Position: Senior Product Manager (Hardware)
Reporting to: Head of Product
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Type: Full-time
About SunCulture
Founded in 2012, SunCulture’s Vision is to build a world where people take control of their environment in rewarding and sustainable ways. SunCulture does this by developing and commercializing life changing technology that solves the biggest daily challenges for the world's 570 million smallholder farming households. We are the largest distributor of solar water pumps / solar irrigation for smallholder farmers in Africa and were selected by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2021. Here is a good explainer video recently made by CNBC. Over the last 5 years the company has grown significantly and now employs 400+ people around the world.
About the Role
SunCulture specializes in solar power irrigation systems and has various products that support customers' needs. The Senior Product Manager will lead a team of engineers in developing and commercializing life changing technology for our small holder farmers.
Key Responsibilities
Develop a deep understanding of SunCulture's business priorities, market dynamics, and the intersection of hardware and software to align hardware innovations with company objectives.
Lead the design and development of hardware products from concept through to market launch, managing all stages of the product life cycle, including prototyping, testing, and full-scale production.
Manage the hardware product roadmap, capturing inputs from engineering, customers, and business teams to prioritize impactful projects.
Conduct market research, customer interviews, and field tests to deeply understand user challenges and define product improvements.
Work with engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing partners to ensure high-quality product development, from prototyping to mass production.
Drive the strategic visioning and execution of product ideas, scoping solutions to their smallest viable state for early deployment and testing, and ensuring high-quality outcomes in every release.
Monitor product performance using quantitative and qualitative metrics and iterate for continuous improvement.
Own and maintain the quality and reliability of hardware products throughout their lifecycle.
Collaborate with marketing and commercial teams to position products, define pricing models (e.g., Pay-As-You-Go), and support go-to-market strategies.
Work closely with customer support teams to understand post-launch challenges and optimize future product versions.
Inspire and guide your team to achieve exceptional results, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone contributes to the success of SunCulture's hardware products.
Does this sound like you?
6+ years experience in hardware product management, electrical engineering, or a related field.
Proven track record of developing and launching hardware products, preferably in solar energy, battery storage, or agri-tech sectors.
Experience working in combined hardware and software businesses, particularly in IoT-based or smart energy solutions.
Strong understanding of solar power systems, battery storage technology, and energy-efficient appliances.
Ability to work with engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing teams to ensure smooth product development and delivery.
Entrepreneurial mindset – you take ownership, work independently, and thrive in ambiguous environments.
Excellent communication skills – you can clearly explain technical concepts and influence decision-making across teams.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to balance creativity and technical feasibility.
Interested?
Please apply online via this job portal. We respond to all candidates; however only shortlisted candidates will be interviewed.
Please Note
SunCulture is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.