Product Manager – Industrial Equipment & Automation
Illinois Tool Works · Appleton · $90,000–$130,000 (stated in the posting)
Job Description:
Are you a product leader energized by turning customer insight into product strategy and profitable growth?
As a Product Manager for the Industrial Equipment & Automation (IE&A) division of Miller Electric Mfg LLC (An ITW Company), you will serve as the business owner for an assigned product portfolio. You will own product strategy, roadmap direction, lifecycle management, pricing, margin performance, and commercialization outcomes while leading the marketing responsibilities within the Customer-Back Innovation (CBI) process.
This is an onsite role in either Carol Stream, IL or Appleton, WI.
Key Responsibilities
Portfolio Strategy & Lifecycle Ownership
- Own and execute the strategy, roadmap, positioning, pricing, and lifecycle plan.
- Translate customer needs, market trends, competitive intelligence, and business objectives into portfolio priorities and strategic choices.
- Maintain a portfolio architecture that balances customer value, operational simplicity, and profitable growth.
- Prioritize growth, defend, refresh, simplification, sustaining, and end-of-life initiatives.
Customer Insights & Commercialization Leadership
- Partner with Segment Managers to evaluate opportunities emerging from Explore and determine portfolio fit and prioritization.
- Lead Product Management and marketing activities from Discover through Deploy, including product-level VOC, value proposition definition, requirements, business case development, and go-to-market planning.
- Ensure Customer Back Innovation projects deliver revenue, margin, adoption, and customer experience commitments.
- Serve as the product contact for sales, product support, and key customers.
Portfolio Performance & Profitability
- Own product revenue, variable margin, profitability, and overall portfolio performance.
- Drive actions to improve portfolio performance through pricing, cost, quality, positioning, and product rationalization.
- Balance customer value, growth opportunities, operational realities, technical constraints, and financial performance.
How to be successful in this role
- Technical: Possess the aptitude to understand product capabilities and customer needs.
- Analytical: Demonstrate the ability to analyze current business issues and end-user needs.
- Leadership: Successfully lead high-level projects and cross-functional teams from start to completion.
- Relationship-Building: Build strong relationships among cross functional teams, sales, and key end-users.
- Presentation: Effectively present and facilitate in front of groups or varying technical knowledge.
- Collaborative: Act as a team player with a positive attitude, high motivation, and sound decision-making skills.
- Self-Driven: Well organized, aggressive self-starter with a willingness to learn and grow.
- Independent: Establish plans independently with limited direction or supervision.
- Adaptable: Thrive in a fast-paced environment that values an entrepreneurial spirit.
- Communicative: Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.
How You Show Up
- Business Owner Mindset – Owns portfolio performance and business outcomes.
- Data-Driven – Balances customer value, feasibility, and financial impact.
- Technical Judgment – Engages confidently in technical discussions.
- Disciplined Simplicity – Focuses resources on the highest-value opportunities.
- Influential – Builds alignment and drives cross-functional execution.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; Marketing, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in product management, product development, or related roles in a B2B environment
- Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives from concept through launch.
- Technical aptitude with industrial equipment, automation, welding, software, or related technologies preferred.
- Travel up to 25%.
Compensation Information:
The compensation package offers a competitive annual salary of $90,000 to $130,000. This range is dependent on the geographic location, the candidate’s qualification, and prior experience. We are committed to maintaining equitable and competitive salaries.
ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.
As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.