Product Development Jobs: 9 Areas to Explore

Key takeaways

• When it comes to developing a product, there are many different jobs worth exploring.

• Product development requires a diverse team of professionals, including product managers, product marketing managers, UX designers, software developers, and more.

• To get started in a product development career, it's important to identify which aspect aligns with your skills, interests, and career goals.

Learn more about the different areas involved in successfully developing a product, and the job titles associated with each one. Afterward, learn more about product management with the IBM Product Manager Professional Certificate.

Product development jobs: 9 areas to consider

Seeing a product through from ideation to release requires many different roles. While these jobs can overlap at times, especially when collaborating, each job type is responsible for a certain aspect of product development. This enables individuals to specialize in a specific area of product development, aligning their interests and strengths.

Let's review the options to consider if you're thinking about a product development career.

1. Product strategy

Focuses on defining the product vision, conducting market research, and creating long-term plans. It involves setting goals, identifying opportunities, and aligning product development with business objectives. Learn more about important product manager skills to develop.

Jobs:

• Product Manager

• Strategic Product Consultant

2. User experience (UX)

Concentrates on understanding user needs, behaviors, and preferences to create intuitive and enjoyable product experiences. UX professionals conduct research, create user flows, and design interactions to optimize user satisfaction. Learn more about important UX designer skills to develop.

Jobs:

• User experience (UX) designer

• User interface (UI) designer

3. Design

Encompasses visual, industrial, and UI design to create aesthetically pleasing and functional products. Designers work on everything from product appearance to interface layouts, ensuring a cohesive and attractive user experience.

Jobs:

• Product designer

• UI/UX designer

4. Engineering

Involves the technical implementation of product features and functionality. This includes writing code, developing hardware, and ensuring product quality through testing and optimization. Learn more about important software developer skills to develop.

Job titles:

• Software developer

• Product engineer

5. Project management

Oversees the planning, execution, and delivery of product development projects. This involves coordinating teams, managing resources, and ensuring the timely completion of project milestones.

Job titles:

• Agile project manager

6. Data analysis

Focuses on collecting, interpreting, and leveraging data to inform product decisions. Analysts track user behavior, conduct A/B tests, and measure product performance to drive improvements. Learn more about important data analysis skills to develop.

Job titles:

• Product data analyst

• User insights specialist

7. Marketing

Develops strategies to effectively promote and launch products. This area encompasses product positioning, marketing campaigns, and strategies for acquiring and retaining customers. Learn more about key marketing skills to develop.

Job titles:

• Product marketing manager

• Go-to-market strategist

8. Business analysis

Evaluates the financial and strategic aspects of product development. This can include creating financial models, conducting competitive analysis, and developing pricing strategies to ensure product viability and profitability. Learn more about key business development skills to build.

Job titles:

• Business analyst

• Product analyst

9. Customer success

Ensures customers derive maximum value from the product. This involves managing user onboarding, providing support, and gathering feedback to drive product improvements and customer satisfaction.

Job titles:

• Quality assurance (QA) tester

• Product support specialist

• Customer success manager

How to begin a career in product development

Embarking on a career in product development can be an exciting journey. The first step is to explore the various aspects of product development and identify which areas align with your interests, skills, and career goals. Whether you're drawn to strategy, design, engineering, or another facet, understanding your preferences will help guide your career path. Once you've identified your area of interest, consider the following steps:

Earn the required education.

While not every aspect of product development requires a bachelor's degree, many do, and you may find it increasingly important as you seek to advance in your career. Relevant majors include business, engineering, computer science, or design, depending on your chosen focus.

Consider certificates to strengthen your knowledge.

Product development is a business focus that values practical knowledge and skills, which you can acquire through online courses, boot camps, or certificate programs. Obtain this additional credentialing relevant to your chosen field, such as Agile, Scrum, or specific software tools.

Gain experience.

Seek internships or entry-level positions in product-focused companies where you can hone important professional experience. The experience you build in this area doesn't always have to come from a full-time job. You can also contribute to open-source projects or create your own product to build a portfolio.

Build your skill set.

Working in product development requires several fundamental technical skills, such as data analysis and project management, alongside essential workplace skills, including problem-solving, creative thinking, and user empathy. As you identify job postings that interest you, pay attention to the sections outlining required and recommended abilities to get additional specifics about skills you should strengthen.

Get familiar with the key tools.

Familiarize yourself with common product development tools, such as project management software, design tools, and analytics platforms.

Start building your product development skills today with Coursera

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses from over 350 top universities and companies.

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