Principal Hardware Product Manager

Job Description

Overview

At Zebra, we’re reinventing how businesses operate at the enterprise edge - helping them run faster, smarter, and more connected than ever before.

A dynamic community of builders, doers and problem solvers, we each play a unique role - shaping new technologies, bringing solutions to market, and partnering with companies on the front line of business.

Being a part of Zebra means making your mark as we make digital transformation a reality.

It means growing into a leader at a leading company that makes a distinct difference - because together, we’ve only just begun.

We build today, so we can create tomorrow.

Join Zebra and change the world with us.

The Product Management team drives the development of product definition and planning to optimize the company’s products and solutions. The team applies broad knowledge of company’s product and solutions capabilities as well as the high-reaching environment to identify new growth areas, new technology and emerging product opportunities. Oversees the analysis and evaluation of key market statistics and customer requirements to define product strategies and identify product opportunities to expand market share.

The Product Management team also evaluates in-depth market analysis and leads business case development for optimization of existing products and solutions alternatives and/or to create the next generation of new products. Collaborates with research and development to create products and validate early product definitions. This role is both strategic and technical in nature and requires significant industry experience.

As a Product Manager Principal, you will be responsible for a specific product line contribution to the overall business unit. This includes increasing the profitability of existing products to developing new products for the company. You will build products from existing ideas and help to develop new ideas based on your industry experience and your contact with customers and prospects.

Our ideal candidate will industry experience in Mobile IT in either a Distribution, Warehousing, Logistics or Manufacturing market.

Responsibilities

• The Product Manager Principal is responsible for the overall marketing message/value proposition statement, business case/P&L, market acceptance of the product and is the GM for the product and portfolio
• Through comprehensive knowledge of the market, competitive landscape, customer requirements, distribution channels and Zebra offerings, anticipates market and customer requirements for assigned product(s)
• The position has responsibility for the growth and business success of an assigned product line life cycle and/or product category. The role will oversee other product managers in both developing strategies and leading tactical execution of product growth and development plans as well as delivering management objectives, mentorship, and mentoring
• This position is responsible for ensuring the ongoing review of the bold environment for his/her product category. This is accomplished through analysis of high-reaching equipment and compilation of other pertinent findings, and the information thus gained is published and/or presented on a regular basis
• The Product Manager Principal ensures that his/her organization works with the Product Marketing and Marketing Communications in developing product promotion programs. Product Management is responsible for insuring that positioning and factual content are accurate, and that timing for release of promotional materials fits with the product launch schedule. In addition, product positioning and pricing strategies are owned and led by the Product Manager Principal and team who coordinate the communication of this information within product marketing
• Engages with Independant Software Vendors (ISV’s), Resellers, Solution Partners and internal SME’s or partners to define, develop and execute Go-To-Market Strategies or Demand Generation activities required to successful realize ramp to revenue product financial objectives and to drive Awareness, Demand and Preference in the market for the responsible products & solutions
• Product Life Cycle Management
  • Work closely with operations and supply chain to accurately run, forecast, ramp plans, component obsolescence, misaligned sales orders, yield issues, and product hold issues
  • Lead transitions and discontinuations of product line
  • Lead product related communications to both internal and external associates
• The Product Manager Principal actively supports the Sales organization as required in select sales presentations, proposals and opportunities. Responsible for competitive analysis, as represented in developed presentation materials including detailed metrics and analysis to support business case and product development process
• Product Manager Principal and his/her team work closely with internal partners throughout the development process in negotiating design trade-offs that may be needed, while preserving the requirements stated in the market requirements document (MRD). Internal partners include but not limited to product marketing, end users, channel partners, sales, engineering, support organizations, and manufacturing
• Sets pricing strategy. Establishes product price to improve sales and profitability
• Monitors financial performance of product lines and makes recommendations for pricing action against revenue and margin objectives. Sets target product costs for new products. Evaluates cost reduction initiatives working in concert with sustaining engineering, finance, and other internal partners
• Travel as needed to visit customers, partners, attend seminars, trade shows or meet area sales personnel

Qualifications

• Preferred Master’s Degree with BS in Engineering Discipline
• Required BS in Engineering Discipline
• 12+ years’ experience, including at least 3 years coordinating product managers in related discipline or technology industry
• Excellent social skills with strong ability to interact with customers
• Strong communication skills including written, verbal and oral presentation abilities as well as ability to efficiently present information and respond to questions from senior management, managers, clients and customers
• Ability to assess complex market landscape and build focused, coordinated product plans
• Attention to detail, and validated understanding of complex products and systems
• Deep understanding of financial concepts including P&L, balances sheets, and return on investment models with delivery of product through defined objectives
• Multi-task and handle complex programs
• Advanced market knowledge in assigned product vertical, category or technology or solutions
• Highly creative with ability to think strategically and develop strategic/business plans
• The successful candidate will be a self-starter; this individual will be adaptable, persuasive, tenacious and perceptive and be able to execute a well-developed plan
• Strong planning and execution skills
• Advanced analytical, problem solving and social skills
• Demonstrates good judgement in decision making, applies knowledge and experience to guide decisions
• Strong eye for business
• Excellent skills in Microsoft business applications including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to travel