Job SummaryMishimoto is looking for a driven, technically curious Product Manager to own the strategy, development, and performance of assigned product categories within our performance automotive parts portfolio. This is a high-ownership role sitting at the intersection of product strategy, market intelligence, and cross-functional execution. You will be the internal authority on your categories - driving coverage decisions, new product development, pricing strategy, and long-range category planning in direct support of our mission to empower automotive enthusiasts through engineered solutions. The right candidate brings deep domain passion, sharp analytical instincts, relentless follow-through, and the kind of character that makes teams better.
Primary ResponsibilitiesCategory Strategy & Ownership- Serve as the internal category expert and primary decision-maker for all assigned product lines
- Develop and maintain annual and 3-year category plans grounded in market opportunity, competitive positioning, and financial targets
- Define category "Right to Win" positioning and maintain an up-to-date category SWOT
- Own the full product lifecycle for assigned SKUs - from concept through launch and into rationalization
Product Coverage & SKU Management- Conduct perpetual coverage gap analyses to identify whitespace across vehicle fitments and competitor assortments
- Drive strategic SKU addition decisions based on application coverage, demand signals, and margin contribution
- Lead SKU rationalization reviews to maintain a healthy, focused product portfolio
- Partner with supply chain and sourcing on product costs, lead times, and supplier relationships to support coverage expansion
New Product Development- Spearhead NPD initiatives from ideation through launch, serving as project lead across engineering, sourcing, supply chain, and marketing
- Identify and prioritize the NPD pipeline based on market demand, competitive gaps, and financial return
- Drive milestone adherence and remove obstacles impeding project throughput
- Leverage trade shows, customer feedback, social listening, and field research to surface new product opportunities - always with the enthusiast customer at the center
Competitive Analysis & Market Intelligence- Conduct ongoing analysis of the competitive landscape including pricing, coverage, product positioning, and brand strategy across key players
- Lead product trend and gap analyses to inform go-forward category investment decisions
- Monitor market conditions and emerging vehicle platforms to anticipate category shifts ahead of demand
- Translate market intelligence into actionable recommendations for the product roadmap
Pricing & Financial Management- Own annual pricing reviews for assigned categories, developing recommendations that balance market competitiveness with margin objectives
- Monitor and manage category-level P&L health including revenue, contribution margin, and EBITDA impact
- Partner with finance to maintain category and SKU-level forecasts
- Identify opportunities to improve margin through sourcing optimization, pricing action, or SKU mix decisions
Cross-Functional Collaboration- Collaborate closely with Sales (DTC, B2B, Marketplace channels), Marketing, Supply Chain, and Engineering to drive category execution
- Support customer category line reviews and co-develop pricing and assortment strategies with channel sales leads
- Drive clear and proactive communication to VP-level and above, surfacing opportunities, risks, and proposed solutions
- Lead or support ad hoc strategic initiatives requiring cross-functional coordination and executive visibility
Supervisory Responsibilities- May provide direct development and coaching to Associate Product Managers and/or Product Data Coordinators
- Indirect leadership of a cross-functional team of procurement, supply chain, and marketing contributors
- Primary supervisory focus is mentoring emerging product talent and driving consistency in NPD execution
Qualifications- Demonstrated success managing a diverse product portfolio across different lifecycle stages (growth, mature, declining) in a manufacturing or distribution environment
- Strong preference for candidates with automotive technical knowledge and genuine passion for the performance aftermarket; must have proven experience with complex, enthusiast-oriented product categories
- Proven track record launching consumer products and developing commercialization strategies across multiple channels (DTC, B2B, marketplace)
- Highly analytical with deep fluency in category P&L management; strong understanding of product development processes and operations
- Excellent project management skills; capable of managing multiple concurrent NPD workstreams and cross-functional dependencies
- Strong executive communication skills; ability to distill complex data into clear recommendations and present confidently to senior leadership
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, modeling); experience with ERP systems (NetSuite a plus)
What You BringSkills and experience matter - but so does who you are. We're building a team with a Founders Mentality, and the intangibles are non-negotiable:
- Drive - You don't wait to be pointed at work. You identify what needs to happen and make it happen.
- Grit - You grind through hard problems, absorb setbacks, and come back sharper. The work isn't always clean, and you're fine with that.
- Emotional intelligence - You read rooms, build trust across functions and seniority levels, and know when to push and when to listen.
- Team-first orientation - You understand that individual wins don't mean much if the team loses. You pick up what needs picking up.
- Winner's mentality - You keep score, hold yourself to a high standard, and genuinely care about outcomes - not just activity.
- Enthusiast mindset - You get the customer because in some way you are the customer. Passion for cars, performance, or the broader enthusiast culture is a genuine differentiator here.
Education & Experience- BS. degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or related field preferred
- 5+ years of progressive Product Management experience with demonstrated responsibility growth and measurable outcomes
- Experience in the automotive aftermarket, powersports, or adjacent enthusiast/performance category strongly preferred
Working Conditions- Full-time, on-site role based at Mishimoto's Garnet Valley, PA headquarters
- Occasional travel required for trade shows, supplier visits, and customer meetings (estimated 10-20%)
