At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead platform strategy, manage budgets, and drive impactful improvements in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join Pod, a leading EV charging provider shaping a sustainable energy future.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, and wellness perks for you and your family.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative community focused on innovation and social progress.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the electrification journey while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing enterprise platforms and leading agile teams is essential.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 90000 £ per year.
25 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays)
Department: Technology
Location: London
Compensation: £80,000 - £90,000 / year
We’re Pod – one of the UK’s leading EV charging providers, trusted by over 250,000 customers and powering more than 5 million miles every single day. We started off in 2009 as Pod Point, helping people make the switch to electric as EVs began to hit the road. Today, we’re leading the way into a smarter energy future.
This is a genuinely high-impact role at the centre of how we scale. You’ll have real ownership of platforms that the entire business depends on, along with the autonomy to shape how they evolve. You’ll be trusted to make decisions, challenge thinking, and drive meaningful improvements, not just maintain the status quo.
You’ll also be part of a strong, collaborative community of Product Engineering Managers who support each other, share ideas, and push standards higher. If you enjoy being close to the work, leading great people, and delivering tangible business value, this is a role where you’ll do your best work.
You’ll be responsible for:
- Own platform strategy and performance - You’ll take accountability for the health, performance, and evolution of your platform estate, managing risk, technical debt, and a clear roadmap of improvements.
- Manage vendors and commercial relationships - You’ll act as the primary contact for platform suppliers, owning contracts, negotiating renewals, and holding partners accountable to SLAs and service quality.
- Own budgets and optimise spend - You’ll manage platform budgets end-to-end, from forecasting and licence management to identifying cost optimisation opportunities and building business cases for investment.
- Deliver hands‑on platform improvements - You’ll stay close to the technology, contributing directly to platform configuration, integrations, and enhancements where it adds the most value.
- Drive adoption and business value - You’ll work closely with stakeholders to ensure new functionality is understood, embedded, and delivering measurable outcomes across the business.
- Lead prioritisation and demand management - You’ll balance competing priorities across your portfolio, making clear, well‑reasoned decisions based on value, urgency, and effort.
- Align platforms with business strategy - You’ll collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure platform investments support wider product and organisational goals.
- Lead squads and delivery - You’ll own sprint planning, backlog prioritisation, and day‑to‑day delivery, removing blockers and ensuring your team consistently meets its commitments.
- Develop and lead your team - You’ll line manage and mentor engineers and administrators, supporting their growth, building capability, and creating an inclusive, high‑performing environment.
- Drive effective change - You’ll lead business change alongside platform delivery, ensuring stakeholders are engaged early and adoption is planned from the outset.
Essential Requirements:
- Enterprise platform expertise - You’ve managed business-critical platforms such as CRM systems, telephony or IVR solutions, or similar SaaS and COTS tools.
- Vendor and commercial management - You’re experienced in managing supplier relationships, negotiating contracts, and ensuring partners deliver against agreed service levels.
- Budget ownership - You’ve owned technology budgets, including forecasting, cost control, licence optimisation, and investment planning.
- Hands‑on platform experience - You’re comfortable configuring and integrating platforms, with a pragmatic approach to balancing customisation and maintainability.
- Agile delivery leadership - You’ve led teams in an agile environment, using metrics and delivery practices to continuously improve outcomes.
- Strategic decision‑making - You can balance short‑term needs with long‑term platform health, making thoughtful trade‑offs across technical debt, risk, and delivery.
- People leadership - You have line management experience and a track record of developing individuals, managing performance constructively, and building strong teams.
- Clear and direct communication - You communicate with clarity and confidence, and you’re comfortable navigating challenging conversations when needed.
- Attention to detail and delivery focus - You take pride in getting things right and know when to move quickly versus when to follow process.
Bonus Skills:
- Experience with platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or Vonage.
- Background in scaling platform teams within fast-growing organisations.
- Experience driving large‑scale platform migrations or transformations.
- Strong understanding of business change and adoption strategies.
What's in it for you?
- Access for you and up to 5 family/friends to the 'UnMind' wellbeing platform.
- Podpoint Charger.
- Discounted energy tariff (Pod Power or EDF Employee Programme).
- Flexible hybrid working model.
- Work abroad for up to 20 days per year.
- Family & friend discount scheme.
- Very generous parental and family leave.
- Pension scheme with a 4.5% matched contribution.
- Eyecare scheme.
- Life insurance covering up to 4x your annual salary.
- Virtual GP provided by HealthHero.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Free Mortgage Advice.
- Discounted Gym Memberships.
- Cycle2Work Scheme.
Important Information:
You must have the legal right to work in the UK. We celebrate diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds. Your privacy is important to us, all information shared will be handled according to our Candidate Privacy Notice. Good luck and we look forward to speaking with you soon!
Product Engineering Manager employer: Pod
Pod is an exceptional employer that champions sustainability and innovation in the EV sector. With a vibrant work culture in London, employees benefit from hybrid working arrangements, hands-on experience, and ample opportunities for professional development. Joining Pod means being part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment while fostering individual growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Engineering Manager
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Pod!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Pod would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Pod through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Engineering Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Engineering Manager, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Product Engineering Manager position at Pod. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pod
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
