At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the software product roadmap for innovative analytical instruments and ensure customer satisfaction.
- Company: Join PerkinElmer, a leader in scientific solutions with a mission for a healthier world.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping software that drives customer loyalty and satisfaction.
- Qualifications: 5-10 years in software product management; experience in analytical instrumentation is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
When joining PerkinElmer, you select an experienced and trusted leader in scientific solutions, with the support of a global service network and distribution centers, providing the right solution, at the right time, to meet critical customer needs. With over an 80+ year legacy of advancing science and a mission of innovating for a healthier world, our dedicated team collaborates closely with commercial, government, academic and healthcare customers to deliver our broad portfolio of analytical solutions, and OneSource services.
PerkinElmer is seeking a Software Product Manager to own the software product roadmap for analytical instrument software aligned to an assigned product line. Software is an increasingly critical competitive dimension in analytical instrumentation: instrument control software, data processing algorithms, connectivity, and reporting tools increasingly determine customer satisfaction, switching costs, and long-term loyalty. This role ensures that the product line's software strategy is as deliberate and commercially rigorous as its hardware strategy.
The Software Product Manager works at the intersection of product management and software engineering — translating commercial and customer requirements into well-defined software product specifications, prioritising the software backlog against commercial impact, and partnering with the R&D software team to ensure delivery meets market expectations. They are accountable for the software product, not the software development — they set what gets built and why, not how.
We are offering a hybrid working contract split between home and our offices in High Wycombe.
Responsibilities
- Software Product Strategy & Roadmap
- Own the software product roadmap for the assigned product line — defining the vision, prioritising features and releases, and sequencing development work against commercial opportunity and customer value.
- Develop software product requirements: user stories, functional specifications, and acceptance criteria that R&D can act on — with clear priority rationale for each item.
- Make evidence-based trade-off decisions about software feature scope, release timing, and technical debt — balancing commercial urgency with software quality and architectural sustainability.
- Own the software product versioning and release strategy — coordinating release cadence with hardware product launches and sustaining release cycles.
- Customer & Market Requirements
- Conduct structured VOC for software: customer interviews, usability feedback sessions, and competitive software benchmarking — generating a minimum of 15 documented customer conversations per year specifically focused on software needs.
- Monitor the competitive software landscape: competitor instrument software releases, third-party integration developments, and emerging customer expectations around connectivity, data management, and regulatory compliance.
- Partner with Strategic Segment Managers to understand how regulatory requirements (21 CFR Part 11, GAAMP, OECD GLP) affect software product needs in priority end markets.
- Translate hardware NPI requirements into software specification — ensuring instrument control software is developed in parallel with the hardware programme and available at launch.
- R&D Partnership & Delivery
- Serve as the primary product management interface to the software R&D team — attending sprint reviews, backlog grooming sessions, and software programme milestones.
- Maintain a clearly prioritised software backlog — updated regularly, visible to stakeholders, and reflective of current commercial priorities.
- Own software release acceptance: define and execute user acceptance testing criteria, certify that software releases meet the defined product requirements before commercial release.
- Coordinate beta customer programmes for major software releases — managing site selection, structured feedback collection, and issue resolution before general availability.
- Commercial Enablement
- Develop software-specific commercial enablement materials: feature release notes, upgrade guides, competitive software comparison sheets, and software-focused demo guides for the sales organisation.
- Train the commercial team on major software releases — ensuring field teams can demonstrate, position, and sell software capabilities as a competitive differentiator.
- Support the MarComm team with technically accurate software content for campaigns, product brochures, and digital channels.
Qualifications & Experience
- Required
- 5–10 years of experience in software product management, technical product ownership, or software product marketing — ideally within analytical instrumentation, scientific software, or laboratory technology.
- Demonstrated experience owning a software product roadmap from requirements through release — with clear personal accountability for prioritisation and delivery quality.
- Working knowledge of analytical instrument software: instrument control, data processing, and reporting workflows relevant to the product line.
- Familiarity with agile product development practices: backlog management, sprint planning, user story writing, and release management.
- Experience conducting software-focused VOC and translating user feedback into actionable product requirements.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
- Preferred
- MSc or PhD in a relevant scientific discipline — providing credibility with scientific end users and technically specialist R&D teams.
- Experience with regulatory software requirements in analytical instrument markets: 21 CFR Part 11, GAAMP, GLP/GMP compliance, or equivalent.
- Familiarity with laboratory informatics ecosystem: LIMS, ELN, data management platforms, and connectivity standards (OPC-UA, SiLA2, AnIML).
- Experience managing software beta programmes and customer co-development relationships.
Equal Opportunity
PerkinElmer is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. PerkinElmer is committed to a culturally diverse workforce.
Software Product Manager Material Characterization in High Wycombe employer: PerkinElmer
Solus, a PerkinElmer company, is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee development and a collaborative work culture in the Mansfield area. With comprehensive training provided for the Production Technician role, employees benefit from a supportive environment that encourages growth and innovation while adhering to high-quality standards. The company also offers competitive salaries and corporate benefits, making it an attractive place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the diagnostics field.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Product Manager Material Characterization in High Wycombe
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at PerkinElmer or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
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We think you need these skills to ace Software Product Manager Material Characterization in High Wycombe
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at PerkinElmer.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at PerkinElmer and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at PerkinElmer
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If PerkinElmer uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
