Product Manager (VFD) at Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc – Vernon Hills, Illinois

Product Manager (VFD)
Marketing
Vernon Hills,Illinois
Full-Time/Regular

POSITION SUMMARY

The Product Manager develops and leads the vision for their product portfolio by deeply understanding customer challenges and aligning the organization to deliver valuable outcomes for both customers and the business in the Americas. This role develops and shares product strategies, supported by annual business plans designed to drive growth and expand market share, while building consensus and influencing company-wide support for strategic priorities.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops the product portfolio business plan by supporting sales and market expansion goals through well-defined, achievable initiatives and execution plans.
• Support the development and communication of product vision, messaging, and strategy, partnering with senior leaders to ensure alignment and helping socialize plans with key stakeholders.
• Manage all aspects of the product lifecycle—including development support, launch execution, growth initiatives, and end-of-life activities—while coordinating training, certification, and regulatory requirements as needed.
• Support pricing and margin analysis by gathering data, monitoring performance, and providing recommendations to inform pricing decisions.
• Partner closely with sales to engage customers and prospects, conducting market and customer research to understand challenges and pain points, and translating insights into clear product requirements.
• Collaborate with Local and MELCO development teams to help define requirements, prioritize development work, and deliver high-quality products while balancing business needs with technical and resource constraints.
• Work with Marketing teams to execute product launches and go-to-market activities, supporting product positioning, value propositions, market segmentation, and targeted messaging to promote key features and benefits.
• Monitor and analyze product performance metrics to assess product health, identify trends, and surface insights that support data-driven decision making and continuous improvement.
• Build effective working relationships with cross-functional partners in sales, business development, service, corporate marketing, MELCO, and legal to support coordinated execution of product initiatives and growth plans.
• Provide cross‑product support by aligning on group product strategies and business plans, maintaining shared targets and collateral, and serving as a backup resource as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Travel Requirements

• 25% travel based on customer demand, primarily with the United States
• Occasional travel to Japan

ESSENTIAL EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Marketing or business equivalent; or equivalent work experience
• 4+ years’ professional industrial automation experience in sales, marketing, and/or applications engineering
• Technical/commercial knowledge of industrial automation products, including one or more of the following: Variable Frequency Drives, Servo/Motion, PLC, HMI, CNC, Robot and Various Industrial Networks
• Extensive technical/commercial knowledge of industrial automation products
• Ability to handle multiple and concurrent priorities. Strong prioritization and problem-solving skills.
• Strong prioritization and effective problem-solving skills
• Proven listening, negotiation, and consensus building skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships
• Strong interpersonal skills to deal effectively with internal and external customers at all levels
• Excellent writing, oral, and presentation skills with a strong professional presence
• Strong experience with experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

BENEFICIAL EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience in Japanese business culture
• Familiarity with SAP ECC/SAP CRM

Who is MEAU?

• A successful team of smart, dedicated professionals who are not only the best in their respective fields but are committed to a tradition of technological leadership and innovation.
• An organization that truly cares about employee engagement and understands the impact of clear and consistent communication.
• Our leaders are committed to ensuring all employees are regularly informed about the state of the business, understand how they fit in, and know where they can make a difference.
• Employees are encouraged to pursue professional development opportunities and participate in in-house training programs.

We value our employees, and we offer an extensive benefits package that adds value to your total compensation. Our broad range of benefits include:

• Health, dental and vision insurance plans with company contribution – we offer different plans, including PPO and HMO (HMO offered only in some states)
• Competitive 401k with company match
• Paid Vacation and 13 Paid Holidays, including floater holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Account
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discount Program
• Pet Insurance

The target pay range for this position is $115,000-$135,000 annually. The listed salary range is approximate and reflects the anticipated compensation for this position as determined by salary analysis; both internal and external to MEAU. Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, skills and experience. Compensation may also vary due to market factors. MEAU retains the right to adjust compensation based on business needs.

Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other lawfully protected characteristic.