ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Freelance Product Development Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

SanMar-Internal

Product Development Manager

Issaquah, WA · Hybrid

$80K - $115K/yr

The Product Development Manager is responsible for managing the development and production of SanMar products. The Product Development Manager leads the development process from initial concept to ...

SanMar-Internal

Product Development Manager

Issaquah, WA · On-site

$80K - $115K/yr

The Product Development Manager is responsible for managing the development and production of SanMar products. The Product Development Manager leads the development process from initial concept to ...

Delta Star Inc.

Product Development Manager

Lynchburg, VA · On-site

$110 - $170/hr

What You'll Do As the Product Development Manager, you will lead efforts to identify growth opportunities, evaluate emerging technologies, and develop strategies that expand Delta Star's market ...

MillerKnoll

Product Development Manager

Stamford, CT · On-site

$122K - $152K/yr

As a Product Development Manager, you will own the end-to-end development, driving projects from concept through commercialization. You will partner closely with Design, Merchandising, Sourcing, and ...

Legrand

Product Development Manager

Warsaw, IN · On-site

$110 - $140/hr

The Product Development Manager is a key leader in bringing innovative products to market. This role offers the opportunity to guide a talented engineering and design team, shape new product strategy ...

Knoll Inc.

$110 - $170/hr

As a Product Development Manager, you will own the end-to-end development, driving projects from concept through commercialization. You will partner closely with Design, Merchandising, Sourcing, and ...

Knoll Inc.

Product Development Manager

Stamford, CT · On-site

$110 - $170/hr

As a Product Development Manager, you will own the end-to-end development, driving projects from concept through commercialization. You will partner closely with Design, Merchandising, Sourcing, and ...

UFP Industries

Product Development Manager

Blanchester, OH · On-site

$101K - $127K/yr

Job Summary We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Industrial Designer / Product Development Manage with 5-7 years of experience leading product development and innovation ...

New

iRESTORE

Product Development Manager

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$110K - $135K/yr

Position Overview iRESTORE is seeking a Product Development Manager to drive strategic product development and lifecycle management. You will focus on formulation, prototyping, testing, and go-to ...

ALO

Product Development Manager

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

OVERVIEW We are looking for a creative and inspired leader to join the Alo family as a Product Development Manager. The candidate's responsibility will be to work with a cross functional team of ...

Monster Energy

Product Development Manager

Corona, CA · On-site

$118K - $147K/yr

The Product Development Manager will lead projects to develop new beverages, manage formula reviews, and ensure compliance with global quality standards while addressing technical issues in the field.

Monster Energy

Product Development Manager

Corona, CA

$118K - $147K/yr

As the Product Development Manager, you will lead projects with flavor houses, suppliers, and production facilities to develop new beverages and raw materials. Manage the review of all formulas ...

Centric Brands

Product Development Manager

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$125K - $157K/yr

Specific Responsibilities Would Include The Product Development Manager leads seasonal product development needs by collaborating with a cross-functional team, including Production, Design, Sales ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All Jobsfreelance JobsBusiness JobsProduct Development JobsProduct Developer JobsFreelance Product Development Manager Jobs

Freelance Product Development Manager information

See salary details

$42.5K

$127K

$144.5K

How much do freelance product development manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance product development manager in the United States is $126,987.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $114,500.00 and $143,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a freelance product development manager do?

A Freelance Product Development Manager oversees the creation and development of new products for companies on a contract or project basis. They work with cross-functional teams, including design, engineering, and marketing, to bring ideas from concept to launch. Their responsibilities often include market research, project management, budgeting, and timeline coordination. As freelancers, they offer flexibility and expertise to multiple clients, helping businesses innovate without committing to a full-time hire.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance product development manager?

To thrive as a Freelance Product Development Manager, you need expertise in product lifecycle management, market research, and project coordination, often supported by a degree in business, engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Agile project management software (e.g., Jira, Trello), prototyping platforms, and collaboration suites is essential. Exceptional communication, adaptability, and leadership skills help you manage cross-functional teams and client expectations. These abilities ensure timely, market-fit product delivery and successful client relationships in a dynamic freelance environment.

How do freelance product development managers typically coordinate with remote teams and clients?

Freelance Product Development Managers often work with distributed teams and clients across different time zones, which requires strong communication and project management skills. They usually rely on collaboration tools like Slack, Asana, or Trello to keep everyone aligned and ensure that project milestones are met. Regular virtual meetings and clear documentation help maintain transparency and resolve issues quickly. Building trust remotely and proactively addressing potential bottlenecks are common challenges, but these practices help streamline workflow and foster productive relationships.

What is the difference between Freelance Product Development Manager vs Freelance Product Designer?

