Mike Fair

Leading product management for Pickle Robot’s warehouse trailer unloading solutions. Manage a customer focused team of hardware and software product managers, product design, and product documentation. Own product strategy, roadmap, feature prioritization, and requirements definition, including market requirements and key product decisions. Drive cross-functional alignment across engineering, operations, and go-to-market teams to deliver innovative, customer-focused robotic solutions.

Built a customer-centric product management organization from the ground up. Developed the product strategy, vision, value proposition, and user personas to align teams around customer outcomes. Established divisional OKRs and provided training to drive alignment and accountability. Created staffing plans, hired, onboarded, and coached a team of software and hardware product managers. Implemented best practices, processes, and tools for product planning, feature prioritization, roadmapping, and customer insight management. Leveraged user story mapping for effective release planning. Conducted trade studies, product discovery, and market analysis to shape a customer outcome–driven roadmap.

Accountable for the product vision, strategy, and customer outcomes of collaborative industrial robot arms. Served as the primary product leader, driving the full product lifecycle — from ideation and definition through development, launch, and strategic roadmap management. Partner closely with engineering and delivery teams to ensure alignment, advocate for the customer through an “outside-in” approach, and lead tradeoff and prioritization decisions to deliver impactful, customer-driven solutions.

Led a talented team of global hardware and software product managers; four direct reports Provided people management support including hiring, coaching, goal setting, and performance reviews

Drove the growth of collaborative robots by deeply understanding customer needs, market dynamics, and value delivery. Served as hardware product manager for both new and existing products. Led Voice of the Customer, Win/Loss, and competitive analysis to ensure the customer’s voice and market insights shape product direction. Developed Market Requirements Documents, define features and requirements, and lead strategic roadmap planning and execution. Oversaw revenue forecasting, pricing, and margin analysis, and guide products from inception through launch via close collaboration with R&D, engineering, marketing, and sales. Delivered go-to-market plans, sales training, and value-driven messaging that strengthen market position and accelerate growth.

Owned product strategy, roadmap, and feature definition for collaborative robotics solutions. Defined a differentiated product vision and value propositions grounded in market insights and customer needs. Led go-to-market strategy, launch planning, and sales enablement, including collateral development and messaging. Conducted win/loss analysis to refine positioning and improve buyer engagement. Collaborated cross-functionally to scale collaborative robot deployments and delivered impactful customer and partner training programs—achieving an average 89% NPS. Contributed to customer journey analysis to identify growth and retention opportunities. Was proficient in industrial robotics standards (ISO 10218-1, ISO 10218-2, TS 15066) and recognized for thought leadership through blogs and webinars on collaborative robotics. Advocated for customer needs, aligning product direction with business outcomes.

Served in a technical sales role at a fast-growing startup that pioneered the smart, collaborative robotics market—helping manufacturers build the factories of the future. Identified business development opportunities by understanding customer applications and objectives in core markets. Traveled globally to deliver product training, technical consultations, and application support for collaborative robots. Authored technical proposals and proofs of concept to capture new business and performed engaging product demonstrations for investors, customers, and distribution partners. Represented the company at tradeshows, media events, and press engagements, helping to build brand awareness and market credibility. Collaborated cross-functionally with Marketing, Product Management, Engineering, and Operations to shape new products and solutions aligned with customer needs.

Provided pre- and post-sales application and product support for collaborative robots. Delivered engaging product demonstrations for prospective customers and distribution partners, and supported sales and marketing teams at tradeshows to generate new leads and business opportunities. Managed customer support cases, diagnosed product performance issues, and coordinated corrective actions for both internal assets and deployed systems. Collected and analyzed product performance data to inform development and operational improvements. Authored field service manuals, user guides, and knowledge base content, and trained distribution partners on service procedures, applications, and product demonstrations. Participated in the implementation and launch of Salesforce CRM to improve customer and support operations.

Led integrated logistics support (ILS) functions for the design and development of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). Directed product support planning, customer training, and maintenance programs for international hardware and software systems. Expanded global supply chain and depot repair operations, including establishing distribution networks in the Middle East and evaluating regional partners. Developed and executed the strategy and project plan for global depot repair centers. Supported bid and proposal efforts by authoring logistics responses for government, military, and commercial contracts, including maintenance concepts (CONOPS), warranty and service offerings, and spare parts strategies. Collaborated cross-functionally to deliver field trials and demonstrations across the Middle East, Asia, and South America. Managed translation of technical documentation and ensured readiness through training and safety certifications. Awards: iRobot Rock Award – Recognized for extraordinary corporate contributions (2010) iRobot Chairman’s Award Nominee – Outstanding organizational impact (2010) Certified First Responder and completed Hostile Environment and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT)

Provided logistics support for Integrated Defense Systems, performing detailed Logistics Support Analysis (LSA) to develop maintenance and support requirements in line with MIL standards. Managed LSAR data in SLICWave, determined maintenance levels, required assets, spares, and support equipment, and communicated requirements to customers and engineering. Authored Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) and Supportability Strategies, and collaborated with engineering on design changes to ensure mission-critical supportability.

Provided comprehensive product support for semiconductor test cell mechanical interface products. Served as the primary contact for incident management and escalations to engineering, marketing, and operations. Supervised a technical writer and product support engineer, coordinating with a 13-member global support team to ensure full regional coverage across the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Managed customer support cases, developed troubleshooting tools and techniques to reduce system downtime, and created training programs and product documentation—reducing escalations from the field by 75%. Produced and presented four instructional video series distributed worldwide. Traveled domestically and internationally to provide urgent technical support, advanced training, and new system installations. Assisted marketing with technical differentiation materials and chaired a committee to plan a three-day global conference. Led product safety response teams to investigate issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.

Designed mechanical interface components to dock semiconductor test equipment with wafer probers and microchip handlers, improving production efficiency in cost-sensitive environments. Authored design concept proposals, business plans, detailed design reports, design verification tests, and product roadmap documents supporting a five-phase design cycle. Communicated design requirements with global customers and collaborated with vendors to procure engineering prototypes. Managed Engineering Change Orders to resolve defects, implement design enhancements, and achieve cost-reduction improvements.

Cooperative employment supporting engineering prototype assembly and testing. Assembled prototypes and conducted tests to verify design parameters. Used Pro/Engineer to design fixtures and create detailed drawings for in-house fabrication. Resolved production issues by authoring Engineering Change Orders to correct assembly documents, BOM errors, part malfunctions, and process improvements. Restructured assembly documentation to prepare sub-assemblies for outsourcing and supervised test builds to validate instructions. Designed fixtures to improve production efficiency and wrote manufacturing process specifications.

Provided production floor support for automatic test equipment assembly. Prepared manufacturing configurations and build-flow charts, maintained spreadsheets using company database information, and ordered necessary tools and supplies. Developed a tracking system for production tools requiring calibration and reviewed assembly documents to ensure correct revisions.