Product Manager Data Centers

What you will do

Overview

Data centers are rapidly becoming the backbone of the digital economy, powering the growth of AI, cloud, and critical online infrastructure—making this one of the fastest-growing and most strategic segments for Volvo Penta. The growth is occurring globally, with the largest operators and sites continuing to expand in North America. This creates an opportunity for Volvo Penta to expand in the Data Center power solutions market by applying its experience in delivering reliable, high-performance power systems.

Position Summary

The Product Manager for Data Center Power Generation will play a key role in shaping product offerings for Volvo Penta in the growing North American data center market. Based on-site in Chesapeake, VA (US), this role works cross-functionally with the Data Center business development team in the US and globally with Product Development colleagues in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Reporting to the Director of Product Planning (located in Sweden), you will define and drive the delivery of competitive, reliable power solutions for Data Center customers. You will translate market needs into product direction, informed by a strong understanding of site design, operational requirements, stakeholder needs, and power infrastructure.

This role sits at the intersection of market insight, engineering, and long-term product strategy, requiring both commercial acumen and solid technical understanding. Key experience and knowledge areas should include:

• Deep understanding of data center operations and power requirements
• Familiarity with power solutions (e.g., gensets, battery energy storage systems)
• Working knowledge of combustion engines and power system fundamentals
• Experience collaborating across global teams to influence product development

Who are you?

You have a strong understanding of how data centers are designed, powered, and operated, as well as the role reliable power plays in ensuring performance and uptime. You’re able to connect customer needs, operational requirements, and available technologies to support clear, practical product decisions.

You bring a combination of technical knowledge and business awareness, and you are comfortable working across functions with colleagues around the world to move work forward and influence outcomes. You operate well in complex environments and take a structured, pragmatic approach to solving problems with long-term implications. You also have a solid understanding of the North American market and customer landscape, and can translate those insights into clear, actionable product requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Market & Customer Insight: Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and customer needs in the data center power market to shape product direction and identify new opportunities.

Competitive Positioning: Develop clear market and competitive insights to position our power solutions effectively and inform strategic decisions.

Product Strategy: Drive product and investment decisions in a highly complex, capital-intensive environment where choices have a multi-decade impact.

Product Definition: Translate market needs into clear product requirements, including performance specifications (power, fuel efficiency, noise), regulatory compliance, and reliability targets.

Global Alignment: Give input and support the global Product Development teams to ensure regional market requirements are understood and incorporated into product design

Cross-functional Leadership: Work closely with engineering, business development, and marketing to align product development with customer and market needs

Lifecycle Ownership: Support the full product lifecycle—from concept and development through launch, scaling, and end-of-life plans.

Regulatory & Compliance Plan: Navigate evolving emissions, safety, and regulatory standards to ensure products meet current and future requirements.

Preferred Experience and Education

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, industrial technology, or related technical field or the appropriate equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum 3 years of experience in engine OEM, distributor, or dealer service environments
• Proven expert-level knowledge of engine systems.
• Working knowledge of emerging powertrain technologies (electrification, alternative fuels, hybrid systems, connectivity, remote diagnostics) preferred.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to interface with all levels of employees, leaders, customers, suppliers, partners, and other stakeholders
• Advanced communication and presentation skills in both US and global contexts
• Fully proficient with Microsoft 365 tools
• Ability to read, write, understand, and speak English. Bilingual (English plus Spanish, Swedish, etc.) a plus

Ready for the next move?

Expected competence at work:

Employees work within the foundation of the Volvo Group Code of Conduct and Volvo Group Values. More specifically, employees in Volvo Penta are required to meet and/or develop the following competencies:

• Respect: You trust, respect, and provide equal attention to those around you
• Collaborative: You build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet objectives
• Trust: You gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
• Stakeholder Management: You engage with others effectively no matter their role
• Self-Development: You seek new ways to grow and be challenged using different ways of learning
• Change Management: You recognize others respond to change differently and you support adoption with empathy and planning
• Influencing: You help colleagues by sharing your ideas and ensure your message is clear
• Strategic mindset: You see future possibilities and translate them into strategy and tactical execution plans
• Networking: You build formal and informal relationships across the organization proactively
• Accountability: You take responsibility and follow through on commitments
• Manage ambiguity: You operate effectively even when things are not certain or clear
• Customer focus: You deliver customer-centric solutions and keep the dealer experience front and center

Physical Requirements

Ability to meet physical demands while performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required, with or without accommodation, to:

• Stand, walk, or sit, sometimes for prolonged periods
• Balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• See, speak, and hear, including distinguishing visual and audible signals necessary for safety and effective communication
• Use hands or fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls
• Reach with hands and arms to access products, tools, and controls
• Lift, move, or carry up to twenty (20) pounds unassisted
• Climb stairs, ladders, sometimes in confined spaces
• Inspect or observe products in small or confined spaces
• Have stamina for long and unpredictable days, including extended hours, sometimes weekends
• Work with loud noise levels
• Work in various settings such as industrial sites, outdoor environments, in various weather conditions
• Frequent travel including overnight stays

Other considerations:

This job is an on-site position along with flexibility based on Volvo Group work principles and coordination with your manager

Domestic and international travel will be frequent (50%)

To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status. If you are employed by the Volvo Group currently in the US, continued sponsorship may be considered. Current Volvo Group employees outside the United States may be considered for an assignment.