Product development manager
Also known as: product development executive, product development specialist, innovation department manager, research and development manager, product designer
About this occupation
Product development managers coordinate the development of new products from beginning to end. They receive briefings and start envisioning the new product considering design, technical and cost criteria. They conduct research on market needs and create prototypes of new products for untapped market opportunities. Product development managers also improve and boost technological quality.
A specialisation of research and development manager.
Essential skills and knowledge
- plan product management
- market research
- perform market research
- follow company standards
- combine business technology with user experience
- develop new products
- calculate production costs
- design customer experiences
- draw conclusions from market research results
- product life-cycle
- manage budgets
- design prototypes
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (O*NET 11-9041.01). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Design or conduct applied biodiesel or biofuels research projects on topics, such as transport, thermodynamics, mixing, filtration, distillation, fermentation, extraction, and separation.
- Analyze data from biofuels studies, such as fluid dynamics, water treatments, or solvent extraction and recovery processes.
- Prepare, or oversee the preparation of, experimental plans for biofuels research or development.
- Provide technical or scientific guidance to technical staff in the conduct of biofuels research or development.
- Propose new biofuels products, processes, technologies or applications based on findings from applied biofuels or biomass research projects.
- Conduct experiments on biomass or pretreatment technologies.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Investigative, Enterprising, Realistic
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Writing, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making
US median pay: US$171,270 a year (2025), 220,260 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.1)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryVery important (4.0)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (3.6)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.3)
- Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyImportant (3.3)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.2)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Chemical Engineers
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Geothermal Production Managers
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
- Wind Energy Development Managers
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.