A Guide to Product Development Jobs: Roles, Skills, Salaries

When you work in product development, your role is to bring better products to the market by overseeing the product life cycle. As a product developer, you must have a strong understanding of product development's creative and technical aspects. Some essential skills include creativity, problem-solving, attention to detail, and strong communication. 

As you look through job advertisements, you’ll notice that product jobs often pay very well. Senior product development positions in the UK can pay as much as £69,266 a year, according to July 2024 data from Glassdoor UK [1]. 

Discover more about this rewarding career, including the types of jobs available and the requirements to work in this field.

What are product development jobs?

Product development describes the process of creating or improving a new product or service, including its design, testing, and release. The product life cycle may also include controlling cost, quality, and time to market by improving manufacturing or distribution processes. An essential part of product development jobs is ensuring that products are functional, appealing to customers, and profitable. Examples of job titles in product development with their respective salaries include:

• Product manager: £61,184

• Product analyst: £47,640

• Product lead: £78,061

• Product marketing manager: £61,480

• User experience (UX) designer: £47,887

• User interface (UI) designer: £46,570

• Quality assurance (QA) tester: £25,780

• Business analyst: £45,480

*All salary data sourced from Glassdoor in July 2024.

Product development job description

Product development jobs can involve improving or developing existing products. These processes include developing marketing strategies and implementing protocols to ensure product quality. Product development must consider customers' needs and wants and align with the company's ability to source, produce, and market the product.

Product development process

Someone in a product development role may be involved with one or more of the four steps of the product development process below.

1. Researching the market.

Before you start product development, you must research the target market to ensure demand for your merchandise. This involves surveying potential customers and analysing data to determine their motivation for purchasing your product. You’ll also need to uncover the size of the opportunity.

2. Designing the process.

Your first step in product development is designing the product. It involves brainstorming for a new product or ways to improve an existing one. Your design must be functional, aesthetically pleasing, safe, and compliant with relevant regulations.

3. Developing the product.

Once the design is complete, it’s time for you to develop the product. This phase of the process involves creating the manufacturing process, building prototypes, and ensuring products meet all safety and quality standards. Product development can be relatively simple or more complex, involving many iterations in an Agile development environment. 

4. Conducting prototype testing.

Once the product is ready, present it to selected customers for feedback. Criticism can help improve the product before it goes to market.

Product development industry overview 

Predictions expect the industry to grow with new technology, like robotics, data analytics, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), changing how companies develop and manufacture products. Jobs for product developers are in demand as businesses strive to introduce new products to the market. Product development is also critical to a company's success, and those who enter this field can expect to find plenty of opportunities for advancement. 

Job outlook for product development

Product development and design are exciting career options. According to Prospects, 79 per cent of product design graduates gain employment, whilst three per cent undertake further study and 7.5 per cent work whilst studying [2]. Different positions in product development will have different demand levels as technology transforms.

Key skills for product development jobs

As a product development manager, you will have many duties. One minute, you might work on the strategy for a product launch; the next, you might troubleshoot an issue with a product in early development. To succeed in this dynamic position, you must have strong and diverse competencies. 

Technical skills

You’ll need to be proficient in several technical skills to understand complex technical problems and develop creative product solutions. Some of the technical skills you’ll possess include:

• Conducting market research

• Industry knowledge

• Improving user experience through monitoring and modification

• Understanding of web/software/product development

• Product design

• Writing technical specs and requirements

Workplace skills

Working in the product development lifecycle, you’ll also need excellent project management skills to juggle multiple products and deadlines. You’ll need to be able to work well under pressure and meet deadlines. To accomplish all of that, you’ll need excellent workplace skills. Some of the essential workplace skills you need are:

• Strong communication skills

• Critical thinking and analytical skills

• Collaboration

• Leadership and the ability to take initiative

• Problem-solving

• Time management

Education requirements

The education requirements for a product development job vary depending on the industry, company, and even specific title you hold. Recruiters look for degrees in subjects such as design and engineering, as well as sales or anything customer-focused, including marketing and psychology. To get a feel for the requirements, consider browsing job postings for titles you're interested in. 

Certification programmes and online courses for product development jobs

Product development certifications support your learning, enhancing the skills and knowledge necessary for success in this career path. With a certification, you can demonstrate commitment and competencies to stand out amongst other candidates, making you more attractive to potential employers. 

Certification programmes may also provide access to exclusive job opportunities and networking events. Check out some product-related certifications and online programmes that can help boost your CV: 

• Product Ideation, Design, and Management Specialisation by the University of Maryland

• Agile Certified Product Manager And Product Owner by AIPMM

• Certified Product Manager Credential by AIPMM

• Certified Product Marketing Manager by AIPMM

• Digital Product Management Specialisation by the University of Virginia

• Pragmatic Institute's Product Management Certification

• Software Product Management Specialisation by the University of Alberta

• Product Development and Management Association's (PDMA) New Product Development Certification (NPDP)

Start building your product development skills today with Coursera

The field of product development is broad, offering many career options depending on the level you’re working at, your skills, and the breadth of your experience. 

Continue learning and developing a foundational product development skill set with the University of Virginia's online course, Digital Product Management: Modern Fundamentals. This beginner-friendly course covers modern product management methods and can help you learn how to manage new products and explore new product ideas. As part of the Digital Product Management Specialisation, you'll also have the chance to earn a certificate to enhance your CV.