Product Manager - Controls
Position Overview
Our client, a global leader in industrial automation solutions, is seeking a highly strategic and technically adept Product Manager for their Controls portfolio. This pivotal role will be responsible for the success, vision, and strategy of products within the Control & Visualization category, with a strong focus on PLC, Motion Control, Process Control, Sensor, Power Meter, and HMI products.
You will be the internal and external champion for the North America region, driving product adoption, analyzing market needs, identifying innovative solutions, and establishing Go-To-Market plans. This role requires a high level of commercial judgment, strong relationships across executive leadership, engineering, and sales, and the ability to identify and manage key partner relationships within the product ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
Product Strategy & Vision: Define the strategic direction and vision for the assigned product lines, aligning with business goals and revenue projections. Identify regional focus areas, target customer profiles, and potential gaps/partnership opportunities.
Product Lifecycle Management: Oversee the entire product lifecycle for the North America region, including New Product Introduction (NPI) planning and execution, pricing structure, inventory control, and End-of-Life (EOL) strategies.
Market Research & Analysis: Conduct in-depth market research, analyzing economic and trend information for the region, gathering competitor intelligence, and capturing Voice of Customer (VOC) feedback to identify product needs and certification requirements.
New Business Development: Explore and expand new business opportunities, particularly in Machine Automation (MA), Factory Automation (FA), and Process Automation (PA) sectors. Create and deploy sales kits and playbooks, and represent the company at relevant trade and standards organizations.
Sales & Technical Support: Develop sales tools, including commercial training materials and customer-facing documentation (website, digital media). Act as a liaison with factory and R&D teams, and provide support at trade shows and promotional events.
Qualifications
Educational Background:
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Electrical Engineering or related field) (required).
Professional Experience:
5+ years of related product experience combined with product management methods.
Proven hands-on technical capacity in designing, installing, programming, or testing PLC Control Platforms, Industrial PCs, HMIs, and PPCs.
Familiarity with the industrial automation market space, including industries such as Agriculture, Food & Beverage, Logistics, Machine Tool, Material Handling, Oil & Gas, Packaging, Robotics, and Water/Wastewater.
Knowledge of logic and motion control applications (e.g., AGV, ASRS, CNC Shape Cutting, Factory Automation, Fans, Labeling, Machine Conveyance, Material Transfer, Pick-N-Place, Pumps).
Keen understanding of industry regulations, standards, I/O types, IEC-61131 software, IIoT, Safety, and industrial communication & networking technologies.
Experience with industrial grade PLC and HMI brands.
Key Competencies:
Strong technical and commercial understanding of Programmable Logic Controllers, Industrial PCs, Temperature Control, Process Control, Motion Control, Safety Controllers, Sensors, Power Meters, and Human Machine Interfaces.
Ability to communicate complex ideas to a team and understand the broader organizational impact.
Comfortable with decision-making and ownership of the role and product.
Up-to-date with industry trends, technical advances, and competition.
Proficient in research, data analysis, planning, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic thinking.
General Skills:
Ability to understand customer needs, probe for answers, determine solutions, and advocate them.
Effective presentation skills.
High proficiency with Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word).
Ability to travel out of state and country (20-40%).