Staff Product Manager – Hardware / Devices (Telematics Control Unit)

We're building the next-generation Fleet Intelligence Platform (Telematics / FMS) for the Indian market. Our vision is to transform how commercial vehicles are managed, combining smart telematics hardware, and AI-driven SaaS. With India's 10M+ commercial vehicles and increasing compliance requirements, this is an opportunity to reshape logistics and mobility.

As a Staff Product Manager Hardware / Devices, you will own the end-to-end product definition and execution of Fleanos Telematics Control Unit (TCU).

This role is explicitly for senior hardware product leaders had the exposure/experience with some of the OEMs / Tier 1 Suppliers (Qualcomm, Bosch, Continental, Harman, Visteon, Aptiv, etc.,) and want to move from large-org execution to founding-level ownership.

You will define the TCU as a cloud-first, security-critical automotive device, working hands-on with ODMs, chipset vendors, and certification bodieswhile partnering deeply with firmware and cloud platform teams.

This is a Founding Staff role in an early-stage company.

Equity-first compensation during the pre-funding / pre-revenue phase

Cash compensation to be introduced or significantly revised post funding

Candidates are expected to think and operate like owners, not employees

These roles offer outsized impact, architectural ownership, and long-term upside

This is not a short-term consulting or contract opportunity.

Hardware Product Definition (TCU Ownership)

Own the TCU product vision, roadmap, and SKU strategy (2G/4G/LTE, GNSS, CAN, BLE, sensors, IP rating, etc.).

Define compute, memory, power, thermal, and enclosure requirements.

Translate cloud, security, and OTA requirements into hardware constraints.

Make platform-level trade-offs between cost, performance, reliability, and certification.

Vendor, Chipset & ODM Leadership

Act as the single accountable product owner for all external hardware partners.

Work directly with:

oChipset vendors (e.g., Qualcomm, MediaTek, Quectel, u-blox)

oODMs / EMS partners (India + global)

oAutomotive suppliers and labs

Drive RFQs, BOM optimization, cost-down initiatives, and roadmap alignment.

Hold vendors accountable on quality, timelines, and field performance.

Embedded, Firmware & Cloud Alignment

Partner with embedded and firmware teams on:

oBoot chain and secure boot requirements

oOTA strategy (A/B partitions, rollback, kill switches)

oDevice health, diagnostics, and lifecycle telemetry

Ensure tight alignment between device capabilities and cloud ingestion / command semantics.

Automotive Compliance & Certification

Own regulatory readiness and certifications:

oAIS-140 (India)

oAutomotive EMC, safety, and telecom compliance

Drive certification planning, audits, and documentation.

Ensure firmware update and cybersecurity evidence is audit-ready.

Manufacturing, Field Trials & Scale

Own EVT / DVT / PVT milestones.

Drive pilot deployments and real-world field validation.

Incorporate feedback from fleets, installers, and operations teams.

Lead cost and reliability improvements for mass deployment.

Profile Were Looking For

815+ years in hardware or automotive product management.

Experience owning TCU, infotainment, or embedded automotive platforms.

Background at companies like Qualcomm, Bosch, Continental, Harman, Visteon, Aptiv (or similar Tier-1 / chipset ecosystems).

Technical & Domain Fluency

Strong understanding of:

oEmbedded systems and hardware lifecycles

oCellular, GNSS, CAN, BLE connectivity stacks

oSecure boot, device identity, and OTA update mechanisms

oCAN, SAE J1939, SAE J2012, UDS, DOIP and / or other relevant protocols

Ability to work fluently with hardware, firmware, cloud, and security teams.

India-Specific Strengths (Strong Plus)

Hands-on AIS-140 experience

Working knowledge of Indian EMS / ODM landscape

Experience shipping devices at 10k100k+ unit scale