Technical Product Development Manager

Role: Technical Product Development Manager - Consumer Electronic Products

Location: Hemel Hempstead - this is an office-based role.

Salary: Up to £55,000 + Benefits

KO2's client is seeking a technically strong Technical Product Development Manager to take ownership of the technical direction and evolution of a range of commercial electronic products.

This role sits between engineering, product development, and supplier collaboration. You will act as the internal technical authority when working with external manufacturing partners, reviewing designs, challenging engineering decisions, and ensuring products deliver industry-leading performance.

This position is ideal for someone who understands electronics and hardware development, but is equally motivated by product innovation, research, competitor analysis, and translating technology into successful consumer products.

Some travel will be required to partners in China, our client need someone who is genuinely hands on in product development, ideally with a strong electronics / hardware background and good experience developing physical consumer Products with Chinese factories.

You will need to be able to work directly with factory engineers, challenge technical solutions, review samples, solve problems and help get Products properly across the line into production. The role will cover both developing new Products and improving / problem solving their existing product range

Key Responsibilities

Own the technical product roadmap
Review and challenge supplier electronic designs, schematics, and system architectures
Validate new product ideas through technical research, engineering analysis, and testing
Work closely with suppliers to push technical performance and innovation
Drive continuous improvement of existing products through component optimisation and design changes
Translate scientific research, technical papers, and patents into engineering targets and product improvements
Build test rigs to validate LED output, power systems, battery performance, and other parameters
Analyse customer feedback and reviews to identify product improvement opportunities
Define product specifications and technical requirements for suppliers
Support marketing teams by translating technical capabilities into clear consumer benefitsExperience & Skills

Background in electronics, hardware engineering, or technical product development
Ability to understand and challenge engineering decisions
Strong analytical mindset and curiosity for how technology works
Experience working with manufacturing partners or hardware suppliers
Ability to translate technical research into product direction
Strong experience developing Products with Chinese OEM / ODM manufacturers and working directly with factory engineers.This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working between engineering and product leadership. You should feel comfortable discussing technical challenges with engineers while also considering how products succeed in the consumer market.

The role requires curiosity, experimentation, and continuous improvement, with a focus on analysing technology, challenging assumptions, and working with suppliers to achieve better outcomes.

Apply today with an up-to-date CV for immediate consideration