Senior Product Manager (Hardware)

About Us

Sunco is one of the largest and fastest-growing online lighting retailers in the U.S., headquartered in sunny Valencia, CA. We specialize in energy-efficient LED lighting, delivering top-tier solutions with a commitment to quality, value, and customer care. Our mission is to provide unbeatable service and eco-conscious impact for home renovations and large-scale commercial projects alike.

About the Role

The Senior Product Manager will define and drive the strategic direction of our product portfolio. This role requires collaboration with cross-functional teams—including design, engineering, sales, and marketing—to ensure our lighting products align with market trends, customer needs, and company objectives. The ideal candidate is a strategic, innovative thinker with strong leadership skills and a passion for creating exceptional products.

Responsibilities

• Define product vision and positioning, shaping a multi-year roadmap aligned with market trends (e.g., human-centric lighting, IoT smart controls, energy efficiency) and company goals.
• Prioritize product features, enhancements, and new releases based on ROI, technical feasibility, and competitive landscape.
• Develop business cases, including financial models (TCO, NPV, margin analysis), and secure executive approval for new product lines or major upgrades.
• Conduct market research to track regulations (e.g., Title 24, DLC listings), standards (e.g., ANSI, UL), and emerging technologies (solid-state lighting, Li-Fi).
• Serve as the voice of the customer by conducting interviews, surveys, and field visits with architects, electrical contractors, distributors, and end users to uncover pain points and needs.
• Perform competitive analysis to monitor competitor portfolios on specs, pricing, and channel strategies, using findings to inform product differentiation.
• Translate customer needs into detailed product requirements (optical performance, color rendering index, lumen output, IP rating, dimming protocols).
• Lead Agile execution, including sprint planning, backlog grooming, acceptance criteria, and user story refinement with R&D, mechanical, and firmware engineering teams.
• Collaborate with industrial designers to balance form-factor, thermal management, manufacturability, and cost targets.
• Develop cost-plus and value-based pricing models; define SKU configurations and accessory bundles.
• Monitor revenues, backlog levels, and market share by region/segment; adjust plans accordingly.
• Own post-launch support, including warranty analysis, failure mode trends, and voice-of-field feedback; work with quality and service teams to resolve issues.
• Manage end-of-life planning, including obsolescence, inventory burn-down, and migration path communications for customers.
• Ensure products meet all required safety and performance certifications (e.g., UL 1598, CE, RoHS, DLC).
• Communicate roadmap progress, P&L impact, and go-to-market results to senior leadership.
• Engage with key suppliers (LED chip manufacturers, drivers, optics partners) to secure roadmaps and cost advantages.
• Coach and mentor associate product managers; foster best practices in user-centered design and market analysis.
• Leverage AI technologies to accelerate product development and overall product category growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field required; MBA is a plus.
• Prior experience in the lighting industry and/or building and construction sectors is strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of managing multiple high-impact projects and shifting priorities while meeting critical deadlines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities, with strong interpersonal skills to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex data and drive strategic decision-making.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to navigate fast-paced environments and align diverse teams toward shared goals.
• Deep understanding of customer needs and market dynamics, with a demonstrated ability to translate insights into actionable product strategies that drive growth and engagement.

Pay

$120,000 annually, plus a 20% annual bonus tied to product category performance.