Product Manager I - Hardware Innovation

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of the product roadmap for label printers and data gathering devices, aligned with company goals and market trends.
• Work with leadership to define product vision, goals, and strategies that align with overall business objectives.
• Continuously assess and prioritize product opportunities, ensuring clear alignment with customer needs and market demands.
• Act as the main point of contact between the internal product, engineering, design, and manufacturing teams to ensure alignment on product specifications, timelines, and budgets.
• Define product requirements, user stories, and functional specifications in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Coordinate product development cycles, ensuring milestones are met, and managing risks to avoid delays or cost overruns.
• Facilitate internal testing, product validation, and quality assurance processes.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with external partners, manufacturers, and suppliers to ensure product success.
• Work closely with partners to define and agree on product specifications, design requirements, and manufacturing processes.
• Monitor vendor performance, ensuring adherence to quality standards, timelines, and cost constraints.
• Analyze past sales data, market trends, seasonal fluctuations, and current inventory levels to estimate future product demand.
• Evaluate third-party technology solutions and manage integrations where applicable (e.g., data gathering components, software compatibility).
• Conduct market research, competitor analysis, and customer feedback collection to inform product development decisions and feature prioritization.
• Identify and track industry trends, emerging technologies, and customer pain points in the label printing and data gathering space.
• Engage with end-users and customers to refine product features and ensure solutions meet their specific needs.
• Lead the successful launch of new products, collaborating with marketing, sales, and customer support teams to develop go-to-market strategies.
• Monitor product performance post-launch, ensuring continuous improvement and resolution of customer issues.
• Oversee product updates and enhancements throughout the product lifecycle.
• Manage product discontinuation and end-of-life strategies for legacy products.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Industrial Design, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in hardware product management, particularly with devices such as label printers, barcode scanners, data collection hardware, or similar products.
• Proven track record in managing hardware development from concept to launch in a cross-functional environment.
• Strong experience working with external partners, manufacturers, and suppliers to develop and deliver hardware products.
• Demonstrated experience managing product lifecycles, prioritizing feature sets, and making trade-offs based on market needs and technical constraints.
• Strong understanding of hardware development processes, including prototyping, testing, manufacturing, and quality control.
• Solid technical knowledge in embedded systems, firmware, and hardware-software integration.
• Ability to translate customer needs into detailed product specifications and requirements.
• Expertise in managing relationships with third-party vendors and manufacturers.
• Strong business acumen, with the ability to align product development with broader business objectives.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to assess market data, customer feedback, and technical feasibility.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proficiency in project management tools and methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum, etc.).

Nice to Have

• Experience with IoT devices, wireless communication, and sensor integration.
• Familiarity with industry standards and certifications related to hardware (e.g., CE, FCC, RoHS).
• Prior experience in a global product management role, working with teams and partners across different time zones and cultures.
• Experience with cloud-based solutions or data management platforms integrated with hardware devices.