Senior Product Manager - Data Center Controls Solutions

Role Description

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025! Daikin Applied is seeking a Senior Product Manager – Data Center Controls Solutions who is responsible for defining, developing, and executing the product and portfolio strategy for Daikin Applied's Data Center Controls Solutions offerings.

This role serves as the primary liaison between the Data Center Corporate Team, Controls & Solutions business, Global engineering, digital services, sales, marketing, and external partners to deliver innovative solutions that drive customer value and profitable growth.

The successful candidate will own the vision and roadmap for data center controls solutions offerings, encompassing the controls ecosystem, software, analytics, connectivity, monitoring, optimization, and emerging digital solutions.

This individual will lead new product introductions (NPIs), develop go-to-market strategies, identify growth opportunities, and serve as the subject matter expert who orchestrates cross-functional stakeholders to successfully deliver market-leading solutions for hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and edge data center customers.

This role will lead the development and execution of the Data Center Controls Solutions portfolio strategy, ensuring alignment between customer requirements, corporate growth objectives, and technology roadmaps.

Location: San Diego, CA, Plymouth, MN, Phoenix, AZ

What you will do:

• Own and execute the portfolio strategy and long-term roadmap for Data Center Controls Solutions, aligning with Daikin Applied's growth objectives and data center market strategy.
• Serve as the primary product management interface with the Data Center Corporate Team to identify market opportunities, customer needs, technology trends, and competitive threats.
• Define solution requirements spanning building controls, equipment controls, automation platforms, digital services, analytics, cloud connectivity, monitoring, optimization, cybersecurity, and AI-enabled capabilities.
• Lead the product lifecycle from concept development through launch, commercialization, growth, and end-of-life management.
• Develop business cases, market assessments, customer value propositions, pricing strategies, and revenue forecasts for new offerings.
• Drive New Product Introduction (NPI) activities by coordinating engineering, digital, manufacturing, operations, service, sales, marketing, and external technology partners.
• Develop and execute comprehensive go-to-market strategies, including positioning, messaging, sales enablement, launch plans, and channel engagement.
• Act as the subject matter expert for data center controls and digital solutions, supporting strategic customer engagements, industry events, sales pursuits, and executive-level customer discussions.
• Analyze market trends, competitive offerings, customer feedback, and industry developments to guide portfolio investment decisions.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with third-party technology vendors, cloud providers, software partners, and ecosystem participants to expand solution capabilities.
• Monitor portfolio performance, profitability, adoption metrics, and customer satisfaction, recommending actions to optimize business results.
• Collaborate with sales and service organizations to identify growth opportunities and improve customer experiences across the product lifecycle.
• Support strategic planning activities, including annual operating plans, growth initiatives, portfolio reviews, and investment prioritization.
• Influence cross-functional teams without direct authority and ensure alignment of objectives across multiple organizations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university in Engineering: Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Building Automation Systems or related technical discipline.
• 6 to 8 years in product management, Building Automation, Controls, Data Center Infrastructure, HVAC Systems, Digital Services, Software Solutions, or related technologies.
• 5+ years in product management leadership within controls, software, digital services, cloud-connected solutions, or mission-critical infrastructure markets.
• Demonstrated success leading product strategy and managing profitable technology portfolios.
• Strong understanding of Building Automation Systems (BAS), HVAC Controls, equipment controls, and integrated solutions architectures.
• Knowledge of mission-critical data center environments and their operational requirements.
• Experience leading product lifecycle management and New Product Introduction (NPI) programs.
• Ability to develop business cases, perform market assessments, and define product investment strategies.
• Strong understanding of customer requirements analysis, product road mapping, and commercialization.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and executive communication skills.
• Strong analytical, financial, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment in a highly matrixed organization.
• Proven ability to manage multiple initiatives and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel approximately 20–30%.
• Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years experience serving Data Center, Mission-Critical, or Building Technologies markets.
• Experience with data center cooling, controls architectures, thermal management systems, and mission-critical infrastructure.
• Knowledge of cloud-connected platforms, IoT architecture, analytics, AI/ML applications, and digital services.
• Experience with hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, edge, or AI-focused data center environments.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity requirements and connected building technologies.
• Experience working with software vendors, cloud providers, technology alliances, and strategic partners.
• Experience launching software, SaaS, analytics, optimization, monitoring, or digital service offerings.
• MBA or advanced business training.
• Experience developing and executing vertical market strategies.
• Strong understanding of GTM planning, channel engagement, sales enablement, and value proposition development.

Benefits

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance.
• 401K retirement plan with employer contributions matching 100% of the first 3% of employee contributions and 50% on the next 2% of employee contributions.
• Company provided life insurance + optional employee paid voluntary life insurance, dependent life coverage and voluntary accident coverage.
• Short term and long-term disability.
• 3 weeks of paid time off for new employees + 11 company paid holidays.
• Vacation accrues on a monthly basis, unless applicable federal, state and local law requires a faster accrual.
• Paid sick time in accordance of the federal, state and local law.
• Paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service.
• The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $113,800K - $193,900K + up to a potential 20% bonus in MN.