What a great overview. We are currently building up our product development process, this ressource helps a great deal. Do you have any recommendations for tools that help manage this process? We are currently looking at Asana.
How could I switch from software to hardware? I have a CS degree, would I need to go back to school for a BSEE or BSME?
I have tried PMing in the software world and it wasn’t for me, found that it was usually just a whipping boy role in most orgs without any real leverage, despite the PM propaganda out there. So would ideally want to switch into HW as an engineer of some sort
It depends - do you want to do engineering or PM work? If PM it’s relatively much easier to get in through side projects. Also WLB and politics depend a lot on company. Some orgs are very good at being product focused and empower PMs.
However - what is your opinion on the interview process difficulty for say a MechE (what I would probably switch to) in the hardware world vs. a SWE in the software world? I have never been able to crack the FAANG engineer interviews and my career has suffered as a result - would I just be putting myself in a similar situation if I get a BS MechE with the intent to work on hardware products?
BSEE and BSME are two completely different things. BSEE would be designing the circuit board and electronics of a device (the electronics of an Alexa smart speaker for example) whereas the BSME would be designing the mechanical housing of the speaker - working closely with the acoustics engineer I'd assume....
It is amazing the games of telephone that can occur in hardware product development! The most effective development systems are those which are highly socialized with high individual responsibility.
Hi. This is great, thanks for sharing. Where in the process do you allow for R&D activities?
Thanks Carlos! Typically done in or prior to concept stage
What a great overview. We are currently building up our product development process, this ressource helps a great deal. Do you have any recommendations for tools that help manage this process? We are currently looking at Asana.
How could I switch from software to hardware? I have a CS degree, would I need to go back to school for a BSEE or BSME?
I have tried PMing in the software world and it wasn’t for me, found that it was usually just a whipping boy role in most orgs without any real leverage, despite the PM propaganda out there. So would ideally want to switch into HW as an engineer of some sort
It depends - do you want to do engineering or PM work? If PM it’s relatively much easier to get in through side projects. Also WLB and politics depend a lot on company. Some orgs are very good at being product focused and empower PMs.
As an engineer you’d need a degree to get in
Ideally, I want to be an engineer
However - what is your opinion on the interview process difficulty for say a MechE (what I would probably switch to) in the hardware world vs. a SWE in the software world? I have never been able to crack the FAANG engineer interviews and my career has suffered as a result - would I just be putting myself in a similar situation if I get a BS MechE with the intent to work on hardware products?
BSEE and BSME are two completely different things. BSEE would be designing the circuit board and electronics of a device (the electronics of an Alexa smart speaker for example) whereas the BSME would be designing the mechanical housing of the speaker - working closely with the acoustics engineer I'd assume....
It is amazing the games of telephone that can occur in hardware product development! The most effective development systems are those which are highly socialized with high individual responsibility.
Thank you!
GREAT OVERVIEW!
Do you have a guide for writing a PRD?
Hi, would you be willing to share an editable version of the workflow doc? I need something, but used in a different industry.
Hey Tim I don’t have a draft file of this but feel free to use what’s here as reference