Product Development Manager

Apollo Technical has an immediate need for a Product Development Manager in the Atlanta GA area.

The Product Development Manager leads end-to-end execution of new and improved consumer products, translating market and customer requirements into commercially successful, manufacturable solutions. This role partners closely with Marketing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Commercial teams to manage development programs and ensure products meet performance, cost, quality, compliance, and timing objectives.

This is a key leadership role within a growing organization, with the opportunity to help build and scale the product development function over time.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development Leadership

• Lead cross-functional product development teams — Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Marketing — from concept through launch.
• Translate product requirements into clear specifications, development plans, and execution milestones.
• Ensure design solutions meet functional, regulatory, cost, manufacturability, and quality requirements.
• Manage the stage-gate process and project management tools.
• Monitor post-launch performance and lead product improvements.

Technical Oversight, Quality Assurance & Product Compliance

• Collaborate with Engineering to guide technical development, design tradeoffs, testing, and validation.
• Review designs for performance, safety, usability, and reliability.
• Ensure all products meet applicable safety, regulatory, and compliance standards.
• Establish and maintain product quality requirements, validation plans, and testing protocols.
• Lead risk assessments (e.g., DFMEA/PFMEA) and ensure mitigation strategies are implemented.
• Support audit readiness, documentation, and certification processes.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to product quality and field performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with Supply Chain and Manufacturing to ensure products are scalable, cost-effective, and aligned with sourcing strategies.
• Support supplier selection, tooling decisions, and make/buy analysis.
• Drive cost reduction, value engineering, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Project & Stakeholder Management

• Manage timelines, budgets, and risks across multiple development programs.
• Communicate progress, issues, and decisions to leadership.
• Resolve tradeoffs between performance, cost, schedule, quality, and customer needs.

Team & Function Development

• Contribute to building and scaling product development processes, tools, and best practices.
• Support the development of a high-performing, cross-functional product organization.
• As the company grows, this role may expand to include direct team leadership and management of internal and external development resources.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field required.
• MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.

Experience

• 7 years of experience in product development, product management, or engineering within consumer or durable goods.
• Proven track record leading cross-functional teams through full product development cycles.
• Experience working with manufacturing, quality systems, and global supply chains.
• Familiarity with regulatory standards, product compliance, and quality assurance processes.
• Demonstrated success launching consumer products.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of consumer products, engineering design, manufacturing processes, and quality systems.
• Business-minded with experience supporting cost and margin objectives.
• Excellent cross-functional leadership and communication skills.
• Structured problem solver with the ability to balance technical, quality, and commercial tradeoffs.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, ambiguous, and high-growth environments.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience with stage-gate or agile product development processes.
• Knowledge of regulatory and safety standards relevant to consumer products.
• Experience implementing or working within a quality management system (QMS).
• Strong collaborative style with the ability to influence without authority.
• Understanding of global manufacturing and supply chains.

What You’ll Work On

• Next-generation safety knife platforms and modular systems.
• Advanced safety mechanisms and ergonomic innovations.
• Innovation pipelines that define future product categories.
• New product development that drives meaningful business growth.

What You’ll Gain

• The ability to shape long-term product strategy and innovation direction.
• Experience managing a cross-functional team with broad scope and ownership.

Direct impact on products that improve real-world safety and performance.