Product & Software Manager(Central Asia)

Role Overview

This role serves as the critical bridge between the HQ R&D/Software teams in China and the front-end Central Asian market. You will not only manage the regional adaptation of vehicle hardware but also lead the localization, launch strategy, and market penetration of in-vehicle intelligent systems, connected car services, and digital applications. Through a hybrid capability spanning Product + Software, you will drive regional sales volume and enhance brand loyalty.

Key Responsibilities

• Regional Product Definition & Software Localization
• Product Planning: Collaborate with regional sales and marketing teams to research user driving habits, road conditions, and digital usage scenarios in Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, etc.). Translate local insights into precise vehicle configuration definitions and software feature requirement documents, and coordinate with the Chinese R&D team to ensure localized development.
• Software Experience Management: Oversee the localization, validation, and iteration of the in-vehicle infotainment system (HMI), smart cockpit applications, and ADAS features for the Central Asian market. Manage regional OTA (Over-The-Air) content planning to ensure software experiences are aligned with local network environments and user preferences.
• Competitive Intelligence: Conduct in-depth benchmarking against key regional competitors (e.g., Korean and European brands) regarding hardware/software configurations. Build a robust regional product definition capability and extract localized competitive differentiators.
• Product Launch
• Dealer Enablement: Design and produce product training materials and competitive sales scripts for dealer networks and sales teams, ensuring that HQ-defined product highlights are effectively communicated at the customer-facing level.
• Marketing Support: Act as the technical and product expert for regional marketing events (e.g., auto shows, test-drive campaigns), providing key technical endorsements and product demo solutions that translate software capabilities into tangible user experiences.
• Market Feedback & Regulatory Compliance
• User Experience Loop: Collect and analyze end-user feedback on vehicle hardware and software performance (including complaints and suggestions). Establish a localized issue reporting mechanism to drive continuous product quality improvement.
• Compliance & Homologation: Monitor and interpret regional regulations—particularly concerning connected vehicle data security and radio frequency standards—to ensure all products meet the legal and compliance requirements of CA markets.

4. Channel Capability Training & Enablement

• Collaborate with the HQ training team to conduct Localization of training materials and optimize local competing products and sales pitches.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or above in Automotive Engineering, Computer Science, Marketing, or a related field.
• Experience:
• 8+ years of experience in automotive product management, or a related discipline. Experience with Chinese brand globalization or joint ventures is highly preferred.
• Must-have: Proven experience in vehicle product definition and hands-on management of in-vehicle infotainment systems, connected car services, or ADAS features.
• Language Skills: Fluency in Russian and English (as working languages for HQ and local team communication). Proficiency in Chinese (Mandarin) is a significant plus (for effective coordination with Chinese R&D teams).

Core Competencies:

• Technical Acumen: Ability to translate complex software parameters into customer-friendly selling points; working knowledge of APIs, OTA processes, and data tracking principles.
• Data-Driven Mindset: Proficiency in Excel and analytical tools to derive product optimization insights from sales data and user feedback.
• Cross-Cultural Communication: Strong coordination skills, with the ability to balance the results-oriented culture of HQ and the relatively slower-paced local market, ensuring efficient workflows and alignment.

Preferred Add-ons:

• Prior work or life experience in Central Asia (especially Kazakhstan).
• Familiarity with local connected car regulations and EV charging infrastructure.