Automation Controls Product Manager

Automation Controls Product Manager

Automation Direct
, a leading industrial automation products supplier, is seeking product managers or controls engineers with an interest in becoming product managers that are passionate about becoming a subject matter expert on one of our industrial control product lines – PLCs, HMIs, Drives, Motion, Process Instrumentation, Control & Signaling, Power Supplies, Safety, Circuit Protection and more. Leverage your product knowledge and experience to manage and grow an assigned product line to deliver the most practical products with the lowest cost of ownership and the best overall customer experience.

Apply now and indicate the product categories that most align with your experience and expertise. We’ll contact you if there is an opening now or reach out when we have one that matches your product interest.

• Product Management training available for qualified controls engineers
• High ownership, high creativity culture in an engineering office environment
• Low Travel
• Business hours 7-4 or 8-5, No overtime, remote work option
• Quarterly bonuses and generous profit sharing
• Training provided first month and ongoing training
• Excellent benefits: health/dental/life insurance, 401k, Tuition reimbursement
• On-campus gym and exercise classes

The Product Manager (PM) will partner with a Product Engineer to successfully manage and grow their product line of business in an entrepreneurial environment within Automation Direct. The PM is responsible for defining the product line strategy and overseeing all business aspects of their product line—road‑mapping, supplier management, branding, revenue and profit growth. The PM is a servant‑leader and works cross functionally with internal and external teams.

• Responsible for maintaining and executing a multi‑year new product roadmap to expand presence and relative competitive advantage of the product lines.
• Provide analysis of market/customer needs, the competition, and market segment trends to identify opportunities for new and existing products.
• Presentation of new product opportunities including thorough understanding of available market, pricing, our expected market share, and our overall cost of doing business.
• Develop and/or select new product offerings for Automation Direct customers. Responsibilities include determining new product requirements, branding, supplier selection, negotiating supply agreements (including product costs), developing marketing material for catalog and web store, establishing product pricing, determining initial sales forecast, assisting with a product’s promotion plan, and product training for internal teams.
• Back‑line support for customers and internal teams.

• Requires education in a technical discipline with preference for BS in mechanical or electrical engineering or at least 10 years of related experience.
• Requires 7 years’ experience (10 years preferred) in industrial control & automation market. Preferred experience includes product application, control system integration, technical support, and/or product design. Similar experience in related markets such as building automation and medical equipment may be considered.
• Product expertise and deep product knowledge of the specific product categories are required.
• Experience with industrial control products such as PLCs, HMIs, Servos, and Encoders is desirable, along with working knowledge of industrial communication protocols.
• Experience with agency approvals (UL, CSA, CE, RoHS, etc.) is desirable.
• Experience with CAD such as AutoCAD, Solid Works, etc. is desirable. Must possess self‑confidence, organizational skills, time‑management skills and excellent communication skills.
• Must also be able to work on and manage projects independently, meet deadlines and have excellent interpersonal skills.