Associate Product Manager

As the Associate Product Manager at at Photon Control Inc., a subsidiary of MKS Inc., you will support the development and growth of innovative products serving the semiconductor and advanced technology industries. Reporting to the Senior Product Manager, you will work closely with engineering, operations, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial teams to translate market and customer needs into successful product solutions.

In this role, you will contribute to product strategy, product lifecycle management, and new product introductions while leading and coordinating cross-functional development programs. You will help ensure products are successfully developed, commercialized, and delivered in alignment with business objectives, customer requirements, and company growth initiatives.

This position is ideal for a technically minded professional who enjoys solving complex problems, collaborating across functions, and developing both product management and program management expertise.

You Will Make an Impact By

• Supporting the Senior Product Manager in developing a strong understanding of customer applications, market trends, competitive dynamics, and business opportunities.
• Assisting in the definition and management of product requirements by translating customer, application, and business needs into actionable product specifications.
• Supporting product strategy and roadmap development through market research, competitive analysis, and evaluation of growth opportunities.
• Conducting periodic reviews of product portfolio performance, including financial performance, market positioning, and competitive landscape assessments.
• Gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing customer feedback, application requirements, and market trends to support product planning and prioritization.
• Leading assigned cross-functional development programs from concept through commercialization, helping ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with business objectives.
• Developing and maintaining program plans, schedules, resource requirements, risks, dependencies, and deliverables while communicating status and progress to stakeholders.
• Coordinating activities across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations, and Commercial teams to support successful product development and delivery.
• Supporting new product introduction (NPI) activities, product qualification efforts, and engineering-to-production transfers to ensure successful commercialization.
• Participating in design reviews, stage-gate reviews, risk assessments, and change management activities while helping drive alignment across stakeholders.
• Identifying and escalating program risks, supporting issue resolution, and driving accountability to maintain project momentum.
• Preparing and documenting technical, qualification, product performance, and business-related information to support informed decision-making.
• Utilizing data, key performance indicators (KPIs), and project metrics to support product decisions, program execution, and portfolio reviews.
• Building strong working relationships across functions to align priorities and drive successful outcomes.

Skills You Bring (Required Skills)

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Applied Science, Business, or a related technical discipline.
• 3-5 years of experience in Product Management, Program Management, Applications Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Technical Sales, or a related technical role.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional projects and collaborating across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including planning, scheduling, risk management, issue resolution, and prioritization.
• Understanding of product development processes, including new product introduction (NPI), product lifecycle management, engineering change management, or engineering-to-production transfer activities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate technical, operational, and business information.
• Ability to analyze data and use quantitative insights to support decision-making and prioritization.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to understand customer and market requirements and collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop effective solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, and drive alignment without direct authority.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Project or equivalent project management platforms.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in semiconductor, semiconductor equipment, photonics, fiber optics, instrumentation, sensing, or other advanced technology industries.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment supporting product development and commercialization.
• Familiarity with semiconductor manufacturing processes, process control systems, optical sensing technologies, vacuum technologies, or temperature measurement solutions.
• Experience supporting customer-facing development programs, product launches, or technology commercialization efforts.
• Experience performing market research, competitive analysis, business case development, or product portfolio analysis.
• Experience using project management and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, Smartsheet, Azure DevOps, or equivalent platforms.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), or a related discipline.

Key Competencies

• Customer Focus
• Business Acumen
• Product Thinking
• Learning Agility
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Structured Problem Solving
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Stakeholder Management
• Influence Without Authority
• Accountability
• Communication and Presentation Skills
• Continuous Improvement Mindset

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Perform activities such as sitting, standing, or typing for extended periods of time.
• Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include heat, cold, fumes, strong magnets, confined spaces, lasers, microwaves, and vacuum/pressure systems.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment where priorities and project requirements may evolve.
• Occasional travel may be required to support internal meetings, manufacturing sites, industry events, or customer engagements.

Benefits

• Bonus Percentage Plan
• RRSP Matching Program
• Healthcare Including Medical, Dental and Vision, Life Insurance and AD&D, Medical Travel Insurance
• Global Employee Assistance Program
• Referral Program
• Recognition Awards
• Additional Flex Day Off with Spending Allowance
• Transit Zone 1 Reimbursement
• Active Social Committee Programs

Compensation Salary Pay Range: $90,000 - $110,000 per year.

This range represents the anticipated compensation for the position and is based on numerous factors including experience, qualifications, education, skills, market conditions, internal equity, and business requirements.