VP of Product Development

KittySpout

. Build and own the product roadmap for both brands, including roughly one main launch per quarter plus consumables, accessories and upgrades .

Posted 11/3/2026contractShenzhen • ChinaLead💰 $135,000 - $175,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in product development from concept to mass production, including managing teams and factories in China. Proficient in patent filing and protecting intellectual property while ensuring product quality and cost targets are met.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Product Roadmap DevelopmentFactory NegotiationPatent FilingTeam ManagementBilingual in English and Mandarin

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Product DevelopmentIndustrial DesignEngineering ManagementCost NegotiationQuality Standards SettingPrototype TestingFirmware ManagementSOP DocumentationProduct LaunchMarket Research

Soft Skills

Cultural FitCollaborationProblem SolvingLeadershipCommunication

Industry Keywords

Physical ProductsPet ProductsSmall AppliancesApp-Connected DevicesPearl River DeltaEVT/DVT/PVTNNNsIP AssignmentsMold OwnershipContract Management

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build and own the product roadmap for both brands, including roughly one main launch per quarter plus consumables, accessories and upgrades
Turn customer reviews, support tickets, return reasons and competitor products into product ideas and signed-off briefs
Hire and manage contract industrial designers, engineers and design studios in Shenzhen
Move products through concept, industrial design, engineering, prototype, EVT/DVT/PVT and mass production stage gates
File patents in China and the US and protect designs with NNNs, IP assignments and mold ownership before factory contact
Find, vet and manage Pearl River Delta factories
Negotiate unit cost, MOQ, tooling and lead time while maintaining landed cost and margin targets
Set product quality standards and obtain required certifications
Test prototypes with real cats and dogs
Own firmware and companion apps for connected products
Hand products over ready for launch and resolve defects and returns with factories for 90 days after launch
Build the product function, document SOPs, post weekly product updates, set monthly Rocks with the CEO and plan future hires

Requirements

What you’ll need

Based in Shenzhen, Dongguan or Hong Kong, and able to visit factories, design agencies and studios in person every week
Fluent in English and Mandarin
6–8+ years building physical products end to end, with several products taken from idea through mass production and launch
Experience building and running a product team covering design, engineering, patents and factories, including contractors and studios
Experience finding, vetting and running Chinese factories, and negotiating price, MOQ, tooling and quality in Mandarin
Experience filing patents in China and/or the US, and knowledge of NNNs, IP assignments and mold ownership
Ability to design to a target landed cost and margin and hold it through tooling and production
Understanding of mechanical, electrical and firmware trade-offs sufficient to lead engineers and catch problems early
Ability to turn reviews, returns and pet behaviour into products people want
Contractor role; invoice the company, for example through your own Hong Kong company
Willingness to work overtime or weekends if needed
Excellent cultural fit with the company's values
Excited to work closely with the founder and help scale the company
Bonus points for pet products, small appliances or app-connected devices shipped end to end

Benefits

Comp & perks

Up to 20% of base in milestone bonuses tied to stage gates hit on time, landed cost on target, defect and return rates, and patents filed