Product Development Manager
Nimble
- Costa Mesa, California, United States
- Costa Mesa, California, United States
Über
Nimble is looking for a Senior Product Development Manager (Sr. PDM) to drive the end-to-end development of our premium mobile phone accessories. This role is the operational backbone of product execution—partnering closely with the Product Manager to translate product vision into reality by managing development timelines, supplier relationships, and cross-functional coordination across our Asia-based supply chain.
The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic, fast-moving environment where the development path is never a straight line. At Nimble, being nimble isn’t just our name—it’s how we operate. The Sr. PDM must be a savvy leader and proactive problem solver who is resourceful and creative at utilizing available resources to overcome obstacles, mitigate risks, and keep programs running smoothly to achieve business goals.
This is a high-impact role with direct influence on product quality, cost, schedule, and ultimately Nimble’s success in the market.
Key ResponsibilitiesProduct Development Execution
* Drive the full product development lifecycle from engineering validation (EVT) through design validation (DVT), production validation (PVT), and mass production (MP).
* Partner with the Product Manager to ensure products are developed on time, on budget, and in full adherence to technical specifications and business requirements.
* Own the development schedule and proactively identify risks, develop contingency plans, and drive resolution to keep programs on track.
* Manage multiple concurrent development programs across different product categories and technology platforms.
Supplier & Factory Management
* Serve as the primary point of contact with Asia-based suppliers, contract manufacturers, and technology partners.
* Coordinate directly with factories in China and across Asia to manage tooling, samples, engineering changes, quality issues, and production timelines.
* Build and maintain strong supplier relationships that foster collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
* Conduct supplier evaluations and drive sourcing decisions in partnership with operations and engineering teams.
* Travel to Asia as needed for factory audits, development milestones, and supplier alignment meetings.
Certifications & Regulatory Compliance
* Manage the certification process for all applicable technical and regulatory standards (e.g., MFi, Qi, USB-IF, FCC, UL, CE, RoHS, REACH).
* Coordinate testing schedules with third-party labs and ensure products meet all compliance requirements prior to launch.
* Stay current on evolving certification requirements and proactively communicate impacts to development timelines and product specifications.
Cross-Functional Coordination & Communication
* Work closely with the Nimble China-based team to ensure seamless day-to-day coordination on development activities.
* Provide clear, frequent, and structured project status updates to internal management, including development milestones, risks, budget tracking, and timeline changes.
* Communicate effectively with both suppliers and internal stakeholders, translating technical details into actionable business insights.
* Collaborate with Product Management, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Quality to ensure all cross-functional requirements are captured and addressed in development.
Problem Solving & Risk Mitigation
* Be a proactive, hands-on problem solver who anticipates issues before they escalate and drives creative solutions to keep programs moving forward.
* Identify and mitigate technical, schedule, cost, and quality risks across the development lifecycle.
* Demonstrate resourcefulness in leveraging internal and external resources to overcome unexpected challenges.
* Maintain a solutions-oriented mindset in a fast-paced environment where priorities and requirements can shift quickly.
Budget & Business Oversight
* Track and manage product development budgets, including tooling costs, sample expenses, certification fees, and BOM targets.
* Partner with the Product Manager to ensure development decisions align with margin targets and overall business case requirements.
* Flag cost risks early and recommend value-engineering alternatives without compromising product quality or performance.
Required Qualifications
* Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial), or a related technical field.
* 7+ years of product development experience in consumer electronics, mobile accessories, or a closely related hardware industry.
* Proven track record of developing and launching consumer electronics products from concept through mass production.
* Extensive experience working directly with Asia-based suppliers, factories, and contract manufacturers.
* Deep familiarity with technical and regulatory certifications (MFi, Qi, USB-IF, FCC, UL, CE, etc.).
* Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while meeting schedule, cost, and quality targets.
* Strong business acumen with the ability to balance technical decisions against budget and margin requirements.
* Excellent communication skills—able to provide clear and structured project updates to both internal leadership and external partners.
* Proactive problem solver with a resourceful, creative approach to overcoming development challenges.
* Comfortable working across time zones and adapting to the pace of a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.
* Willingness to travel to Asia (estimated 15–25% travel).
Preferred Qualifications
* Fluency in Chinese (Mandarin)—written and verbal—is strongly desired. Ability to communicate directly with suppliers and the Nimble China team in Chinese is a significant advantage.
* MBA or advanced degree in a technical or business discipline.
* Experience with premium or branded consumer electronics accessories (cases, chargers, cables, power banks, audio, etc.).
* Familiarity with Apple MFi, Samsung, and Google ecosystem certification programs.
* Experience with quality management systems (ISO 9001) and manufacturing process optimization.
* Working knowledge of tooling, injection molding, PCBA, and related manufacturing processes.
* Prior experience coordinating with a distributed team across the US and Asia.
Pay: $108,982.77 - $131,248.06 per year
Benefits:
* 401(k)
* Dental insurance
* Health insurance
* Paid time off
* Relocation assistance
Work Location: In person
Sprachkenntnisse
- English
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