Bitzer US Product Manager

Reports to: Vice President of Engineering

Status: Full time

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00AM-5:00PM

Summary: The Product Manager is responsible for overseeing a diverse portfolio of HVAC/R and electro-mechanical products for the North American market, including compressors, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, and value-added assemblies. This role serves as a key liaison between Engineering, Operations, Sales, Marketing, Sourcing, and global BITZER teams to ensure products meet market, technical, and operational requirements. The Product Manager leads product lifecycle activities from concept through launch, maintenance, and sunset using a structured stage/gate process. Success in this role requires strong technical aptitude, cross-functional coordination, and market awareness. This position is based at the BITZER US factory in Flowery Branch, GA, with up to 20% travel.

Duties & Tasks:

• Manage the full lifecycle of assigned product lines, from concept, development, and launch through ongoing support and phase-out.
• Maintain and update the North American product roadmap, including new product development, enhancements, and product sunsets.
• Lead and facilitate cross-functional stage/gate meetings, ensuring alignment, approvals, and completion of deliverables.
• Coordinate with Engineering to define product requirements and review technical specifications, drawings, and engineering changes.
• Identify opportunities to improve product performance, cost, quality, or customer value within the existing portfolio.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis, including gathering customer feedback, regulatory impacts, and competitor benchmarking.
• Support product launches and sunsets by coordinating forecasting, inventory strategies, production readiness, and operational planning.
• Develop and support product documentation, catalogs, training materials, and sales tools such as battlecards.
• Train and support internal teams (Sales, Engineering, Operations) and customers on new and existing products.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Product Management: Ability to manage multiple product lines across different lifecycle stages with structured processes.
• Technical Aptitude: Strong technical understanding with the ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and product data.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with engineering, operations, sales, marketing, sourcing, and global teams.
• Project Coordination: Strong organizational skills to track deliverables, risks, timelines, and action items through stage/gate processes.
• Market & Customer Insight: Ability to translate customer needs, market trends, and regulatory requirements into product requirements.
• Communication Skills: Clear written and verbal communication skills for internal stakeholders, leadership, and customers.

Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business, Product Management, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Preferred Education/Certification: Technical background strongly preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 2–5 years of experience in product management, project coordination, engineering, or manufacturing.
• Preferred Experience: Experience in HVAC/R, electro-mechanical systems, ERP systems, database management, and NPD/PLM processes.
• Knowledge Requirement: Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with thermodynamics, heat transfer, HVAC/R systems, fluid mechanics, and materials is a plus.

Work Environment:

• Occasional exposure to factory floor conditions including noise, machinery, and moving equipment.
• Standard PPE required when entering production areas (e.g., safety glasses, steel-toe shoes, hearing protection as applicable).
• Up to 20% domestic travel may be required.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods throughout the workday.
• Occasional bending, reaching, and lifting of light materials related to product samples or documentation.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally