Our client is an international aviation technology business developing an innovative IoT-enabled asset tracking and digital intelligence platform for the aviation sector.
The solution combines tracking devices installed on Unit Load Devices (ULDs) and other aviation equipment with a software platform that converts real-time telemetry into operational intelligence. This enables airlines and aviation operators to improve fleet visibility, asset utilization, network balancing, damage and repair tracking, demurrage management and operational efficiency.
The business is looking for a Product Owner – Digital Solutions to take ownership of an existing software development program and drive it through its next stage of development and commercialization.
This is not purely a traditional Agile Product Owner role. It combines product ownership, software program management, aviation domain knowledge, supplier management and IoT technology.
Development is delivered through external software partners across Europe and Asia. You will own the product roadmap and requirements while directly managing the relationship, performance and deliverables of outsourced development teams.
The First 90 Days
Your initial priority will be to establish a clear and independent view of the current program and bring structure and control to its delivery.
You will:
• Establish the true status of scope, schedule, quality and committed deliverables.
• Review documentation, testing, CI/CD maturity and previous acceptance history.
• Assess supplier performance and development capability.
• Establish clear ownership between the business and external development teams.
• Identify delivery risks, gaps and priorities.
• Build a realistic roadmap toward a working customer platform.
From there, you will take ownership of product prioritisation and functional trade-offs within the agreed roadmap and budget.
Key Responsibilities
Product Ownership
• Own the software platform roadmap, release plan, scope and schedule.
• Translate customer requirements and commercial commitments into a clear, prioritised and buildable backlog.
• Maintain a credible view of overall program status for senior leadership.
• Identify and escalate delivery risks before commitments are missed.
• Manage dependencies between software, device firmware, connectivity and hardware.
External Development & Supplier Management
• Act as the primary interface with outsourced software development partners.
• Define statements of work, deliverables, acceptance criteria and development milestones.
• Support supplier contract negotiations alongside Procurement and Legal.
• Lead sprint reviews, acceptance testing, defect management, SLA reviews and change control.
• Hold suppliers accountable for quality, timelines and agreed deliverables.
• Manage issues falling between multiple suppliers and ensure clear ownership.
• Protect the business around source code, data ownership, IP, documentation, escrow and supplier transition.
• Establish appropriate controls around AI-generated code, including licensing, review and quality standards.
Software Delivery & Technical Governance
• Establish expectations around modern Agile and CI/CD practices.
• Review supplier development pipelines, automated testing, release processes and test coverage.
• Define and monitor non-functional requirements including availability, latency, scalability, observability and data retention.
• Understand and manage cloud infrastructure costs and platform unit economics.
• Ensure appropriate security and data protection standards, including GDPR and customer security requirements.
Requirements & Customer Engagement
• Work directly with airline ULD Control, Cargo Operations and IT teams to understand operational requirements.
• Translate real-world aviation challenges into clear software specifications.
• Understand areas including ULD stock positioning, utilization, demurrage, damage attribution and repair cycles.
• Determine where IoT and telemetry data can realistically create operational value.
• Support commercial teams with technical input for proposals, RFPs, security questionnaires and customer roadmap discussions.
• Feed lessons from live deployments directly into future product development.
During the early development stage, the role may also have hands-on involvement in customer implementations until dedicated implementation resources are fully established.
Essential
• Strong practical understanding of ULD management within the aviation industry, including ULD Control, stock positioning, utilization, demurrage, damage and repair cycles.
• Clear understanding of how IoT, sensor and telemetry data can support aviation operations.
• Proven experience managing significant software development programs delivered through external/outsourced development partners.
• Strong supplier and commercial management experience covering contracting, deliverables, acceptance and escalation.
• Experience managing multiple suppliers or teams with interconnected deliverables.
• Proven ability to take over an existing software program, assess its true status and establish control.
• Practical understanding of Agile software development, CI/CD and modern software delivery practices.
• Working understanding of AI applications, including analytics, forecasting and AI-assisted software development.
• Comfortable working with distributed international teams across different cultures and time zones.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Professional fluency in English.
• Existing right to work in the EU and ability to work from Alkmaar without relocation support.
• Ability to travel internationally as required.Highly Desirable
• Hands-on understanding of cloud infrastructure, solution architecture and database design.
• Familiarity with Amazon Web Services (AWS).
• Experience with AI-assisted software development tools and their implications for code quality and governance.
• Knowledge of IATA ULD Regulations and ULD messaging standards such as UCM/SCM, Cargo-IMP or Cargo-XML.
• Experience with IoT device fleets and technologies such as LTE-M, NB-IoT, Cat 1 bis, BLE and telemetry ingestion.
• Understanding of firmware release coordination and device management.
• Experience with IoT or telemetry platforms.
• Experience working in a scale-up, start-up or new-product environment where processes and governance had to be created rather than inherited.
• Additional European languages advantageous; Dutch is helpful but not mandatory.
