Head of Product Innovation

Job Description DMF Lighting is an architectural lighting company headquartered in Carson, CA. We design and manufacture premium downlighting and linear lighting solutions sold in commercial and residential sales channels. Our products are specified into some of the most architecturally demanding commercial and residential projects in the country, and we take pride in delivering performance, reliability, and design excellence to every project.

This is a high-impact, cross-functional role that sits at the intersection of market insight, engineering collaboration, and commercial performance. You will be responsible for the full product lifecycle — from identifying market opportunities and building requirements, to guiding engineering through development, and ensuring the product lands successfully in the market. The ideal candidate brings a technical foundation (engineering degree preferred), an understanding of the architectural lighting market, and the confidence to engage directly with specifiers, electricians, custom integrators, and end customers in the field.

Market Intelligence & Strategy
Conduct ongoing competitive analysis across DMF's downlight category; Partner with sales and field teams on customer visits and sales calls to develop deep firsthand understanding of market needs, pain points, and unmet opportunities
LEDucation, Lightapalooza, CEDIA Expo) to track industry trends, competitive positioning, and emerging customer demands
Translate market insights into formal Market Requirements Documents (MRDs) that ground product decisions in validated customer and channel data
Monitor sell-through and sales velocity data by SKU to identify portfolio gaps, underperformers, and growth opportunities

Product Development & Engineering Collaboration
Own the development and maintenance of Product Requirements Documents (PRDs) that clearly specify functional, performance, and regulatory requirements for new and updated downlight products
Serve as the primary product voice throughout DMF's gate-based development process, ensuring engineering efforts remain anchored to market needs at every stage
Collaborate closely with engineering to evaluate design trade-offs, resolve specification questions, and make timely decisions that keep development on track
Travel to customer job sites alongside engineering to diagnose and resolve field issues that exceed the installer’s ability to troubleshoot independently
Product Lifecycle Management
Own the full product lifecycle from concept through end-of-life, including roadmap prioritization, SKU rationalization, product transitions, and discontinuation planning
Manage pricing strategy in partnership with sales and finance, including new product pricing and lifecycle price adjustments
Define and track key product KPIs including revenue, margin, attach rates, and customer satisfaction indicators

Partner with the DMF marketing team to develop launch materials including product briefs, sell sheets, installation guides, specification sheets, and training content
Identify channel education opportunities and support the development of content that helps customers confidently specify and install DMF downlight products
Coordinate product launches across internal stakeholders (engineering, operations, sales, marketing) to ensure readiness across all functions at time of release

Work with operations and supply chain to ensure product availability, manage lead times, and communicate EOL transitions with sufficient runway for channel partners
Serve as the internal subject matter expert for the downlight portfolio, fielding technical and strategic questions from sales, marketing, and executive leadership
Maintain accurate product documentation and ensure internal systems (ERP, PLM) reflect current product status throughout the lifecycle
Gather and synthesize feedback from dealer advisory interactions, field sales, and customer support to continuously refine product strategy

Bachelor's degree required; engineering degree (Electrical, Mechanical, or related) strongly preferred

• 5+ years of product management experience in the lighting (preferred) or building controls/automation industry
• Demonstrated ability to translate market and customer insights into actionable product requirements
• comfortable working with engineering, sales, operations, and marketing
• Proficiency with structured product development processes (stage-gate or equivalent)
• Willingness and ability to travel — tradeshows, customer visits, and field problem-solving trips are an active part of this role (estimated 20–30% travel)
• Experience with commercial lighting/controls specification process

Experience with luxury residential or custom integration channel (CEDIA ecosystem, lighting designers, custom integrators)
Experience managing hardware products through full development cycles including NPI, FAI, and pilot builds
Exposure to competitive intelligence methodologies and portfolio analytics

The opportunity to shape the product direction of a growing, design-forward lighting brand
Headquarters based in Carson, CA with access to our engineering and operations teams
\nCompany Description DMF Lighting designs and builds industry-leading LED downlighting that sets the standard for flexibility, performance, and quality. Founded over 30 years ago, DMF has grown into a leader in the lighting industry, driven by a passion for innovation and customer service.
Our in-house engineers constantly push the boundaries of lighting, delivering products that combine exceptional performance with beautiful design. At DMF, we believe in a collaborative, forward-thinking culture that empowers our team to bring creative ideas to life and make a lasting impact. DMF Lighting designs and builds industry-leading LED downlighting that sets the standard for flexibility, performance, and quality. Founded over 30 years ago, DMF has grown into a leader in the lighting industry, driven by a passion for innovation and customer service.\r\nOur in-house engineers constantly push the boundaries of lighting, delivering products that combine exceptional performance with beautiful design. At DMF, we believe in a collaborative, forward-thinking culture that empowers our team to bring creative ideas to life and make a lasting impact. If you’re looking for a company where creativity and innovation are part of the DNA, DMF is the place for you.\r\n\r\n\r\nDMF Lighting is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.