Co-Founder Product

Position: Product & Technology Head (Consumer Device)

Location: Mumbai, India (Onsite, In-Office is a Mandatory requirement)

Reporting To: Founder & CEO

Employment Type: Full-time

Education: Graduate/Postgraduate from a top-tier university/college (IIT, NIT, BITS, IISc, IIM, ISB, or reputed global equivalent)

Experience: 7–17 years in consumer hardware, product management, or R&D with global exposure

About the Device

The device is a breakthrough consumer product, comparable in form to vapes and e-cigarettes, designed for smokers, ex-smokers, and first-time smokers, with a revolutionary health and safety proposition. Our mission is to disrupt the global smoking industry, valued at over One Trillion US dollars, by offering a first-of-its-kind innovation with the potential to reach tens of millions of consumers worldwide.

Role Overview

We are seeking a superstar Product & Tech Co-Founder who will be the owner of the Device product line, from BOM optimization to ODM coordination, in Shenzhen, quality assurance, and IP filings. This is a strategic and execution-heavy role, requiring both engineering depth and business acumen.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, thrives on global collaboration, and can take complete ownership of a hardware product from prototype to global commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Ownership & Strategy

• End-to-end ownership of Device product lifecycle (prototype → mass production → upgrades).
• Translate leadership’s vision into technical and commercial product roadmaps.
• Manage product cost, performance, and compliance trade-offs.

2. ODM / Manufacturing Coordination (Shenzhen)

• Act as primary liaison between Company HQ (Mumbai) and Shenzhen ODM.
• Negotiate and finalize BOM decisions, ensuring use of Tier-1 pre-certified cells and components.
• Oversee manufacturing timelines, QA processes, and inspections.
• Ensure regulatory-compliant design (CE/UKCA, UN38.3, IEC 62133, PSE, KC, FCC).

3. Quality Assurance & Testing

• Define quality benchmarks for hardware, batteries, electronics, and packaging.
• Implement QA protocols (in collaboration with inspection firms like TÜV, SGS).
• Review and approve test reports from ODM partners.
• Manage consumer safety testing (EMC, battery transport, electrical safety).

4. IP & Regulatory Filings

• Coordinate with IP consultants and patent attorneys (India, UK, USA, Japan, Korea).
• Draft and maintain IP strategy: patents, design registrations, and trademarks.
• Maintain confidentiality and IP security in ODM and supplier agreements.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with regulatory consultants in UK, USA, Japan, Korea for device classification.
• Support marketing team with technical inputs for claims, FAQs, and user manuals.
• Coordinate with finance team for BOM costing, margin analysis, and pricing models.

6. Continuous Improvement

• Track competitor devices (vapes, heated tobacco, wellness gadgets) to anticipate trends.
• Drive iterations to improve Device aesthetics, performance, battery life, and consumer safety.
• Maintain product roadmap for next-gen devices.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Engineering / Product Design / Materials Science / Electrical / Electronics / Mechanical from a top-tier institute.
• 5–15 years’ experience in product development, consumer devices, or hardware project management.
• Strong exposure to ODM/OEM collaboration (China/Southeast Asia preferred).
• Proven track record of taking a hardware product to market.
• Deep understanding of BOM optimization, quality management, and certifications.
• Excellent English communication skills (verbal & written).
• High comfort working across cultures, time zones, and global partners.
• Personal experience as a smoker or ex-smoker (preferred) – empathy with target users.
• Location is Mumbai and requires mandatory onsite office attendance

Soft Skills

• Ownership mindset: treats product as their own company.
• Analytical thinker with commercial sense.
• Negotiation and vendor management skills.
• Strong eye for detail (QA, compliance, contracts).
• Ability to thrive in a startup environment – resourceful, agile, accountable.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary (aligned with senior product/tech leaders in Mumbai).
• ESOPs/Equity options for long-term wealth creation.
• Opportunity to travel internationally (Shenzhen, UK, USA, Japan, Korea).
• Fast-track leadership growth as Company scales globally.

Why Join?

• Be at the forefront of creating a new consumer wellness category at a global level
• Shape a product that can positively impact tens of millions by offering a safe ritual alternative to smoking.
• Work directly with the founder in a lean, high-impact team.
• Build global exposure across China (manufacturing), UK (market), and other key geographies.

To Apply:

Send your profile to samir@sameteq.com