Product Manager | Embedded Hardware

Aquablu; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 68,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity plan

Office Amsterdam

Pension Zwitserleven

Team events

Job summary

Aquablu is hiring a Product Manager (Embedded Hardware) to own the REFILL+ roadmap, coordinate firmware and hardware workstreams, and drive hardware improvements across the lifecycle. You will balance stability with commercial priorities while working with hardware, firmware, and quality engineers.

The role demands technically fluent PM capabilities, strong prioritisation, and the ability to translate field feedback into actionable tickets.

Qualifications

• Degree in mechatronics, product design, electrical, or mechanical engineering or equivalent hands-on experience.
• 3+ years in hardware development or product management roles, ideally with physical consumer or B2B devices.
• Comfort reading and writing firmware specs, hardware schematics, and manufacturing documentation.
• Able to navigate the full product lifecycle from design to production and field deployment.

Responsibilities

• Own the feature and release roadmap for firmware and hardware, including hardware and manufacturing improvements.
• Drive root cause analysis to shipped fixes in collaboration with firmware and mechanical engineering.
• Translate field inputs from Customer Service, Quality, and the field into prioritized, actionable tickets.
• Define and track product KPIs such as uptime, dispense accuracy, and error rates.
• Own firmware certification and EU directive requirements for connected hardware.

Skills

Product management

Hardware development

Firmware specs reading

Project coordination

Prioritisation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics or related field

Job description

At Aquablu we're disrupting the marketplace with a revolutionary (flavored) water system. Brought to life in 2018, our founders Marnix and Marc promised a healthy but tasty alternative to soft drinks. Today, our water is tapped in almost 16 countries. And we continue to make waves by teaming up with industry leaders like Heineken, Adyen and Marriott Hotels. Join us in our mission to save one billion plastic bottles by 2030!

\"That might sound really ambitious, but our team is part of an inspiring movement in an industry that's thirsty for change.\" - Marc, Co-founder of Aquablu

Our team in Amsterdam is hiring a Product Manager (Embedded Hardware)

About the Role

The REFILL+ is Aquablu's flagship product - installed across thousands of sites, generating real revenue, and throwing real challenges every week.

Working within the Physical Product team, you'll own the prioritisation and execute alongside hardware, firmware, and quality engineers; knowing the release cycle as well as they do, spotting field patterns before they become support tickets, and driving hardware improvements from signal to shipped. The strategic direction is set. Your job is to execute it well, keep the product healthy, and make sure the team is always working on the right next thing. No separate project manager. You hold the pieces together.

If you're a technically fluent PM who gets things done rather than just deciding what should get done - this is the role.

What You'll Own

• Roadmap: Own the feature and release roadmap for firmware and hardware, including hardware and manufacturing improvements: balancing stability, commercial priorities, and the strategic direction set for the REFILL+
• Field issue resolution: Drive root cause analysis to shipped fix, working closely with firmware and mechanical engineering
• Field feedback loop: Translate inputs from Customer Service, Quality, and the field into prioritised, actionable tickets
• Product KPIs: Define and track uptime, dispense accuracy, and error rates
• Security & compliance: Own firmware certification and EU directive requirements for connected hardware

What You Bring

• A degree in mechatronics, product design, electrical, or mechanical engineering - or equivalent hands-on experience
• 3+ years in a hardware development or product management role, ideally with physical consumer or B2B devices
• Comfortable reading and writing firmware specs, hardware schematics, and manufacturing documentation
• Able to navigate the full product lifecycle - from design and engineering through to production and field deployment
• Strong project coordination skills: you're able to keep firmware, hardware, and quality workstreams moving without a dedicated project manager alongside you
• Strong prioritisation instincts - able to balance live field issues against long-term roadmap work
• Some familiarity with EU regulatory and compliance requirements for connected hardware products

Nice to have:

• Experience with IoT or connected hardware products
• Background in food & beverage, vending, or water technology
• Hands-on experience with contract manufacturers, assembly processes, and supply chain management

Why Aquablu?

A salary between 68-85k yearly (including 8% holiday allowance)

Equity through our Aquablu for All plan - everyone shares in what we're building

Beautiful and bright office in Amsterdam (Houthavens).

Equity through our Aquablu for All plan - everyone shares in what we're building

Quarterly team events at our HQ in Amsterdam (Houthavens)

A pension plan by Zwitserleven.

Endless amount of our very own flavoured water !

Curious about our story & culture? Check our documentaries on Youtube!