Technical Product Manager, Robotics and Automation

Kids for the Future; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SATO America seeks a Robotics and Automation Technical Product Manager to drive strategy, growth, and lifecycle management for its automation portfolio. You will translate customer needs into scalable solutions across robotics, machine vision, and related services, owning revenue and margin targets.

You will collaborate across Sales, Engineering, Solutions Architecture, Service, Finance, Legal, and partners to ensure safe, reliable, and interoperable solutions for domestic and international

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, robotics, automation, or related field.
• 5+ years in technical product management or solutions management for robotics/automation.
• Experience defining roadmaps, architectures, and go-to-market plans.

Responsibilities

• Own product lifecycle from discovery to end-of-life, including roadmap prioritization and feature prioritization.
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Services, and Partners to deliver reliable, scalable automation solutions.
• Develop value propositions, use cases, and ROI models to support sales and deployments.
• Lead go-to-market activities and coordinate with global teams for launches and deployments.
• Monitor performance metrics and drive improvements in revenue, margin, and adoption.

Skills

Technical product management

Robotics

Industrial automation

Machine vision

Cross-functional leadership

Go-to-market

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ERP systems

Salesforce

Oracle

Job description

• Location 14125 South Bridge Circle,Charlotte, NC, 28273,United States
• Relocation Expense Covered No
• Employee Type FT Exempt
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree
• Travel 20%
• Manage Others No

Description

The Robotics and Automation Technical Product Manager is responsible for the strategy, growth, profitability, and lifecycle management of SATO America’s robotics and automation portfolio. This role translates customer and market needs into scalable solutions that may include industrial robotics, machine vision, automated identification and data capture, material-handling automation, printers, software, controls, integration services, and supporting service offerings. The position owns revenue and gross margin performance for assigned solutions and is accountable for meeting or exceeding annual budget and growth targets.

This position requires strong technical product leadership and cross-functional coordination to define product roadmaps, validate solution architectures, develop business cases, establish competitive pricing, and guide successful deployments. The role collaborates closely with customers, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Solutions Architecture, Service, Finance, Legal, operations, technology partners, and global stakeholders to deliver safe, reliable, interoperable, and commercially successful automation solutions across domestic and international markets.

Robotics and Automation Product Management

• Serve as overall champion, technical evangelist, and business owner for assigned robotics and automation solutions throughout their lifecycle
• Manage the full product lifecycle from market discovery, concept validation, and roadmap development through launch, deployment, optimization, and end-of-life planning
• Own product and solution revenue and gross margin performance, with accountability for meeting or exceeding annual budget and growth targets
• Develop and implement strategies to grow automation revenue, improve margin contribution, increase solution attach rates, and enhance overall profitability
• Prepare product performance, pipeline, forecast, and activity reports for leadership and other stakeholders
• Develop compelling value propositions, solution briefs, reference architectures, ROI models, and use-case scenarios for sales teams, partners, and end users
• Anticipate customer and market requirements through analysis of industry trends, competitive technologies, customer feedback, operational workflows, and emerging automation standards
• Translate market needs into clear product requirements, technical specifications, integration requirements, and prioritized roadmap initiatives in collaboration with Engineering, Solutions Architecture, Service, and global product teams
• Lead product launch readiness and go-to-market activities for robotics, automation, software, and integrated solution offerings
• Develop and execute go-to-market plans in coordination with Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Finance, Service, channel partners, and global stakeholders
• Monitor revenue, margin, cost, deployment performance, quality, reliability, and customer adoption; implement corrective actions to achieve business and product objectives
• Broadenen the automation portfolio through strategic technology partnerships, OEM relationships, systems integrators, and complementary hardware and software providers
• Participate in customer discovery sessions, site assessments, workflow reviews, solution design discussions, demonstrations, pilots, trade shows, and industry events as the product and technical expert
• Support and lead RFQ and RFP responses, ensuring alignment with solution architecture, technical feasibility, integration requirements, pricing strategy, service scope, safety considerations, margin objectives, and contractual requirements
• Develop strategies that reflect international market requirements, including regional regulations, robot and machine safety standards, data and cybersecurity expectations, competitive dynamics, and regional pricing models

