Associate Product Manager

MKS Instruments, Inc.; Richmond; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus Percentage Plan

RRSP Matching Program

Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)

Global Employee Assistance Program

Recognition Awards

Additional Flex Day Off

Job summary

Photon Control Inc. in Richmond, BC, part of MKS, seeks an Associate Product Manager to support development and growth of innovative products for semiconductor and advanced tech markets.

You will translate market needs into product specifications, assist in strategy, lifecycle management, and NPI while coordinating cross‑functional programs to meet business goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field.
• 3–5 years in Product/Program Management or related technical roles.
• Experience coordinating cross‑functional projects.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Understanding of NPI and product lifecycle management.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned cross‑functional development programs from concept through commercialization.
• Support product strategy and roadmap development through market research and analysis.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Commercial teams.
• Track portfolio performance, risks, and deliverables with status updates to stakeholders.

Skills

Cross-functional coordination

Project management

Data analysis

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/related technical field

Tools

Microsoft Project

Jira

Smartsheet

Azure DevOps

Job description

As the Associate Product Manager at at Photon Control Inc., a subsidiary of MKS Inc., you will support the development and growth of innovative products serving the semiconductor and advanced technology industries.

Reporting to the Senior Product Manager, you will work closely with engineering, operations, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial teams to translate market and customer needs into successful product solutions.

In this role, you will contribute to product strategy, product lifecycle management, and new product introductions while leading and coordinating cross‑functional development programs.

You will help ensure products are successfully developed, commercialized, and delivered in alignment with business objectives, customer requirements, and company growth initiatives.

This position is ideal for a technically minded professional who enjoys solving complex problems, collaborating across functions, and developing both product management and program management expertise.

You Will Make an Impact By Supporting the Senior Product Manager in developing a strong understanding of customer applications, market trends, competitive dynamics, and business opportunities.

Assisting in the definition and management of product requirements by translating customer, application, and business needs into actionable product specifications.

Supporting product strategy and roadmap development through market research, competitive analysis, and evaluation of growth opportunities.

Conducting periodic reviews of product portfolio performance, including financial performance, market positioning, and competitive landscape assessments.

Gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing customer feedback, application requirements, and market trends to support product planning and prioritization.

Leading assigned cross‑functional development programs from concept through commercialization, helping ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with business objectives.

Developing and maintaining program plans, schedules, resource requirements, risks, dependencies, and deliverables while communicating status and progress to stakeholders.

Coordinating activities across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations, and Commercial teams to support successful product development and delivery.

Supporting new product introduction (NPI) activities, product qualification efforts, and engineering‑to‑production transfers to ensure successful commercialization.

Participating in design reviews, stage‑gate reviews, risk assessments, and change management activities while helping drive alignment across stakeholders.

Identifying and escalating program risks, supporting issue resolution, and driving accountability to maintain project momentum.

Preparing and documenting technical, qualification, product performance, and business‑related information to support informed decision‑making.

Utilizing data, key performance indicators (KPIs), and project metrics to support product decisions, program execution, and portfolio reviews.

Building strong working relationships across functions to align priorities and drive successful outcomes.

Skills You Bring (Required Skills)

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Applied Science, Business, or a related technical discipline.
• 3-5 years of experience in Product Management, Program Management, Applications Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Technical Sales, or a related technical role.
• Experience coordinating cross‑functional projects and collaborating across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including planning, scheduling, risk management, issue resolution, and prioritization.
• Understanding of product development processes, including new product introduction (NPI), product lifecycle management, engineering change management, or engineering‑to‑production transfer activities.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to evaluate technical, operational, and business information.
• Ability to analyze data and use quantitative insights to support decision‑making and prioritization.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Ability to understand customer and market requirements and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to develop effective solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, and drive alignment without direct authority.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Project or equivalent project management platforms.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in semiconductor, semiconductor equipment, photonics, fiber optics, instrumentation, sensing, or other advanced technology industries.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment supporting product development and commercialization.
• Familiarity with semiconductor manufacturing processes, process control systems, optical sensing technologies, vacuum technologies, or temperature measurement solutions.
• Experience supporting customer‑facing development programs, product launches, or technology commercialization efforts.
• Experience performing market research, competitive analysis, business case development, or product portfolio analysis.
• Experience using project management and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, Smartsheet, Azure DevOps, or equivalent platforms.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), or a related discipline.

Key Competencies

• Customer Focus
• Business Acumen
• Product Thinking
• Learning Agility
• Data‑Driven Decision Making
• Structured Problem Solving
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Stakeholder Management
• Influence Without Authority
• Accountability
• Communication and Presentation Skills
• Continuous Improvement Mindset

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Perform activities such as sitting, standing, or typing for extended periods of time.

Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include heat, cold, fumes, strong magnets, confined spaces, lasers, microwaves, and vacuum/pressure systems.

Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment where priorities and project requirements may evolve.

Occasional travel may be required to support internal meetings, manufacturing sites, industry events, or customer engagements.

Benefits

• Bonus Percentage Plan
• RRSP Matching Program
• Healthcare Including Medical, Dental and Vision, Life Insurance and AD&D, Medical Travel Insurance
• Global Employee Assistance ProgramReferral Program
• Recognition Awards
• Additional Flex Day Off with Spending Allowance
• Transit Zone 1 Reimbursement
• Active Social Committee Programs
• Compensation Salary Pay Range: $90,000 - $110,000 per year.

This range represents the anticipated compensation for the position and is based on numerous factors including experience, qualifications, education, skills, market conditions, internal equity, and business requirements.

Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to various export control regulations. Applicants for these positions may be limited (by, for example, their countries of citizenship, country of origin, or immigration status) where required by law or governmental contact, and/or employment made contingent upon the issuance of appropriate governmental licensing.

MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy‑related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.

Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs.

We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies.

MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.

MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: [e-mail] .

If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role.

At MKS, it's all about courage, big ideas, and a serious passion for innovation. Winning here is about exploring possibilities, taking action, and solving our customers’ toughest challenges. It's not just a job – it's what you make of it. While you shape your role and make it unique, we invest in you with on‑the‑job and formal training, as well as educational assistance.

Curiosity is key at MKS - ask questions, own your path. Our success comes from celebrating the unique skills, diverse perspectives, and lived experience of employees from over 100 countries. The goal is to make sure that everyone feels that they belong. Diversity isn't just a nice‑to‑have; making sure everyone feels included is a big deal for us.

Our group of ~10,000 employees serves semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial markets.

With over 3,800 patents, our products are enabling advancements in 5G, renewable energy & storage, artificial intelligence, cloud technology, and big data.

We're the behind‑the‑scenes support for some amazing technology. MKS Inc., enables technologies that transform our world. MKS Inc, Product Overview