At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product strategy for AI-driven manufacturing solutions and optimise operations.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company transforming the manufacturing industry.
- Benefits: Hybrid work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with global reach and diverse teams.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI innovation in manufacturing and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in Product Management with a focus on SaaS and manufacturing.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Manufacturing is entering an era that is AI‑enabled, data‑driven, autonomous, and increasingly intelligent. This role sits at the center of that transformation. As Principal Product Manager for Manufacturing Solutions, you will define and drive products that optimize operations, improve efficiency, and deliver measurable business impact for industrial customers. You will own the end‑to‑end product lifecycle, from discovery to adoption to scale, acting as the strategic bridge between customer needs, engineering execution, and commercial outcomes. Leading with a start‑up mindset, you will set vision and direction, validate with customers and industry stakeholders, prioritize ruthlessly, and deliver scalable solutions aligned with IFS’s AI‑first strategy.
Core Responsibilities
- Define and execute a clear product vision and roadmap aligned with company strategy and measurable customer outcomes.
- Identify high‑impact opportunities through market, customer, competitive, and industry analysis.
- Build strong investment cases focused on value creation, adoption, scalability, and differentiation.
- Drive growth across core and AI revenue streams.
- Align strategy across related products or components within the portfolio.
Customer Insight & Discovery
- Lead end‑to‑end discovery with Research and Design.
- Engage directly with customers to understand workflows, operational challenges, and desired outcomes.
- Co‑create and validate solutions with customers.
- Establish continuous feedback loops from discovery through to adoption.
- Use qualitative and quantitative insights to refine direction and ensure ROI.
- Ruthlessly prioritize based on measurable value.
- Leverage AI/ML and automation to enhance operational decision‑making and optimize manufacturing workflows.
- Lead functional prototyping and early validation to ensure feasibility and market fit.
- Champion an AI‑first mindset across Product, Design, and Engineering, ensuring AI is applied intentionally where it creates meaningful customer and commercial value.
- Identify high‑impact opportunities to embed AI into workflows, decision support, automation, and user experiences, not as a feature add‑on, but as a core capability.
End‑to‑End Ownership & Execution
- Own the lifecycle from concept through launch and scale.
- Bridge functional, technical, and commercial requirements to ensure smooth transition from prototype to adopted product.
- Clarify priorities, remove blockers, and drive measurable progress toward customer outcomes.
- Maintain transparency and alignment across Engineering, Design, Product Marketing, Support, Sales, Go‑to‑Market and Customer Success.
- Balance competing priorities while contributing to commercial performance and product P&L considerations.
Commercial Impact & Go‑to‑Market
- Define and communicate clear product differentiation and value proposition.
- Contribute to pricing and packaging strategy to maximize growth and market impact.
- Work with Product Marketing and GTM teams to ensure successful launches and strong market positioning.
- Support customer and partner presentations to drive credibility and adoption.
- Own adoption as a core metric, ensuring delivered capabilities are intuitive, usable, and deliver real operational impact.
Experience & Education
- Proven experience (6+ years) in Product Management within SaaS, platform, or enterprise software environments.
- Experienced and knowledgeable in the domain of Manufacturing, ideally hands‑on experience in the industry.
- Demonstrated ability to define and execute product strategy, vision, and measurable outcomes.
- Hands‑on experience in customer discovery, prototyping, and validating solutions.
- Proven track record of launching and scaling products from concept to adoption, delivering measurable customer value.
- Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and prioritization skills.
- Data‑informed decision‑making mindset, using analytics, experimentation, and evidence to guide direction.
- AI‑curious.
- Experience in developer platforms, application frameworks, data services, or AI/ML‑enabled enterprise applications.
- Prior exposure to commercial responsibilities such as pricing, monetization, or P&L ownership.
- Experience working in global, distributed organizations and partnering across geographies.
Principal Product Manager - Manufacturing London, England, United Kingdom Research and Development employer: Industrial and Financial Systems
Industrial and Financial Systems is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises collaboration and innovation in the heart of Greater London. Employees benefit from competitive salaries, flexible paid time off, and ample opportunities for professional growth, making it an ideal environment for those looking to make a meaningful impact in AI deployment.
Contact Details:
Industrial and Financial Systems Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Product Manager - Manufacturing London, England, United Kingdom Research and Development
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Industrial and Financial Systems!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Industrial and Financial Systems would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Industrial and Financial Systems through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Product Manager - Manufacturing London, England, United Kingdom Research and Development
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Principal Product Manager - Manufacturing London, England, United Kingdom Research and Development, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Principal Product Manager - Manufacturing London, England, United Kingdom Research and Development position at Industrial and Financial Systems. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Industrial and Financial Systems
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