Automation Solutions and Services Portfolio Management

• Champion and drive growth of automation-related services, including site assessments, solution design, implementation, systems integration, commissioning, training, preventive maintenance, remote support, software subscriptions, and managed services
• Own service-related revenue and gross margin performance for assigned automation offerings, with accountability for meeting or exceeding annual budget and growth targets
• Develop and execute recurring-revenue and lifecycle-service strategies that improve customer outcomes, system uptime, margin contribution, and long-term profitability
• Establish benchmark pricing and commercial models for automation hardware, software, integration, subscriptions, professional services, and support offerings
• Create, manage, and maintain product, software, and service part numbers within ERP systems to support quoting, forecasting, order processing, lifecycle tracking, and financial reporting
• Identify opportunities for new or enhanced automation solutions and services; partner with management and technical teams to define business cases, minimum viable offerings, implementation scope, and execution plans
• Partner with Finance, Sales, Service, Engineering, and Operations leadership to forecast revenue, manage budgets, evaluate investment requirements, and optimize solution profitability
• Define, monitor, and evaluate product and service KPIs, including deployment cycle time, system uptime, reliability, utilization, adoption, support performance, and SLA attainment; implement corrective actions as needed
• Lead the creation, modification, and implementation of Statements of Work (SOW), ensuring alignment with solution scope, interfaces, deliverables, acceptance criteria, safety responsibilities, service levels, financial objectives, and operational capabilities
• Participate in review and negotiation of Master Service Agreements (MSA), software and data terms, integration agreements, service contracts, and related customer agreements to ensure technical feasibility, risk mitigation, financial alignment, and operational readiness
• Collaborate with Legal, Sales, Service, Engineering, cybersecurity, and executive leadership on contract terms, scope clarification, performance commitments, data ownership, change management, and solution acceptance provisions
• Identify opportunities to expand automation footprint, increase software and service attach rates, improve customer lifetime value, and strengthen customer retention
• Ensure alignment among the product roadmap, software roadmap, integration roadmap, and supporting service roadmap to maximize total solution value and long-term profitability

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in technical product management, solutions management, robotics, industrial automation, material handling, machine vision, controls, or a related technology field, including roadmap development and successful launch of complex products or solutions
• Demonstrated experience managing revenue and gross margin performance, developing business cases, and meeting budget and growth targets
• Working knowledge of robotics and automation technologies such as industrial robots, machine vision, PLCs, printers, industrial networks, warehouse or manufacturing systems, edge devices, APIs, and cloud-based software platforms
• Experience defining technical requirements, solution architectures, integration interfaces, acceptance criteria, and deployment plans for multi-component technology solutions
• Demonstrated experience preparing and supporting RFQ/RFP responses that include technical, commercial, integration, software, and service components
• Experience with robot and machine safety concepts, risk assessments, cybersecurity, data governance, and relevant industry standards preferred
• Experience working with systems integrators, OEMs, technology partners, international markets, and cross-functional global teams preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, robotics, automation, computer science, mechatronics, industrial technology, or a related technical discipline preferred
• Strong analytical, financial, and technical acumen with the ability to evaluate customer workflows, solution feasibility, ROI, pricing models, cost structures, and deployment risks
• Ability to lead complex initiatives from concept through commercialization and deployment using proactive planning, structured decision-making, and stakeholder accountability
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to business and customer audiences
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, customer opportunities, pilots, partners, and product initiatives effectively
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with product management, requirements, analytics, or collaboration tools preferred
• Experience with Oracle or other ERP systems, Salesforce.com, and product lifecycle or requirements-management systems preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting for extended periods of time
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for computer and office equipment operation
• Ability to communicate effectively in person and via phone/video conference and to participate in customer-site walkthroughs, demonstrations, and equipment evaluations
• Travel up to 20%, including domestic and international travel, for customer visits, site assessments, pilots, trade shows, partner meetings, internal meetings, and global collaboration

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Primarily office-based environment with travel to customer, partner, warehouse, manufacturing, laboratory, and demonstration facilities as required. SATO America offers a flexible work environment for positions that are able to be productive from a home office.

DISCLAIMER

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

Summary

The Robotics and Automation Technical Product Manager is responsible for the strategy, growth, profitability, and lifecycle management of SATO America’s robotics and automation portfolio. This role translates customer and market needs into scalable solutions that may include industrial robotics, machine vision, automated identification and data capture, material-handling automation, printers, software, controls, integration services, and supporting service offerings. The position owns revenue and gross margin performance for assigned solutions and is accountable for meeting or exceeding annual budget and growth targets.

This position requires strong technical product leadership and cross-functional coordination to define product roadmaps, validate solution architectures, develop business cases, establish competitive pricing, and guide successful deployments. The role collaborates closely with customers, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Solutions Architecture, Service, Finance, Legal, operations, technology partners, and global stakeholders to deliver safe, reliable, interoperable, and commercially successful automation solutions across domestic and international markets.