Senior Product Manager - Technical NPD

Blackbook Executive; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Competitive salary

Job summary

Blackbook Executive in Melbourne is seeking an experienced Senior Product Manager to own the product strategy and lead end-to-end development of physical engineered products. You will work with engineering, manufacturing, sales and commercial teams to translate customer needs into viable product solutions.

The role demands a track record in NPD, lifecycle management, pricing and portfolio strategy, plus strong stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Experience managing physical, engineered products through the full NPD lifecycle.
• Strong commercial capability across product strategy, roadmapping, pricing, profitability and portfolio management.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and project delivery skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute product strategies, roadmaps and innovation pipelines aligned with commercial objectives.
• Identify market opportunities through customer insights, competitor analysis, industry trends and product performance.
• Lead end-to-end new product development (NPD), from concept and business case through engineering, testing, validation and launch.
• Partner with engineering and manufacturing to develop technically feasible, commercially viable products.
• Manage multiple NPD and continuous improvement projects, including stage-gate processes, timelines and stakeholder alignment.
• Own product lifecycle management, including portfolio optimisation, pricing, profitability and rationalisation.
• Work cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Manufacturing and Supply Chain to support successful product launches.

Skills

Product management

NPD lifecycle

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Commercial strategy

Stage-gate process

Technical development

Independent work

Job description

Lead product strategy, engineering-led innovation and NPD within an established, market-leading manufacturing business.

The Business

Our client is an established Australian manufacturing business with a strong market position and an extensive portfolio of engineered products.

Operating across domestic and international markets, the business combines local engineering and manufacturing expertise with a strong commercial focus. Its products span mechanical, electrical and electromechanical technologies, with ongoing investment in innovation, product development and continuous improvement.

With an established customer base and a focus on strengthening its product development capabilities, the business is looking to appoint an experienced Senior Product Manager.

These opportunities offer genuine ownership, technical complexity and the chance to influence product strategy and how new products are developed and brought to market.

The Opportunity

Reporting to a senior business leader, you will take ownership of a portfolio of physical, engineered products, managing the full product lifecycle from initial concept and market opportunity through to development, testing, commercialisation and launch.

Working closely with local engineering, manufacturing, sales and commercial teams, you will play a key role in translating customer needs and market insights into commercially viable product solutions.

The business operates across multiple product categories, including mechanical, electrical and electromechanical technologies. Portfolio responsibilities will be aligned to the strengths and experience of the successful candidates.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute product strategies, roadmaps and innovation pipelines aligned with commercial objectives.
• Identify market opportunities through customer insights, competitor analysis, industry trends and product performance.
• Lead end-to-end new product development (NPD), from concept and business case through engineering, testing, validation and launch.
• Partner closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to develop technically feasible, commercially viable products.
• Manage multiple NPD and continuous improvement projects, including stage-gate processes, timelines and stakeholder alignment.
• Own product lifecycle management, including portfolio optimisation, pricing, profitability, product enhancements and rationalisation.
• Work cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Manufacturing and Supply Chain to support successful product launches.
• Contribute to improving product development processes, project governance and ways of working.

About You

We're looking for commercially astute Product Managers who have genuine experience developing physical products within engineering-led environments.

You’ll ideally bring

• Proven experience as a Product Manager, Senior Product Manager, Technical Product Manager or Product Development Manager.
• Strong experience managing physical, engineered products through the full NPD lifecycle.
• Exposure to mechanical, electrical, electronic or electromechanical products.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with engineering, manufacturing and technical teams.
• Strong commercial capability across product strategy, roadmapping, pricing, profitability and portfolio management.
• Experience managing multiple technical development projects, ideally within a structured stage-gate environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and project delivery skills.
• The ability to operate independently, challenge thinking and influence both technical and commercial stakeholders.

Experience within industrial manufacturing, automation, building hardware, automotive components, power tools, electrical equipment or other engineered product categories would be highly regarded.

An engineering qualification would be advantageous but is not essential. Practical product development experience and technical understanding are more important.

Please note: These positions require experience with tangible, physical products and engineering-led NPD. Candidates with exclusively software, SaaS or digital product management backgrounds will not be suited to this opportunity.

What's on Offer?

• Senior Product Manager opportunities within an established manufacturing business.
• Competitive salary budget of $140,000-$160,000, subject to experience.
• Hybrid working arrangements, typically 1-2 days working from home.
• Broad product ownership across technically interesting, engineered product categories.
• The opportunity to influence product innovation, strategy and development processes.
• A collaborative environment working closely with local engineering and manufacturing teams.

Interested? If you have a background in physical product management and enjoy working at the intersection of engineering, innovation and commercial strategy, we'd welcome a conversation.