Software Product Manager Material Characterization

PerkinElmer; High Wycombe; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

PerkinElmer is seeking a Software Product Manager to own the software product roadmap for analytical instrument software. You will translate customer requirements into software specifications and prioritise the backlog to maximize commercial value.

You will collaborate with R&D to ensure timely releases that align with hardware launches, conduct VOC interviews, and coordinate beta programmes for major releases. This hybrid role is based in High Wycombe, UK.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in software product management, technical product ownership, or software product marketing.
• Experience owning a software product roadmap from requirements through release with accountability.
• Working knowledge of analytical instrument software: instrument control, data processing, and reporting.
• Familiarity with agile product development practices: backlog management, sprint planning, user story writing, and release management.
• Experience conducting software-focused VOC and translating user feedback into actionable product requirements.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Chemistry, or related discipline.
• Preferred MSc or PhD in a relevant scientific discipline.
• Experience with regulatory software requirements in analytical instrument markets: 21 CFR Part 11, GAAMP, GLP/GMP.
• Familiarity with laboratory informatics ecosystem: LIMS, ELN, data management platforms, connectivity standards (OPC-UA, SiLA2, AnIML).
• Experience managing software beta programmes and customer co-development relationships.

Responsibilities

• Own the software product roadmap and define vision, prioritise features and releases.
• Develop software product requirements: user stories, functional specs, and acceptance criteria.
• Make evidence-based trade-off decisions balancing commercial urgency with quality.
• Own the software product versioning and release strategy, aligning with hardware launches.
• Conduct structured VOC and document at least 15 customer conversations yearly focused on software needs.
• Coordinate beta customer programmes for major software releases and collect structured feedback.
• Create software release notes, upgrade guides, and software demo guides for sales.
• Train the commercial team on major software releases and support MarComm with technical content.

Skills

Software product management

Backlog management

Agile development

VOC interviews

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory software knowledge

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's in Computer Science/Engineering/Chemistry

MSc or PhD preferred

Tools

LIMS

ELN

OPC-UA

SiLA2

AnIML

Job description

When joining PerkinElmer, you select an experienced and trusted leader in scientific solutions, with the support of a global service network and distribution centers, providing the right solution, at the right time, to meet critical customer needs. With over an 80+ year legacy of advancing science and a mission of innovating for a healthier world, our dedicated team collaborates closely with commercial, government, academic and healthcare customers to deliver our broad portfolio of analytical solutions, and OneSource services.

Job TitleSoftware Product Manager Material Characterization Location(s) High Wycombe, United Kingdom - Remote

Job Description Purpose PerkinElmer is seeking a Software Product Manager to own the software product roadmap for analytical instrument software aligned to an assigned product line. Software is an increasingly critical competitive dimension in analytical instrumentation: instrument control software, data processing algorithms, connectivity, and reporting tools increasingly determine customer satisfaction, switching costs, and long-term loyalty. This role ensures that the product line's software strategy is as deliberate and commercially rigorous as its hardware strategy. The Software Product Manager works at the intersection of product management and software engineering — translating commercial and customer requirements into well-defined software product specifications, prioritising the software backlog against commercial impact, and partnering with the R&D software team to ensure delivery meets market expectations. They are accountable for the software product, not the software development — they set what gets built and why, not how. We are offering a hybrid working contract split between home and our offices in High Wycombe.

Responsibilities

• Software Product Strategy & Roadmap Own the software product roadmap for the assigned product line — defining the vision, prioritising features and releases, and sequencing development work against commercial opportunity and customer value
• Develop software product requirements: user stories, functional specifications, and acceptance criteria that R&D can act on — with clear priority rationale for each item
• Make evidence-based trade-off decisions about software feature scope, release timing, and technical debt — balancing commercial urgency with software quality and architectural sustainability
• Own the software product versioning and release strategy — coordinating release cadence with hardware product launches and sustaining release cycles
• Customer & Market Requirements Conduct structured VOC for software: customer interviews, usability feedback sessions, and competitive software benchmarking — generating a minimum of 15 documented customer conversations per year specifically focused on software needs
• Monitor the competitive software landscape: competitor instrument software releases, third-party integration developments, and emerging customer expectations around connectivity, data management, and regulatory compliance
• Partner with Strategic Segment Managers to understand how regulatory requirements (21 CFR Part 11, GAAMP, OECD GLP) affect software product needs in priority end markets
• Translate hardware NPI requirements into software specification — ensuring instrument control software is developed in parallel with the hardware programme and available at launch
• R&D Partnership & Delivery Serve as the primary product management interface to the software R&D team — attending sprint reviews, backlog grooming sessions, and software programme milestones
• Maintain a clearly prioritised software backlog — updated regularly, visible to stakeholders, and reflective of current commercial priorities
• Own software release acceptance: define and execute user acceptance testing criteria, certify that software releases meet the defined product requirements before commercial release
• Coordinate beta customer programmes for major software releases — managing site selection, structured feedback collection, and issue resolution before general availability
• Commercial Enablement Develop software-specific commercial enablement materials: feature release notes, upgrade guides, competitive software comparison sheets, and software-focused demo guides for the sales organisation
• Train the commercial team on major software releases — ensuring field teams can demonstrate, position, and sell software capabilities as a competitive differentiator
• Support the MarComm team with technically accurate software content for campaigns, product brochures, and digital channels

Qualifications & Experience Required

• 5–10 years of experience in software product management, technical product ownership, or software product marketing — ideally within analytical instrumentation, scientific software, or laboratory technology
• Demonstrated experience owning a software product roadmap from requirements through release — with clear personal accountability for prioritisation and delivery quality
• Working knowledge of analytical instrument software: instrument control, data processing, and reporting workflows relevant to the product line
• Familiarity with agile product development practices: backlog management, sprint planning, user story writing, and release management
• Experience conducting software-focused VOC and translating user feedback into actionable product requirements
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline
• Preferred MSc or PhD in a relevant scientific discipline — providing credibility with scientific end users and technically specialist R&D teams
• Experience with regulatory software requirements in analytical instrument markets: 21 CFR Part 11, GAAMP, GLP/GMP compliance, or equivalent
• Familiarity with laboratory informatics ecosystem: LIMS, ELN, data management platforms, and connectivity standards (OPC-UA, SiLA2, AnIML)
• Experience managing software beta programmes and customer co-development relationships

Equal Opportunity

PerkinElmer is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. PerkinElmer is committed to a culturally diverse workforce.

Are you ready to help improve the lives of millions of people and create a healthier world? When you work at PerkinElmer, that’s exactly what you’ll do. From our dedicated scientists and world‑class operations employees to our innovative R&D professionals and committed sales and service groups, we’re a unique team of 5,000+ global colleagues who come to work every day knowing we’re making a difference. Through innovation, collaboration, and believing in our mission, we strive to create an inspiring and inclusive culture for our employees, so that they can be their best and, together, create a better tomorrow. Join us today.