for cars, trucks, and off-road machinery.
- **NextGen OS & Infrastructure**: Platforms for defense, robotics, and next-generation physical AI applications, including solutions used by the U.S. military.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: ~$15 billion (as of 2024/2025, per LinkedIn profile)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of $1.5 billion; 1,153 employees (+55% YoY); 396 active job postings
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, Floodgate, NVIDIA, Databricks; partners include 18 of top 20 global automakers and U.S. defense agencies.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Acquired EpiSci (Feb 2025), Caliber Data Labs, and entities in Germany/UK.
  - Headcount grew 55% YoY; 1,000+ engineers.
  - Office expansion to 12 countries (US, UK, Germany, Sweden, South Korea, Japan, India, etc.).
  - Active hiring — job postings up 117.6% YoY.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Deep domain expertise**: Founded by YC alum/former GM engineer (Qasar Younis) and ex-Google Maps/Android Automotive engineer (Peter Ludwig).
- **Talent density**: 1,000+ engineers, 40+ ex-CTOs, and 30+ former founders on staff — a unique concentration of senior, founder-level talent.
- **Breadth of industry coverage**: Serves automotive, defense, trucking, mining, agriculture, and construction — rare diversification in physical AI.
- **Trusted by government and top OEMs**: U.S. military and 18 of top 20 global automakers rely on their stack, creating high switching costs and deep moats.
- **End-to-end platform**: Covers simulation, validation, OS, and full autonomy stack — not just a point solution.

## Strategic Focus
- **Expansion into defense**: Heavy investment in defense AI, including acquisitions and dedicated government offices in Washington D.C., San Diego, and Ft. Walton Beach.
- **Scaling physical AI beyond automotive**: Driving autonomy into mining, agriculture, construction, drones, and satellites.
- **Growing global footprint**: Opening offices in Europe and Asia to serve local OEM and defense clients.
- **Deepening the research lab**: Building a world-class AI research team focused on real-world intelligence.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “1,000 engineers, 40 ex-CTOs, and 30 former founders” — a high-agency, high-trust environment where engineers take ownership of hard problems from day one.
- **Impact**: Work on technology that goes from sports cars to fighter jets to mining trucks — real-world physical AI that saves lives and reshapes industries.
- **Benefits**:
  - 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
  - 50% 401(k) matching
  - Up to 12 weeks fully paid parental leave
  - Learning stipend for education and training
  - Fitness and wellness stipend
  - 25 free Lyra coaching/therapy sessions per year
  - Catered lunches and expensed dinners, snacks, and drinks at offices
  - Alumni network for long-term professional connections
- **Work model**: Office-first culture with global hubs (12 offices across US, Europe, and Asia). Not fully remote — roles are generally tied to a specific office location.

## Sources
1. [appliedintuition.com — About](https://www.appliedintuition.com/about)
2. [appliedintuition.com — Homepage](https://www.appliedintuition.com/)
3. [linkedin.com — Applied Intuition Company Page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/applied-intuition-inc)
4. [appliedintuition.com — Careers](https://www.appliedintuition.com/careers)
5. [appliedintuition.com — Jobs](https://www.appliedintuition.com/jobs)

## Other roles at Applied Intuition

- [Technical Program Manager, Defense OS](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-program-manager-defense-os-applied-intuition-sunnyvale-9bnc63pbf5qe) — Sunnyvale, CA
- [Network and Security Engineer, Defense](https://feeny.ai/job/network-and-security-engineer-defense-applied-intuition-sunnyvale-nrjf7nmpp25m) — Sunnyvale, CA
- [Full-Stack Engineer, C2 Command & Control](https://feeny.ai/job/full-stack-engineer-c2-command-control-applied-intuition-sunnyvale-p5c35qknx672) — Sunnyvale, CA
- [Robotics Integration Engineer, Tech Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/robotics-integration-engineer-tech-lead-applied-intuition-sunnyvale-hgjjxk2a4qxc) — Sunnyvale, CA
- [Software Engineer, C++ (Onboard Platform)](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-c-onboard-platform-applied-intuition-sunnyvale-p489bx55ft2a) — Sunnyvale, CA
- [Autonomy Integration Engineer (Drone Stack)](https://feeny.ai/job/autonomy-integration-engineer-drone-stack-applied-intuition-sunnyvale-tan8xdrrvasy) — Sunnyvale, CA
- [Autonomy Integration Engineer - Drone Stack](https://feeny.ai/job/autonomy-integration-engineer-drone-stack-applied-intuition-freeport-7fzbq9hxsp5t) — Freeport, FL
- [Software Engineering Manager (Defense/PhysicalAI)](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineering-manager-defense-physicalai-applied-intuition-washington-bfs8784c9g0k) — Washington, DC
- [Product Manager - Data Engine](https://feeny.ai/job/product-manager-data-engine-applied-intuition-sunnyvale-wbg3ysdbymb5) — Sunnyvale, CA
- [Senior Software Engineer - Frontend Platform](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-frontend-platform-applied-intuition-sunnyvale-fqhx4vndyafr) — Sunnyvale, CA