Manager, Product Development

The Guitar Center Company • Westlake Village, CA

8d • $110,000 - $130,000

About The Position

The Manager, Product Development will drive the creation, execution, and delivery of product development initiatives within a defined brand. Reporting to the Director, Product Development, this role is responsible for managing product lifecycles from concept through production, ensuring alignment with business objectives, timelines, and cost targets. The Manager will collaborate closely with design/engineering resources and commercial partners to bring consumer-relevant products to market.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Development, or related field.
• 5–7 years of progressive product development experience, ideally within consumer hard goods (Musical/Audio is a plus but not a requirement).
• Proven track record managing product lifecycles and contributing to profitable, consumer-centric launches.
• Strong project management skills, with experience coordinating cross-functional teams and navigating execution challenges.
• Familiarity with design thinking, user testing, and technical product development processes.
• Experience working with sourcing and supply chain partners to align on cost, quality, and manufacturability.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities.
• Business acumen with ability to interpret product performance data and support decision-making.

Nice To Haves

• Musical/Audio experience is a plus but not a requirement.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day product development activities from concept through mass production, ensuring products meet design intent, quality standards, and business requirements.
• Partner with Merchandising and Planning teams to align on specifications, sourcing, cost, and delivery goals.
• Partner with the cross functional team to ideate and develop new product opportunities based on consumer and market insights.
• Support product validation by incorporating user testing feedback into design improvements and final product specifications.
• Develop and maintain project timelines, track budgets, and coordinate deliverables to ensure on-time and on-cost product launches.
• Monitor performance targets and collaborate with testing/quality teams to validate durability, reliability, and experience benchmarks.
• Track product cost structures, support cost optimization efforts, and partner with sourcing on value engineering opportunities.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of product category trends, materials, and technical details to support development and cross-functional decision-making.
• Contribute to the creation of product documentation, troubleshooting guides, and FAQs to enhance customer experience.
• Model teamwork, problem-solving, and respectful communication, contributing to a positive and high-performance culture.

Benefits

• Gig leave—take time off to share your music with the world and return to your job after your tour!
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401K plus company match
• Mental health support
• Paid sick/holiday/vacation time
• Employee discount program
• Tuition reimbursement options
• Company bonus program based on Company performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager