Senior Director, PLM, Global Product Cost Manager

• Lead the PLM and Global Product Cost function within the product organization
• Set strategy, policies, and operating cadence for product lifecycle management and cost governance across markets and product platforms
• Own monthly reviews of rolling multi-quarter, per-market product cost curves
• Maintain the integrity of standard product configurations across pricing, quoting, and lifecycle systems
• Govern standard product configuration order-intake commitments, change requests, configuration management, part numbering, and BOM phases
• Establish product data master discipline and a single source of truth for product definition, configuration, and cost data
• Interface with Engineering and Program Management on ECN/ECO execution, effectivity, and serial cut-ins
• Drive cross-functional cost-down execution with Supply Chain, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Engineering
• Ensure cost and configuration data in CPQ systems is accurate and current
• Build, lead, hire, develop, and structure the PLM & Global Product Cost team
• Represent the function in executive reviews with senior leadership, CFO, CEO, and Board audiences
• Partner on NPI cost validation, component-level cost reduction, bid governance, deal desk, pricing strategy, Finance alignment, margin walks, and value capture
• Challenge configurations, customer commitments, and product direction that conflict with corporate cost and margin targets
• Travel approximately 25% to company sites, suppliers, and customer locations

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field
• MBA or equivalent commercial training a plus
• 12+ years of progressive experience in product management, product operations, cost engineering, supply chain leadership, or related disciplines
• Experience in battery energy storage or comparable complex hardware sectors
• Direct experience leading or operating PLM and product cost functions for complex, configurable hardware systems at industrial scale
• Proven experience building and developing cross-functional teams, including hiring, structuring, and absorbing adjacent functions
• Strong financial fluency covering cost models, margin walks, estimate-at-completion (EAC) trajectory, and cost-down commitments
• Working command of PLM methodologies and tooling such as Windchill, Teamcenter, Arena, or SAP PLM
• Knowledge of bill of materials (BOM) governance and engineering change control processes
• Familiarity with CPQ or product pricing systems such as Tacton, Salesforce CPQ, or Oracle CPQ
• Track record of driving cross-functional decisions across Supply Chain, Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Commercial without formal authority
• Executive presence and structured communication suitable for C-suite and Board audiences
• Ability to travel approximately 25% of the time
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship; Fluence does not sponsor work visas for this position

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Global Product Cost functions, with a strong focus on cost governance, cross-functional team leadership, and strategic execution in complex hardware environments. Proficient in financial analysis, cost modeling, and utilizing PLM tools to ensure accurate product configuration and cost data.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
• Cost Engineering
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Financial Fluency
• PLM Methodologies and Tooling

Hard Skills

• Cost Models
• Margin Walks
• Estimate-at-Completion (EAC)
• Bill of Materials (BOM) Governance
• Engineering Change Control Processes

Soft Skills

• Executive Presence
• Structured Communication

Certifications & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering
• Master's Degree in Engineering or Related Field
• MBA or Equivalent Commercial Training

Industry Keywords

• Battery Energy Storage
• Complex Hardware Sectors
• Product Cost Functions
• Supply Chain Leadership
• Product Operations

Tools & Technologies

• Windchill
• Teamcenter
• Arena
• SAP PLM
• Salesforce CPQ