Engineering/Product Manager

Bestop Aluminess LLC - San Diego, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

San Diego, CA

About the position

This position involves shared responsibilities between Bestop Aluminess LLC and Bestop MGP Caliper Covers LLC, focusing on product strategy, development, and team leadership within the aftermarket automotive accessories industry. The role requires a strong technical background and experience in product management, with an emphasis on collaboration across departments to deliver high-quality products that meet customer needs and business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the product vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned with business goals.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify trends and opportunities.
• Prioritize product features and requirements based on customer needs, market demand, and business objectives.
• Lead the product development lifecycle, from ideation and prototyping to production and launch.
• Manage the engineering team to ensure technical feasibility and optimal implementation of product features.
• Manage product backlogs and sprints, ensuring timely delivery of features and updates.
• Work closely with marketing and sales teams to deliver products that meet quality, time, and budget constraints.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the engineering team with other departments.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across teams to resolve issues and make critical decisions.
• Engage with customers, stakeholders, and end-users to gather feedback and refine product requirements.
• Present product updates, roadmaps, and strategies to internal stakeholders and leadership team.
• Ensure customer satisfaction by delivering products that provide tangible value.
• Provide technical direction and leadership to the engineering team.
• Oversee technical documentation, including design specs, user stories, and release notes.
• Ensure that engineering best practices are followed, including code reviews, testing, and continuous integration.
• Monitor product performance metrics, such as user adoption, revenue, and customer satisfaction.
• Analyze product data and KPIs to inform future development and feature enhancements.
• Report on product performance to leadership team, highlighting successes and areas for improvement.
• Recruit, interview, and onboard new team members.
• Establish clear, realistic sales targets for the team.
• Provide continuous training on sales techniques, product knowledge, and industry trends.
• Track sales performance metrics (e.g., revenue, conversion rates).
• Provide encouragement and support to help team members achieve their individual targets.
• Offer one-on-one coaching and constructive feedback.
• Foster a positive, competitive team culture.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field; Master's degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in product management or engineering roles, preferably in aftermarket and/or off-road industries.
• Proven track record of creating and managing successful product launches and leading cross-functional teams.
• Proven track record of leading a team of direct reports.
• Strong technical background with an understanding of software and hardware development.
• Excellent project management skills, including agile methodologies and sprint planning.
• Proficient in product management tools.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance technical and business requirements effectively.
• Ability to coach and mentor a team, helping team members grow.
• A strong degree of creativity and latitude is required.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in aftermarket and/or off-road industries.
• Experience with SolidWorks.
• Knowledge of data analytics and performance tracking tools.
• Familiar with Lean manufacturing and 5S principles and concepts.
• Material properties knowledge.
• Experience with machining processes.