Program Manager, Product Certifications

QSC is creating exceptional, people-centric experiences with the perfect balance of technology and creativity. Q-SYS, our innovative full stack audio, video and control platform, unifies data, devices and a cloud-first architecture, empowering organizations to deliver transformative AV experiences across built spaces. Building on the QSC legacy, QSC Audio delivers audio technology that empowers live entertainers and sound reinforcement professionals with the confidence to create and deliver memorable experiences for their audiences. Atrius, Distech Controls and QSC are part of the Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS) business segment. Our mission is to make spaces smarter, safer and greener through our strategy of connecting the edge with the cloud using disruptive technologies that leverage data interoperability. Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives. We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video and control platform. We focus on customer outcomes and drive growth and productivity to increase market share and deliver superior returns. We look to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals. Acuity Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is powered by approximately 13,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at Work location: This position requires on-site presence in Costa Mesa, CA, following a hybrid work model. Job Summary We are seeking a highly organized and proactive Program Manager to lead and manage product certification initiatives with key technology partners. This role is accountable for driving successful partner certifications required for official designations and approvals, enabling our products to be marketed, sold, and co-branded within partner ecosystems. The Program Manager owns the end-to-end certification lifecycle, ensuring products meet rigorous partner standards for quality, reliability, compatibility, security, and user experience. Responsibilities include planning and coordinating partner led testing, preparing devices, software, and documentation for validation, managing certification timelines aligned to go-to-market goals, and maintaining compliance as partner requirements evolve. The role requires close collaboration with internal engineering, product, QA, and go-to-market teams, as well as direct engagement with partner certification teams and authorized test labs, to ensure certifications are achieved predictably and on time.Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions) • Own and manage the end-to-end certification lifecycle for partner platforms (e.g., Microsoft, Zoom, and others).• Serve as the primary point of contact for certification programs, maintaining strong relationships with partner organizations.• Coordinate lab testing across internal and external labs, including scheduling use of internal lab resources and managing availability and engagement with external test facilities.• Prepare products for certification readiness by ensuring hardware, firmware, software, documentation, and test configurations align with published partner specifications.• Coordinate cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing, Alliances & Ecosystems, QA, Legal, Compliance) to meet certification requirements and deadlines.• Track certification statuses, requirements, renewals, and updates across multiple partners.• Interpret technical and compliance requirements and translate them into actionable plans during the early stages of product development for internal teams.• Co-lead certification engagement startup for new product categories with the Alliances team, working with partners to establish contracts, define product scope and requirements, and align on certification approach and next steps.• Identify risks and proactively resolve blockers that may impact certification timelines.• Manage certification defects, test failures, waivers, and appeals in collaboration with partners and internal teams.• Maintain documentation for certification processes, requirements, and approvals.• Drive continuous improvement in certification workflows, tools, and reporting.• Monitor partner ecosystem changes and ensure ongoing compliance with evolving standards.• Support go-to-market efforts by aligning certification milestones with product launches.• Provide clear status reporting to leadership on certification health, risks, and readiness relative to launch commitments.Skills and Minimum Experience Required 5+ years of program or project management experience, preferably in SaaS, enterprise software, or technology environments. Experience managing third-party certifications, integrations, or partner programs is strongly preferred. Experience working with platform certification programs (e.g., collaboration platforms, cloud ecosystems, or hardware/software validation programs) is highly desirable. Strong understanding of software development lifecycles and product release processes. Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex programs simultaneously. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including working with external partners. Familiarity with hardware-software integrated systems, device testing, or regulated quality validation processes is a plus. Ability to translate technical requirements into clear business processes. Experience with tools such as Jira, Asana, Smartsheet, or similar program management platforms. PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification is a plus. Engineering degree preferred. Travel Requirements 1-20% Other Key Competencies Cross-functional leadership Attention to detail and compliance rigor Strategic thinking with strong execution skills Risk management and problem-solving Clear and effective communication Comfort operating in externally governed programs with fixed standards, formal testing gates, and limited flexibility on timelines. Success Metrics Timely completion of product certifications Reduction in certification-related delays or escalations Zero missed go-to-market launches due to certification readiness gaps. Improved efficiency of certification workflows Strong partner satisfaction and relationship health Alignment of certifications with product launch timelines QSC. is owned by Acuity Inc., which is located in the United States. These companies share a global recruitment system on which the data you provide will be stored, and which will be subject to the laws of the United States of America. The range for this position is $102,000 to $184,000. Placement within this range may vary, depending on the applicant’s experience and geographic location. Acuity offers generous benefits including health care, dental coverage, vision plans, 401K benefits, and commissions/incentive compensation depending on role. For a list of our benefits, click here. We value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regards to race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, covered veteran status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Please click here and here for more information. Accommodation for Applicants with Disabilities: As an equal opportunity employer, Acuity Inc. is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need accommodation, you may contact us at View phone number on click.appcast.io, select option 4. Please clearly indicate what type of accommodation you are requesting and for what requisition. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Acuity Inc. from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to an Acuity Inc. mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Acuity Inc. employees, or to Acuity Inc. resume database will be considered Acuity Inc. property. Acuity Inc. will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Acuity Inc. will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor, but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search. E-Verify Participation Poster e-verify.gov eeoc.gov