Director of Product Line Management (US - Remote)

About the role

AXON Networks is seeking a Director of Product Line Management to define, build, and scale a portfolio of telecom enterprise services and network products. The leader will act as the general manager for the product line, translating customer and market requirements into differentiated architectures, investment priorities, roadmaps, launch plans, and lifecycle decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Set multi‑year portfolio strategy, market segmentation, pricing, packaging, revenue plan, margin targets, and rationalization decisions using customer and competitive insight.
• Lead end‑to‑end development of Layer 2 switching, Carrier Ethernet demarcation, NID/eNID, access, and edge products, including market requirements, business cases, PRDs, platform choices, feature priorities, release criteria, and lifecycle plans.
• Build scalable enterprise services such as Ethernet Private Line, Virtual Private Line, E‑LAN, DIA access, managed LAN, cloud connectivity, and related secure or assured connectivity offers.
• Partner with Engineering and Architecture on switching silicon, system architecture, network operating software, optics, timing, power, thermal, security, manageability, and service‑assurance requirements.
• Evaluate and manage chipset, ODM/JDM, contract manufacturing, optics, software, certification, and technology partners; balance cost, differentiation, quality, availability, and roadmap control.
• Establish disciplined stage‑gate governance from discovery through development, field trials, launch, sustaining engineering, refresh, migration, and end‑of‑sale/end‑of‑support.
• Define positioning, competitive differentiation, sales plays, solution bundles, enablement, launch readiness, reference customers, and adoption programs with Sales and Marketing.
• Ensure products and services are deployable, observable, supportable, and automatable through OSS/BSS, inventory, orchestration, telemetry, assurance, and zero‑touch provisioning.
• Build, coach, and develop a high‑performing product line management team; create clear decision rights, operating rhythms, accountability, and succession plans.

Domain Expertise

• Layer 2 switching: Ethernet architectures, VLANs, IEEE 802.1Q, QinQ/802.1ad, LAG/MC‑LAG, STP/RSTP/MSTP, LLDP, QoS, buffering, multicast, resiliency.
• Carrier Ethernet & MEF services: E‑Line/E‑LAN/E‑Tree constructs, EPL/EVPL, bandwidth profiles, class of service, service OAM, SLA design, UNI/NNI, MEF‑aligned automation.
• Network demarcation & access: NIDs/eNIDs, CPE/uCPE, fixed & mobile access, multi‑rate GbE, optics, synchronization, timing, carrier‑grade deployment.
• Hardware & software platforms: Merchant silicon, SDK ecosystems, BSPs, embedded systems, network operating systems, APIs, telemetry, secure boot, software maintenance, component lifecycle, supply‑chain risk.
• Service assurance & automation: IEEE 802.1ag CFM, ITU‑T Y.1731, performance monitoring, fault isolation, zero‑touch provisioning, streaming telemetry, orchestration, inventory, closed‑loop assurance.
• Commercial product management: Market sizing, competitive analysis, portfolio economics, pricing, gross margin, unit cost, forecasting, business cases, channel strategy, contract/SLA implications.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in product management or product line leadership in telecom, networking, or enterprise connectivity.
• 5+ years leading teams or major portfolios.
• Proven record of launching and scaling physical networking products (e.g., Layer 2 switches, NIDs/eNIDs, access devices, routers, edge appliances) with accompanying software and services.
• Experience owning product line business plans, revenue and margin performance, pricing, roadmap investment, and lifecycle decisions.
• Technical fluency to engage with system architects and engineers on hardware, silicon, NOS/software, optics, protocols, APIs, telemetry, and deployment trade‑offs.
• Deep understanding of enterprise buyer needs, telecom operator economics, global competitive dynamics, routes to market, and standards‑based service delivery.
• Demonstrated cross‑functional influence across Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Legal, and external partners.
• Executive‑level communication and leadership skills; ability to simplify complex topics and align senior stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications, or related field; MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.

Success Metrics

• Revenue, bookings, adoption, strategic account penetration, gross margin, forecast accuracy, inventory health, and return on product investment.
• Roadmap predictability, on‑time launch, quality, certification readiness, field‑trial conversion, and lifecycle discipline.
• Service availability, SLA performance, deployment velocity, support burden, customer satisfaction, renewal/expansion.
• Team capability, decision quality, cross‑functional alignment, and development of future product leaders.

Why Join Us

• Shape the next generation of enterprise connectivity products and services from architecture through commercial scale.
• Work across the full stack—hardware, software, automation, assurance, and managed services—to solve real connectivity problems.
• Enjoy autonomy in an entrepreneurial, customer‑obsessed organization that values sound judgment, ownership, collaboration, and accountability.

Working Conditions

This is a full‑time leadership position operating in a professional office and remote‑collaboration environment. The role requires flexibility to work across global time zones and to support important customer, partner, launch, or operational matters outside standard business hours when reasonably necessary.

Travel Requirements

Ability to travel domestically and internationally, typically up to 25‑35%, with a valid passport and no material travel restrictions. Travel includes visits to offices, laboratories, manufacturing partners, data centers, and customer network sites.

Compensation

Annual salary range: $220,000 – $320,000.