Capgemini Invent / Synapse - Sr. Hardware Innovation & Strategy Manager

Capgemini Invent / Synapse - Sr. Hardware Innovation & Strategy Manager

At Capgemini Invent, we believe difference drives change. As inventive transformation consultants, we blend our strategic, creative and scientific capabilities, collaborating closely with clients to deliver cutting-edge solutions. Join us to drive transformation tailored to our client's challenges of today and tomorrow. Informed and validated by science and data. Superpowered by creativity and design. All underpinned by technology created with purpose.

Synapse, a part of Capgemini Invent, is a product development consultancy working with the world's most ambitious companies to envision, create, and launch breakthrough AI-powered intelligent products. Sitting at the intersection of hardware, embedded systems, and AI, we specialize in engineering-led innovation that transforms business and unlocks entirely new market categories.

Join an innovation team based in the heart of Silicon Valley at Capgemini's global innovation hub, Mission Rock. We bring new human-centered products to market through close collaboration across three capability units: Synapse, frog, and AIE.

Product Innovation & Strategy at Synapse:

The Product Innovation & Strategy team builds business value by connecting user needs, market trends, and client goals. We identify unmet customer needs and competitive opportunities, developing innovative and implementable product ideas. Our reason for being is to deliver a strategy that "ships," with a particular focus on AI-driven and hardware-enabled innovation.

We work upstream in the product development lifecycle, framing opportunities through research, user insights, stakeholder alignment, and competitive analysis while maintaining line of sight to what is actually possible. We design and facilitate workshops to generate and evaluate early-stage concepts followed by multidisciplinary refinement, proofs of concept, and rapid prototyping. We prioritize the most promising ideas and assess them across user desirability, technical feasibility, sustainability, and business viability. Once vetted, we collaborate with engineering and other teams to further define, de-risk, and translate concepts into product requirements, design and engineering timelines, and product roadmaps, supporting development through manufacturing readiness.

Your Role

As a Hardware Innovation & Strategy Manager, you will play a pivotal role in guiding clients through the early stages of hardware product development - from ideation to impact.

Opportunity Framing & Concept Development

• Lead client engagements focused on identifying new product and service opportunities across AI and physical technologies.

• Conduct market research, trend analysis, and competitive benchmarking to uncover strategic opportunity areas.

• Lead client interviews to identify business goals, pain points, and unmet user needs.

• Facilitate ideation workshops to co-create innovative product and service concepts.

• Develop and downselect product concepts using our desirability-feasibility-sustainability-viability framework.

• Visualize and communicate ideas using customer journey maps, service blueprints, and value proposition canvases.

• Develop GTM strategies and monetization models aligned with market and business dynamics.

Cross-Collaboration & Execution

• Collaborate with UX, Engineering, Project Management, Supply Chain, and Sustainability to refine and de-risk concepts.

• Design and lead early-stage validation sprints, including assumption mapping, customer testing, and feedback loops to shape MVP direction.

• Work with project managers to create actionable plans for transition into prototyping and product development.

• Develop roadmaps for future products and features.

• Provide strategic support throughout the product lifecycle, from concept to market.

Commercial Development

• Support new client pitches and proposals and contribute to thought leadership to grow our reputation and brand awareness in this space.

• Support development of our commercial growth strategies to connect with new clients in need of this capability.

Qualifications & Experience

We would love to see a candidate with:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Design, or a related field; Masters degree (MBA, Master's in Design Strategy) is a plus.

• 7+ years of experience in strategy consulting, corporate innovation, product management, product marketing, design research, or a related field.

• Proven experience leading ideation and innovation processes with a track record of identifying successful new opportunities.

• Excellent facilitation and storytelling skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders from C-suite to technical teams.

• Demonstrated experience in market research, competitive analysis, and GTM strategy.

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear strategies and product concepts.

• Proficiency in innovation tools and methodologies, such as design thinking, Lean Startup, and agile frameworks.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with strategy, design, and engineering teams in a fast-paced environment.

