Thermal Solutions Product Manager

Description

HYDAC, a global leader in fluid power solutions, is seeking an experienced Product Manager to oversee the strategic lifecycle of industrial cooling technology products. This role bridges market needs with technical execution, ensuring cross-divisional growth, profitability, and competitive differentiation. Product Managers drive market-driven roadmaps, pricing strategies, and stakeholder alignment, while Application Engineers focus on client-specific technical challenges.

As a Product Manager in the Cooling Systems Division, you will develop and refine custom cooling solutions for a diverse range of industries, including off-highway equipment, commercial on-highway vehicles, power generation, and electrification applications. You will lead product strategy, business development, and technical alignment, ensuring HYDAC remains at the forefront of thermal management innovation.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

Market & Strategy Leadership

• Develop and execute product vision, strategy, and 3–5-year roadmaps for custom cooling solutions, aligning with market trends and customer needs.
• Define pricing models and positioning strategies for new/existing cooling system products, incorporating customer feedback and cost structures.
• Lead business case development for cooling product investments, including market sizing and risk assessments.

Cross-Functional Execution

• Translate market requirements into technical specifications for engineering teams, including cooler performance benchmarks and compliance standards.
• Coordinate product launches, ensuring alignment across engineering, marketing, and sales to meet technical and commercial objectives.
• Oversee beta programs, analyze customer validation data, and refine cooling products before launch.
• Support application engineering efforts by providing guidance for cooler sizing and integration into customer-specific applications.

Performance Optimization

• Monitor KPIs (market share, margin, customer satisfaction) and adjust strategies using analytics and industry insights.
• Identify product gaps and opportunities through field visits, win/loss analyses, and collaboration with sales/support teams.
• Develop and maintain engineering standards for cooling technologies, ensuring compliance with performance criteria.

Business & Customer Growth

• Identify high-value market opportunities for custom cooling solutions through customer interviews, competitive benchmarking, and trend analysis.
• Lead RFPs and technical proposals for strategic accounts, collaborating with sales teams to close deals.
• Establish and maintain relationships with key decision-makers, including plant managers, procurement directors, and engineering teams.

Project Leadership & AE Collaboration

• Own end-to-end execution of large cooling system projects, ensuring seamless integration with customer applications.
• Provide strategic oversight for application engineers, guiding cooler selection and system optimization.
• Document shared processes to streamline communication between product management, engineering, and sales.

Skills & Attributes:

• Technical Fluency: Deep understanding of cooling system design, thermal management, and fluid dynamics.
• Strategic Analysis: Expertise in market segmentation, SWOT analysis, and financial modeling.
• Leadership & Cross-Functional Alignment: Proven ability to coordinate engineering, sales, and executive priorities under resource constraints.
• Customer Focus: Strong knowledge of industrial cooling applications and customized engineering solutions.
• Problem-Solving Ability: Able to identify and resolve application-specific cooling challenges.

Experience & Education:

• Required:
  • 5+ years in field-based roles (Application Engineering, Technical Sales) OR 3+ years in Product Management focused on cooling systems.
  • Proven track record in technical sales support, business strategy, or thermal management solutions.
  • Ability to travel up to 30% for business engagements.
• Preferred:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Management, or a related field.