Product Manager – Assay Kits

Location:

Sheffield, UK
On-site preferred; hybrid considered for exceptional candidates About the Role

The Product Manager (Assay Kits) is responsible for defining, prioritising, and delivering Exciting Instruments’ portfolio of in-solution single-molecule assay kits for pharmaceutical and life sciences customers. This role connects scientific, commercial, and operational domains — transforming customer and market needs into precise product specifications and ensuring seamless execution from concept through to manufacturing release.

You will own the end-to-end product lifecycle
, encompassing market analysis, technical definition, development planning, validation coordination, launch strategy and post market surveillance. The position demands scientific fluency, operational precision, and the ability to translate technical potential into commercially viable, scalable products.

1. Product Definition and Road mapping

• Define product vision, strategy, and roadmap for Exciting Instruments’ assay kit portfolio.
• Translate customer and market requirements into clear technical specifications and development objectives.
• Prioritise assay development programs based on scientific opportunity, commercial value, and manufacturability.
• Maintain a forward-looking roadmap balancing innovation with standardisation and scalability.

2. Cross‑functional Coordination and Execution

• Act as the primary interface between Product Management, Assay Development, Manufacturing, and Quality teams.
• Initiate and manage project briefs, ensuring technical feasibility, performance targets, and regulatory considerations are met.
• Drive execution of development milestones — feasibility, optimization, validation, and technology transfer — ensuring timelines and deliverables remain aligned with company objectives.
• Coordinate internal resources to ensure smooth progression from prototype to production‑ready kit.

3. Customer and Market Insight

• Engage directly with pharmaceutical and academic customers to understand unmet assay needs, pain points, and performance expectations.
• Conduct competitive benchmarking and market analysis to guide portfolio strategy.
• Identify emerging assay applications and opportunities for differentiation within the single‑molecule and high‑sensitivity assay markets.

4. Product Launch and Lifecycle Management

• Oversee product validation and release planning, working with Marketing, Sales, and Manufacturing to ensure readiness.
  
  Develop product positioning, messaging, and supporting technical documentation.
  
  Monitor product performance post‑launch, driving iterative improvement and lifecycle updates.
  
  Collaborate with Quality and Manufacturing to manage feedback, obsolescence, and revision control.

  5. Documentation and Governance

  • Own the product specification and design history files for assay kits.
  • Ensure all documentation meets Exciting Instruments’ internal quality standards and is audit‑ready.
  • Contribute to the establishment of best practices in design control, risk management, and product traceability.
  Essential Skills and Experience
  • Advanced degree (PhD or MSc) in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, or related discipline.
  • Proven experience in product management or program ownership in a life sciences, diagnostics, or pharmaceutical tools context.
  • Deep understanding of assay development workflows
    , including design, optimization, and validation phases.
  • Strong operational and project management skills, with experience driving cross‑functional teams to delivery.
  • Ability to synthesise complex technical data into actionable product and market strategies.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication; clarity and precision in scientific and commercial documentation.
  Preferred Skills and Experience
  • Background in single‑molecule
    , fluorescence‑based
    , or biophysical assay technologies
    .
  • Prior experience in kit productisation
    , design transfer
    , or manufacturing interface roles.
  • Familiarity with regulated development frameworks (GLP, ISO 13485, or equivalent).Experience engaging with pharmaceutical R&D, drug discovery, or biomolecular screening customers.
    
    Proficiency in managing external collaborations, partnerships, or technology evaluations. About Exciting Instruments

    Exciting Instruments, a University of Sheffield spinout, is transforming molecular analytics through its in‑solution single‑molecule detection platform. Our mission is to make single‑molecule precision accessible, scalable, and impactful across life sciences and pharma.
    Since our launch in 2022, we’ve enabled researchers to explore molecular interactions with unprecedented sensitivity — and are now expanding our product range to include a suite of high‑performance assay kits built on our proprietary technology.

    What We Offer
    • Share options
    • 26 days annual leave
    • Role at the intersection of science, strategy, and execution in a rapidly growing company shaping the future of molecular assay technology