Director Product Management

Job description

Shape the future of InP photonics through product leadership!

At SMART Photonics, we manufacture indium phosphide (InP) photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for customers developing the next generation of optical technologies.

We are looking for an experienced Director of Product Management who understands the photonics industry, knows how to translate market opportunities into product strategy and can drive the development of a competitive foundry platform.

• On-site
• Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
• €84,240 - €130,000 per year
• Commercial

You bring substantial industry experience, ideally gained in a photonics foundry or at a company developing PIC-based products with a foundry partner. You understand customer needs, technology roadmaps and commercial opportunities, and know how to turn these insights into a clear product vision and strategy.

Working closely with customers, R&D, Engineering and Sales, you will lead our product management direction, define strategic priorities and ensure our InP platform continues to evolve in line with market demands.

Telecom and datacom are our primary growth markets. You will also help us identify and develop opportunities in applications such as LiDAR, sensing and biomedical technologies.

What you will do

• Own and drive our product strategy and roadmap; translate customer needs and market developments into priorities for our InP platform, process capabilities, PIC building blocks and PDKs.
• Lead product management; align product priorities, business objectives and technology development across the organisation.
• Work closely with our customers; understand their designs, system requirements and technical challenges, and identify where our platform can deliver value.
• Bridge optical communication requirements, including coherent and IMDD architectures, with practical foundry capabilities.
• Work with R&D, TCC and Engineering to define product requirements, assess technical trade-offs and focus development efforts.
• Bring customer insight, market knowledge and competitive analysis into product positioning and strategic decisions.
• Drive portfolio development and product lifecycle management, ensuring our capabilities remain competitive and relevant.
• Engage with established customers, prospective customers and ecosystem partners to identify opportunities and strengthen adoption of our platform.
• Build, develop and lead the product management team, creating a clear direction and fostering collaboration across functions.

Job requirements

• At least 10 years of relevant industrial experience after your PhD/Master's in photonics, semiconductor technology or optical communications. We are looking for demonstrated industry experience, not an academic research profile alone.
• Proven experience in product management or product leadership within a high-tech, semiconductor or photonics environment.
• Direct experience with integrated photonics, preferably InP, gained at a photonics foundry or a company designing and developing PIC-based products.
• A practical understanding of the foundry business model, PDKs, EPDA tools and the challenges of taking PIC designs from concept towards manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of optical communication systems, ideally including coherent and IMDD architectures, and an understanding of their implications for PIC design and performance.
• Experience translating customer applications and market opportunities into product strategies, roadmaps and business priorities.
• A proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and influencing decisions across customers, engineering, R&D and commercial organisations.
• The strategic vision, technical credibility, judgement and commercial awareness to challenge assumptions, set priorities and drive results.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to bring people together around a shared product vision.
• Willingness to travel regularly to customers and partners.
• Experience in other PIC applications is welcome. Strategic leadership, industry knowledge and the ability to turn technology into market opportunities are more important than any specific academic background.