• A passion for technology and innovation in the AI-powered physical product space.

• Experience with sustainable product design is a plus.

• To better understand your thinking and approach, we ask that candidates share a portfolio of past work as part of the interview process.

• Travel is required per 50-75% dependent on client need.

What You'll Love About Working Here?

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Build a network within the Capgemini Group and contribute to the education of other Business Units around practice offerings to support existing account expansion

• Play a significant role in client proposals and RFI/RFP responses from initial brief to final sales presentations

• Nurture and expand existing account relationships

• Identify potential personal business relationships that can be leveraged by the practice to develop new business

• Identify potential project extension and expansion opportunities while staffed on projects

• Support the development of thought leadership and innovative offerings as they relate to AI/Data Science, Digital Customer Analytics, and Operational Analytics.

• Support the upskilling of the team members on topics related to Data & Analytics

The base compensation range for this role in the posted location is:$135,900to$265,880

Capgemini provides compensation range information in accordance with applicable national, state, provincial, and local pay transparency laws. The base compensation range listed for this position reflects the minimum and maximum target compensation Capgemini, in good faith, believes it may pay for the role at the time of this posting. This range may be subject to change as permitted by law.

The actual compensation offered to any candidate may fall outside of the posted range and will be determined based on multiple factors legally permitted in the applicable jurisdiction.

These may include, but are not limited to: Geographic location, Education and qualifications, Certifications and licenses, Relevant experience and skills, Seniority and performance, Market and business consideration, Internal pay equity.

It is not typical for candidates to be hired at or near the top of the posted compensation range.

In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for additional compensation such as variable incentives, bonuses, or commissions, depending on the position and applicable laws.

Capgemini offers a comprehensive, non-negotiable benefits package to all regular, full-time employees. In the U.S. and Canada, available benefits are determined by local policy and eligibility and may include:

• Paid time off based on employee grade (A-F), defined by policy: Vacation: 12-25 days, depending on grade, Company paid holidays, Personal Days, Sick Leave

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage (or provincial healthcare coordination in Canada)

• Retirement savings plans (e.g., 401(k) in the U.S., RRSP in Canada)

• Life and disability insurance

• Employee assistance programs

• Other benefits as provided by local policy and eligibility

Important Notice: Compensation (including bonuses, commissions, or other forms of incentive pay) is not considered earned, vested, or payable until it becomes due under the terms of applicable plans or agreements and is subject to Capgemini's discretion, consistent with applicable laws. The Company reserves the right to amend or withdraw compensation programs at any time, within the limits of applicable legislation.

Disclaimers

Capgemini is an Equal Opportunity Employer encouraging inclusion in the workplace. Capgemini also participates in the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) program which supports meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities across Canada by promoting fairness, accessibility, inclusion and respect. We value the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Indigenous Peoples and actively work to create a welcoming and respectful environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender identity/expression, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law.

This is a general description of the Duties, Responsibilities and Qualifications required for this position. Physical, mental, sensory or environmental demands may be referenced in an attempt to communicate the manner in which this position traditionally is performed. Whenever necessary to provide individuals with disabilities an equal employment opportunity, Capgemini will consider reasonable accommodations that might involve varying job requirements and/or changing the way this job is performed, provided that such accommodation does not pose an undue hardship. Capgemini is committed to providing reasonable accommodation during our recruitment process. If you need assistance or accommodation, please reach out to your recruiting contact.

Please be aware that Capgemini may capture your image (video or screenshot) during the interview process and that image may be used for verification, including during the hiring and onboarding process.

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Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem.

Ref. code: 384735

Posted on: Apr 28, 2026

Experience Level: Experienced Professionals

Contract Type: Permanent

Location:

San Francisco, CA, US

Brand: Capgemini Invent

Professional Community: Strategy & Transformation

Capgemini is an Equal Opportunity Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender identity/expression, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law.