Product Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview

The Optimization Product Manager drives the product direction, development priorities, and commercial strategy for Vericut's optimization portfolio, including Vericut Force, Vericut Optimizer, and related optimization data products and services.

This role combines technical machining expertise, product management, and business strategy to translate customer needs, industry trends, and market opportunities into innovative software solutions. Working closely with Engineering, Sales, Applications Engineering, Marketing, and customers, the Product Manager guides product development, supports go-to-market initiatives, and drives product adoption and long-term portfolio growth.

The role also contributes to emerging optimization technologies and commercial offerings, including automated workflows, AI-assisted capabilities, and Optimization as a Service (OaaS).

Key Responsibilities

Product Management & Development

• Define and maintain product requirements, specifications, workflows, acceptance criteria, and roadmap priorities for Vericut's optimization portfolio.
• Manage product direction and development priorities for Vericut Force, Vericut Optimizer, the Stock Material Catalog, and the Vericut Tool Performance Database.
• Translate customer feedback, machining workflows, technical requirements, and market insights into actionable product improvements and new capabilities.
• Collaborate with Engineering, UX, and cross-functional teams throughout the product development lifecycle, including sprint planning, testing, validation, and release readiness.
• Evaluate machining workflows to improve product accuracy, reliability, usability, performance, and automation.
• Maintain and expand optimization-related material and cutting-tool performance data to support product functionality and customer needs.
• Identify opportunities to incorporate emerging technologies, including AI-assisted capabilities, digital solutions, and automated optimization workflows.
  

Product Strategy & Commercialization

• Develop and recommend short- and long-term product strategies, including a 1–3 year roadmap aligned with business objectives, customer needs, and market opportunities.
• Evaluate market potential, commercial viability, and business cases for new product capabilities, services, and revenue opportunities, including OaaS and optimization data services.
• Recommend pricing, packaging, licensing, and subscription models to strengthen competitive positioning, drive revenue growth, and accelerate customer adoption.
• Assess market segments, customer applications, and industry opportunities to identify areas for portfolio expansion, differentiation, and commercial growth.
• Monitor competitive technologies and industry developments in CNC machining, CAM, simulation, cutting tools, and optimization.
• Conduct competitive and win/loss analyses to inform product positioning, roadmap priorities, and commercialization strategies.
• Identify and evaluate strategic partnerships with cutting-tool manufacturers, material suppliers, machine-tool builders, and CAM vendors to expand product capabilities and market reach.

Sales Enablement & Customer Engagement

• Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Applications Engineering to support product demonstrations, customer evaluations, technical inquiries, and strategic commercial opportunities.
• Develop sales enablement resources, including product presentations, ROI calculators, proof-of-value assessments, competitive comparisons, and technical documentation.
• Establish validated optimization benchmarks and measurable customer results to demonstrate product value and strengthen commercial positioning.
• Support go-to-market planning, product launches, and initiatives to increase adoption among existing and prospective Vericut customers.
• Collaborate with Applications Engineering and commercial teams to monitor product utilization, customer savings, adoption, and renewal opportunities.
• Capture customer feedback and measurable outcomes to inform product improvements, customer success stories, and case studies.
• Contribute to product release notes, training materials, Help content, technical articles, and marketing communications.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor key product and commercial performance indicators, including portfolio growth, roadmap execution, customer adoption, realized savings, and license renewals.
• Identify opportunities to improve product development processes, customer experience, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Provide recommendations to product leadership based on customer feedback, market intelligence, technical assessments, and business performance.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Manufacturing Technology, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in CNC programming, machining, or closely related manufacturing applications.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in technology, engineering, product development, or a related technical field.
• Experience collaborating with technical stakeholders to define software requirements, evaluate workflows, or support product development.

Requirements

• Strong understanding of CNC machining processes, cutting-tool geometry, and machining performance parameters, including chip thickness, feeds, speeds, cutting forces, and tool deflection.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts and customer requirements into clear product specifications and actionable recommendations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and technical documentation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with AI-enabled productivity tools.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across technical, commercial, and customer-facing teams.
• Ability to travel approximately 20–25%, including internationally, as business needs require.
• Ability to meet applicable export-control requirements for access to controlled technical information, including information subject to ITAR and EAR regulations, as well as customer sites.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Vericut or comparable NC simulation, verification, or optimization software.
• Familiarity with physics-based cutting-force modeling, machining optimization, or advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Experience in software product management, product lifecycle management, or commercial product strategy.
• Experience with UX research, user-centered design, or workflow evaluation for technical and industrial applications.
• Experience working directly with industrial customers, field engineering teams, or technical sales organizations.
• Exposure to product commercialization, pricing strategies, market analysis, or sales enablement initiatives.

Employee Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance for employees
• 401(k) plan with 50% company match
• 17 days of PTO per year
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Parental leave for up to 14 weeks
• Life insurance

Compensation Details

Factors that may affect starting pay within the applicable range include geography/market, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

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