Associate Product Manager

About Tempo Communications

Tempo Communications builds test instruments and tools used by electricians, fiber technicians, and network installers. We are a focused team where product managers have meaningful ownership and the opportunity to see their work move from concept to the customer’s hands.

About the Role

Tempo Communications is looking for an early-career technical professional who wants to build products, not just test them. The Associate Product Manager is a developmental role with real ownership from day one. You will manage a defined product category while developing skills in market analysis, pricing, margin, business cases, product roadmaps, and new product development.

You will work closely with Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Operations and spend time with the electricians, fiber technicians, and other customers who use our products in the field. This role is designed for someone who is technically curious, analytical, hands-on, and eager to grow into a Product Line Manager role.

What You’ll Do

• Own an assigned product category, including forecasting, pricing, margin, inventory, lifecycle, SKU accuracy, and obsolescence.
• Analyze market, competitive, customer, and sales data and turn findings into actionable product recommendations.
• Gather customer and field feedback through customer visits, distributors, trade shows, service and warranty information, product reviews, and technical conversations.
• Translate customer needs into product requirements and work with Engineering throughout development.
• Support business cases involving pricing, costs, margins, volumes, and payback.
• Support new product introductions and Stage Gate/NPI activities, including specifications, part numbers, packaging, pricing, launch materials, and channel readiness.
• Build and maintain product performance dashboards and reporting.
• Evaluate competitive products and provide product comparisons and technical support to Sales and Customer Service.
• Spend at least 15% of your time in the field with end users and distributors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Engineering, Electronics, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical field, completed within the last two years or expected within six months.
• 0–2 years of professional experience. Relevant internships, co-ops, apprenticeships, military technical service, part-time, or self-employed experience may qualify.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, including the ability to build models in Excel.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work with both technical and commercial teams.
• Hands-on approach and willingness to learn how products work and how customers use them.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and follow through on commitments.
• Comfort working with ambiguity and asking questions when information is incomplete.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience taking ownership of a project, product, business, or customer-facing activity.
• Hands-on familiarity with test and measurement equipment, fiber optic tools, network/cable testing, or electrical hand tools.
• Exposure to electrical, telecom, datacom, CATV, or utility environments.
• Experience with Power BI, Tableau, SQL, ERP/PLM systems, CAD, or bills of materials.
• Practical experience using AI tools for research, analysis, or drafting.
• Coursework, certifications, or demonstrated interest in business, finance, marketing, or entrepreneurship.

Work Environment & Travel

This is a full-time, on-site position at our Vista, California facility. This is not a remote or hybrid role.

Travel is expected to be up to 20% and may include field visits, distributor visits, trade shows, and occasional supplier visits. The position includes time in office, lab, warehouse, customer facilities, and active job sites.

If you are a technically curious problem-solver who wants to learn the business side of product management and take real ownership, we’d like to hear from you.