AspectFreelance Product Development Manager

The Freelance Product Development Manager focuses on overseeing the entire product development process, coordinating teams, managing timelines, and ensuring product success. They typically have project management skills, industry experience, and sometimes certifications like PMP. In contrast, a Freelance Product Designer primarily concentrates on the visual and user experience aspects of a product, requiring design skills, proficiency in design tools, and a portfolio. While both roles work in product creation, the manager handles project coordination, and the designer handles the aesthetic and usability elements.

What cities are hiring for Freelance Product Development Manager jobs?

Cities with the most Freelance Product Development Manager job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Product Development Manager jobs?

The most popular types of Product Development Manager jobs are:

What states have the most Freelance Product Development Manager jobs?

States with the most job openings for Freelance Product Development Manager jobs include:

Freelance Product Development Manager jobs near you

Product Development Manager

i3 Product Development

Sun Prairie, WI • On-site

$95K - $125K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

At i3, we build real products for real clients, and getting it right takes more than someone who can run a schedule. It takes someone who can hold the product vision, manage the client relationship, and lead a team of engineers all at once, even when the path forward isn't fully mapped out yet.
If you're picturing Gantt charts, status meetings, and a plan that's already been scoped for you, that's not quite what this is. We're looking for a project leader who is willing to roll their sleeves up and dig into complex, technical challenges. This role is best suited to someone who enjoys working through ambiguity and staying close to the technical work.
What a Product Development Manager Actually Does
  • Understand the client's business, their customers and what they're really trying to build - not just what they wrote in the request for proposal
  • Help shape the product vision alongside the client, not just take notes on it
  • Turn ambiguity into a workable plan
  • Push back on assumptions and figure out what the team or client needs next
  • Lead and energize a team spanning software, mechanical, electrical, firmware, and design
  • Manage scope, budget, cross-functional coordination, risk, and client expectations
  • Stay close enough to the work that you catch gaps early
  • Know what needs to be built and who's best suited to build it. Sometimes that's you, more often it's someone on your team

You don't need to be the technical expert in every discipline on the team. You do need to be curious about the technology, have good product judgment, and be someone who creates clarity instead of waiting around for it.
Your background might be in Project Management, Business Analysis, Product Management, or Technical Program Management. At i3, the title matters less than the pattern of experience below.
What Makes This Role Different
To be honest, you may not walk into a project with a fully defined scope or finalized requirements. Part of the job is helping the client and the team figure that out together. You'll be balancing competing priorities, questioning assumptions, and taking ownership when the next step isn't obvious.
This is a good fit if you want to help build products, not just manage schedules. It's probably not a good fit if you're looking for a structured, coordination-only project management role. Someone looking for a primarily coordination-focused role will likely find this position broader and more hands on than expected.
Who We're Looking For
We're not tied to one specific background. We're looking for evidence that you:
  • Have led development work where the answer wasn't handed to you
  • Think about the product, the customer, and the business, not just the task list
  • Can hold your own with technical teams without needing to be the smartest person in the room
  • Create clarity on your own instead of waiting for someone to hand it to you
  • Can manage scope, schedule, budget, and risk without losing sight of why the product matters
  • Enjoy both building and coordinating
  • Can shift how you lead depending on whether you're working with
  • Can manage more than one project at a time shifting focus often
  • Take responsibility when things don't go according to plan
  • Enjoy and thrive in variety and learning new things - projects and clients start and finish often and each day is not the same

Education & Experience
A bachelor's degree in engineering, technology, design, business, or a related discipline is preferred. We are more interested in the relevance of your experience than in the exact title of your degree. Successful candidates will have experience working with technical teams and leading products, programs, or client engagements through ambiguous and evolving development work.
Qualifications
  • 5+ years of product development experience preferred
  • Experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering projects
  • Experience coaching and mentoring team members
  • Comfortable presenting, whether it's a client meeting or an internal design review
  • A solid understanding of electro-mechanical systems and connected products is a big plus
  • PMP certification is a plus though this role also requires strong product judgement, client leadership, and comfort with ambiguity.

If reading this made you think, "that sounds demanding, but it's exactly the kind of ownership I want," let's talk!
A real person on our team wrote this posting. We'd love to hear from a real person too.
Benefits and Perks
  • Health insurance with a zero-dollar deductible and employee premiums as low as nine dollars per pay period
  • Dental and vision coverage
  • 401(k) with dollar-for-dollar match up to six percent
  • Employee Stock Purchase Program
  • Company-paid short- and long-term disability insurance
  • Company-paid life insurance at two times annual salary
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Health Savings Account
  • Paid time off
  • Paid holidays
  • Emergency Assistance Fund
  • Charitable Match Program

Apply