Director of Product Line Management (US Remote)

We are seeking a Director of Product Line Management to define build and scale a portfolio of telecom enterprise services and network products. This leader will own the strategy and business performance of offerings that enable enterprises and service providers to connect locations reliably securely and at scale - from access devices and Layer 2 switching platforms to Carrier Ethernet and managed connectivity services.

Operating as the general manager for the product line the Director will translate customer and market requirements into differentiated architectures investment priorities roadmaps launch plans and lifecycle decisions. The ideal candidate has brought purpose-built products - such as Layer 2 switches Ethernet NIDs/eNIDs access platforms or edge appliances - from concept through certification scale and end-of-life and understands how those platforms become repeatable SLA-backed services.

• Portfolio strategy and P&L: Set the multi-year strategy market segmentation investment thesis pricing packaging revenue plan margin targets and portfolio rationalization decisions using customer and competitive insight.

• Product creation: Lead the end-to-end development of Layer 2 switching Carrier Ethernet demarcation NID/eNID access and edge products including market requirements business cases PRDs platform choices feature priorities release criteria and lifecycle plans.

• Enterprise service portfolio: Build scalable services including Ethernet Private Line and Virtual Private Line E-LAN DIA access managed LAN cloud connectivity and adjacent secure or assured connectivity offers.

• Technical and platform direction: Partner with Engineering and Architecture on switching silicon system architecture network operating software optics timing power thermal security manageability and service-assurance requirements.

• Partner and supply ecosystem: Evaluate and manage chipset ODM/JDM contract manufacturing optics software certification and technology partners; balance cost differentiation quality availability and roadmap control.

• Product lifecycle governance: Establish disciplined stage gates from discovery and concept through development field trials launch sustaining engineering refresh migration and end-of-sale/end-of-support.

• Go-to-market leadership: Define positioning competitive differentiation sales plays solution bundles enablement launch readiness reference customers and adoption programs with Sales and Marketing.

• Operational readiness: Ensure products and services are deployable observable supportable and automatable through OSS/BSS inventory orchestration telemetry assurance and zero-touch provisioning capabilities.

• Team leadership: Build coach and develop a high-performing product line management team; create clear decision rights operating rhythms accountability and succession plans.

Candidates with demonstrated depth across several of the following areas will be strongly preferred:

• Layer 2 switching: Ethernet switching architectures; VLANs and IEEE 802.1Q; QinQ/802.1ad; LAG and MC-LAG; STP/RSTP/MSTP; LLDP; QoS buffering multicast and resiliency.

• Carrier Ethernet and MEF services: E-Line/E-LAN/E-Tree service constructs EPL/EVPL bandwidth profiles class of service service OAM SLA design UNI/NNI concepts and MEF-aligned lifecycle automation.

• Network demarcation and access: NIDs/eNIDs CPE/uCPE fixed and mobile access multi-rate GbE interfaces optics synchronization timing and carrier-grade deployment considerations.

• Hardware and software platforms: Merchant silicon and SDK ecosystems BSPs embedded systems network operating systems APIs telemetry secure boot software maintenance component lifecycle and supply-chain risk.

• Service assurance and automation: IEEE 802.1ag CFM ITU-T Y.1731 performance monitoring fault isolation zero-touch provisioning streaming telemetry orchestration inventory and closed-loop assurance.

• Commercial product management: Market sizing competitive analysis portfolio economics pricing gross margin unit cost forecasting business cases channel strategy and contract or SLA implications.

• Experience: 12 years in product management or product line leadership in telecom networking or enterprise connectivity including 5 years leading teams or major portfolios.

• Proven product delivery: A record of launching and scaling physical networking products such as Layer 2 switches NIDs/eNIDs access devices routers or edge appliances together with software and service capabilities.

• Business ownership: Demonstrated responsibility for a product line business plan revenue and margin performance pricing roadmap investment and lifecycle decisions.

• Technical fluency: Ability to engage credibly with system architects and engineers on hardware silicon NOS/software optics protocols APIs telemetry and deployment tradeoffs without losing sight of customer and commercial outcomes.

• Market leadership: Strong understanding of enterprise buyer needs telecom operator economics global competitive dynamics routes to market and standards-based service delivery.

• Cross-functional influence: Success aligning Engineering Operations Supply Chain Sales Marketing Finance Legal and external partners around high-stakes product decisions.

• Executive influence: Exceptional communication and cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to simplify complex topics align senior stakeholders and drive decisions.

• Education: Bachelors degree in Engineering Computer Science Telecommunications or a related field; MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.

• Growth and economics: Revenue bookings adoption strategic account penetration gross margin forecast accuracy inventory health and return on product investment.

• Execution: Roadmap predictability on-time launch quality certification readiness field-trial conversion and lifecycle discipline.

• Customer outcomes: Service availability SLA performance deployment velocity support burden customer satisfaction and renewal/expansion.

• Leadership: Team capability decision quality cross-functional alignment and development of future product leaders.

• Build the portfolio: Shape the next generation of enterprise connectivity products and services from architecture through commercial scale.

• Work across the stack: Unite hardware software automation assurance and managed services to solve real connectivity problems.

• Lead with autonomy: Join an entrepreneurial customer-obsessed organization that values sound judgment ownership collaboration and accountability.

This is a full-time leadership position operating in a professional office and remote collaboration environment. The role requires flexibility to work across global time zones and to support important customer partner launch or operational matters outside standard business hours when reasonably necessary.

Travel and Physical Requirements

Ability to travel domestically and internationally typically up to 25-35% with a valid passport and no material travel restrictions. The role requires extended computer use and periodic visits to offices laboratories manufacturing partners data centers and customer network sites.

Annual salary range: $220000 - $320000

Join AXON Networks!

At AXON Networks we promote equal opportunities in all our recruitment processes ensuring non-discrimination on the basis of gender age origin disability or any other personal circumstances. We assess talent based on objective criteria and foster an inclusive and diverse working environment.