▷ 15h Left: 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