Space hardware is only half the mission; the real value is delivered when teams can depend on a predictable service back on Earth. My job as a product manager is to translate the promise of an orbital payload into outcomes that customers can plan around—even when the physics are unforgiving.
Anchor Every Requirement in Mission Outcomes
Before locking specs, I partner with operators and end users to map the decisions they must make with the data or connectivity we provide. That mission storyboard keeps the team honest when mass margins get tight or new sensors compete for space—if a feature does not move the outcome, it does not ride.
Treat Ground Systems as Part of the Product
A constellation is only as strong as the ground segment supporting it. I push for integrated roadmaps that cover downlink scheduling, processing pipelines, and user delivery tooling alongside spacecraft milestones, so stakeholders see one cohesive product arc instead of disjointed hand-offs.
Instrument the Operations Loop
Telemetry is not just for engineers. We define leading indicators—latency to insights, revisit predictability, tasking success rates—and wire them into dashboards that business owners, mission assurance, and customer success can all parse. When the loop is observable, we can respond before service levels drift.
Build Partnerships Early
Commercial rideshares, defense customers, regulators, and insurance underwriters all influence mission viability. I cultivate those relationships from the concept phase, using shared risk registers and iterative demos to keep expectations aligned and approvals moving.
Keep Iterating After Launch
Launch is a milestone, not the finish line. We budget for in-orbit updates, payload calibration, and workflow refinements with the same rigor as initial development. That mindset turns a one-off mission into a platform the organization can extend and monetize.
Space will always be complex, but disciplined product practice makes it legible. When the mission narrative stays centered on the customer, the technology follows.