Product Manager - AV Solutions

Eaton’s Distributed IT division is seeking a Product Manager – AV Solutions to join our team. This a hybrid (3x2) position, preferably based in Woodridge, IL, with consideration for candidates located in Raleigh, NC. The role targets ownership and growth of AV connectivity hardware, including cables, extenders, switches, splitters, and AV‑over‑IP hardware. Responsibilities include defining product strategy, managing lifecycle, enabling sales, and ensuring interoperability, system reliability, and long‑term architectural value.

Hybrid (3x2).

Location:

Woodridge, IL (preferred). Candidates must be located within a 50‑mile radius of Woodridge, IL or Raleigh, NC. (Relocation assistance not available.) Travel up to 25% of the time.

Annual salary range: $86,000 – $126,000.

• Product Strategy & Portfolio Management
  • Own end‑to‑end lifecycle of assigned AV connectivity product lines (concept → launch → sustain → EOL).
  • Define product segmentation between architecture SKUs (design‑in, high‑confidence) and commodity SKUs (coverage, attach).
  • Develop clear value propositions by vertical (Corporate, Education, Healthcare, Industrial).
  • Build product roadmaps aligned with market transitions.
• Market & Competitive Analysis
  • Analyze competitors (e.g., Extron, Kramer, Legrand, Belden, Startech, Atlona) and identify displacement opportunities.
  • Track standards and technologies: HDMI, Display Port, USB‑C/USB4, HDBaseT, fiber, SDVoE, Dante AV, IPMX.
  • Translate market trends into actionable product requirements.
• Interoperability & Architecture Ownership
  • Define and document bounded behavior under load (clear operating limits, failure modes, and degradation behavior).
  • Partner with manufacturing and QA to create interop matrices (hosts, docks, displays, chipsets, network conditions).
  • Ensure products behave predictably in mixed‑vendor environments and across real‑world conditions.
• Sales & Channel Enablement
  • Build sales tools: battle cards, positioning briefs, presentations, and objection handling.
  • Train sales and channel partners on when and how to sell architecture SKUs vs commodity SKUs.
  • Support key customer and integrator engagements as the product authority.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership
  • Act as the primary liaison between Manufacturing, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Support.
  • Drive requirements clarity, prioritize features based on customer impact, and manage tradeoffs transparently.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of three years experience in Product Management or related field.
• Experience in Pro AV, AV connectivity, networking hardware, or adjacent infrastructure markets.

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated track record driving product line growth.
• Understanding Product Development processes or similar stage gate processes.
• Experience with SAP, Enovia, CRM, and Office 365 Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI).
• Proven ability to balance technical depth with business outcomes.
• Experience with AV over IP architectures or large‑scale AV systems.
• Background in integrator driven or channel heavy markets.
• Familiarity with enterprise IT environments and AV/IT convergence.
• Experience creating reference architectures or validation frameworks.
• CTS, CTS D, or similar credentials.

• No relocation assistance is available for this position. Candidates must be located within a 50‑mile radius of Woodridge, IL or Raleigh, NC. Active Duty Military Service Member candidates are exempt from these geographic requirements.
• Eaton will not consider applicants for employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position.

• Strong communicator and relationship-builder.
• Ability to drive process improvement and support execution of product initiatives.
• Data‑driven and detail‑oriented with strong business acumen.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job‑related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.