Request :
Estel is now looking for a Product Line Manager (PLM). The PLM acts as the business and technical owner of a product family, bridging Market, Engineering, Operations, and Customers. He will manage the full lifecycle of our optical transceiver portfolio from opportunity assessment to market introduction ensuring ESTEL delivers differentiated, high-quality products that meet customer and industry requirements.
This role requires strong technical understanding of optical networking (Layer 0/1), the ability to collaborate with engineering teams (including FPGA, embedded SW, systems architecture), and the skill to translate market needs into clear product requirements.
This role is highly cross-functional, working closely with R&D, sales, operations and manufacturing teams to bring optical transceiver designs from prototype to mass production.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Strategy & Roadmap
Define and own the product vision, market positioning, and multi-year roadmap for optical transceivers and related solutions.
Analyze market trends (DCI, Metro, Long-Haul, coherent optics, pluggable, 100G–1.6G and beyond evolution).
Benchmark competition and identify differentiation opportunities.
Perform business case analysis including ROI calculation per product.
Develop Product Requirement Documents (PRDs) and System Requirements in collaboration with Engineering and QA.
Translate customer requests (RFP/RFI/RFQ) into clear functional and technical specifications.
Prioritize features based on cost, feasibility, and market impact.
Cross-Functional Leadership Work closely with R&D (FPGA, hardware, firmware, system architecture), Operations, and Sales to drive development milestones.
Support project management activities and monitor execution vs. plan.
Ensure products meet compliance standards and MSA specifications.
- Customer & Market Engagement
Assist Sales in technical discussions with Tier-1 operators, data centers, and OEM customers.
Present roadmap, lead workshops, and support key accounts during evaluation and certification processes.
Provide escalation support for troubleshooting, release validation, and field issues when needed.
Oversee the complete product lifecycle: concept → development → launch → maintenance → phase-out.
Manage pricing strategy, cost optimizations, and profitability targets.
Drive Type Approvals and interoperability testing.
Qualifications:
Required:
Degree in Engineering Physics, Electrical/Telecom Engineering, or similar.
5+ years' experience in optical networking, transmission systems, or hardware/software product development.
Understanding of Layer 0/1 technologies (OTN, SDH, Ethernet, coherent transmission, optical modulation).
Experience in System Architecture or Systems Engineering (e.g., requirement writing, modeling, Jira/Git workflows).
Strong communication skills and ability to interact with customers, engineering teams, and executives.
Fluent in English; additional European languages are a plus.
Swedish or Belgian work permits
Preferred :
Hands-on knowledge in optical network design (Metro, DCI, Long-Haul).
Experience with FPGA, Verilog/VHDL, embedded systems or hardware-software integration.
Ability to understand and challenge technical design decisions.
Background in technical sales, customer support, or network troubleshooting.
Familiarity with coherent DSPs, pluggable form factors (QSFP-DD, OSFP), and emerging technologies (800G+).
Workplaces :
Depending on his location the candidates could be working either in Sweden or Belgium
R&D Office Sweden:
Estel, CONVEDUM Vasagatan 14A Box 1051 SE-172 61 Sundbyberg Sweden
HQ & Production Line Belgium:
4 Allée des Plantains, 5650 Chastrès Belgium
Reporting :
The PLM Manager reports to the CTO, Sale Manager --- Production Manager --- CEO
Contact person :
hr@e-s-tel.com