Technical Product Manager

Job Description: Technical Product Manager 

Location: 5550 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, CA, 95066 

On-site 

Skills: Technical problem solving; Verbal & written communication; Team management 

Digital Dynamics is a fast-growing provider of safety rated control solutions for mission critical OEM process machinery.  We are seeking a skilled, experienced Technical Product Manager to join our team. The position is a foundational opening in response to DDI’s rapid growth to meet market needs.  The ideal candidate will have a passion for establishing a competitive technical edge, with proven experience in successful product launch and product management. 

Responsibilities: 

• Be the point person for the strategic product planning process to maintain competitiveness and increase market reach 

• Contribute to and manage the requirements definition process for new products in collaboration with sales, marketing and engineering. 

• Curate and manage product roadmaps to maintain competitive edge, capturing and documenting input from customers, marketing and engineering stakeholders. 

• Support cross-functional management of the product development process from conception through go-to-market. 

• Participate in the product development process to ensure technical and commercial requirements are aligned with market needs & wants. 

• Develop and maintain interactive working relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, partners, and vendors 

• Research and report on industry technology trends for served markets 

• Lead the creation of technical manuals, application notes, and product announcements. 

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering or related technology field 

• 10+ years of experience in engineering and product management 

• Proven track record of success in building & leading a focused, success-oriented team  

• Strong technical background with understanding of product development processes 

• Aptitude to leverage CRM, ERP and PLM software systems 

• Excellent communication and presentation skills 

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic & competitive market environment 

• Goal oriented and willing to take on new responsibilities as the company grows 

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills 

• Domestic and international travel is required. 

Digital Dynamics, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  

This document provides a detailed job description for the position of Technical Product Manager at Digital Dynamics, located on-site in Scotts Valley, California. It outlines the skills required, responsibilities, and qualifications necessary for the role. 

Position Overview 

The Technical Product Manager role is a foundational position created in response to the rapid growth of Digital Dynamics, a company specializing in safety-rated control solutions for mission-critical OEM process machinery. The ideal candidate is expected to have a passion for gaining a competitive technical edge and a proven track record in successful product launches and management. 

Required Skills 

Key skills emphasized for this role include: 

• Technical problem solving 

• Verbal and written communication 

• Team management  

Responsibilities 

The Technical Product Manager will be responsible for: 

• Leading strategic product planning to maintain competitiveness and expand market reach. 

• Collaborating with sales, marketing, and engineering teams to define requirements for new products. 

• Managing and curating product roadmaps by incorporating feedback from customers and stakeholders. 

• Supporting cross-functional management throughout the product development lifecycle, from conception to go-to-market. 

• Ensuring alignment of technical and commercial requirements with market needs. 

• Building and maintaining interactive relationships with customers, partners, and vendors. 

• Perform research and reporting on industry technology trends relevant to served markets. 

• Leading the creation of technical documentation such as manuals, application notes, and product announcements. 

Requirements 

Candidates must meet the following criteria: 

• Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering or a related technology field. 

• Have over 10 years of experience in engineering and product management. 

• Demonstrate a proven ability to build and lead focused, success-oriented teams. 

• Possess a strong technical background with an understanding of product development processes. 

• Be adept at using CRM, ERP, and PLM software systems. 

• Exhibit excellent communication and presentation skills. 

• Thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and competitive market environment. 

• Be goal-oriented and ready to take on new responsibilities as the company grows. 

• Display strong problem-solving and analytical skills. 

• Be willing to travel domestically and internationally . 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

Digital Dynamics, Inc. is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer . 

Answers to HR Questions to clarify the role: 

1. Core outcomes this role owns vs. influences 

Owns: 

• Product vision and strategy for safety-rated I/O controllers 

• Customer and market requirements (voice of customer, standards, competitive analysis) 

• Product roadmap and prioritization aligned to business and compliance goals 

• Product requirements (PRDs, safety requirements, use cases, constraints) 

• Go-to-market readiness from a product perspective (positioning, differentiation, feature clarity) 

Influences: 

• Detailed technical architecture and implementation approach 

• Engineering execution timelines and resourcing 

• Sales strategy and pricing (input, not ownership) 

• Manufacturing, certification, and quality processes (alignment, not direct ownership)  

2. Roadmap ownership 

This role owns the product roadmap end-to-end. 

Engineering leadership owns how and when features are built; the Product Manager owns what, why, and priority. Roadmap decisions are made collaboratively but are product-led.  

3. Pure product vs. hybrid engineering role 

This is a technical product role, not an engineering execution role. 

The Product Manager must be technically fluent in functional safety (SIL, IEC standards, safety lifecycles) but does not perform ongoing engineering design, coding, or detailed implementation.  

4. People management 

Initially, this is a senior individual contributor role. 

No direct people management is required at hire, though mentoring and cross-functional leadership are expected.  

5. Clear handoffs between Product and Engineering 

• Product: Defines market needs, safety requirements, product scope, acceptance criteria, and priority 

• Engineering: Owns technical design, implementation, verification, validation, and delivery 

• Handoff point: A well-defined, approved product requirements package (including safety requirements) before development begins 

• Ongoing collaboration: Change control, tradeoff discussions, and risk assessment remain joint, but accountability is not shared  

6. How success is measured 

Primary success metrics: 

• Clarity and quality of the roadmap 

• Strength of market fit and customer alignment 

• Regulatory and safety requirements correctly captured and prioritized 

Secondary metrics: 

• Predictability and smoothness of delivery (via strong requirements, not direct execution) 

• Reduced rework due to clearer product definition 

7. Growth path of the role 

As the company scales, this role is expected to grow into broader product leadership (e.g., Principal PM or Head of Product for safety systems). 

In the near term, the focus remains on deep ownership of the safety I/O product line rather than managing a portfolio or team.