At a Glance
- Tasks: Own the product roadmap and drive AI-powered features for impactful communication.
- Company: Join a mission-driven team transforming citizen engagement in democracy.
- Benefits: Flexible work environment, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Be part of a small, ambitious team tackling meaningful challenges.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by bridging technology and politics in a dynamic role.
- Qualifications: Experience in product management and engineering with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
ABOUT STATE
Modern democracies struggle not because people don't care, but because citizen voices are atomised and hard to make sense of. One representative speaks for hundreds of thousands — yet most citizens are powerless, cut off from essential knowledge, and unable to take action together. State is the upgrade: we've mapped the power structures that serve you and are creating effortless communication between you and decision-makers at all levels. By coordinating what all citizens care about, we transform individual concerns into shared understanding, collective wisdom, and policy signals that cannot be ignored. The result is much faster public discourse and consensus — turning participation into real change. We're a group of technologists, product builders and political aficionados working to empower both citizens and those elected to represent them.
THE ROLE
We're looking for a high-agency Product Manager + Product Engineer: someone who thinks like a product person and can build like an engineer. This isn't a pure PM role, and it isn't a pure engineering role. It sits at the intersection of product marketing (what does the market need?) and how it can be built with available technologies. The right person can write a product specification in the morning, pair with a developer in the afternoon, and ship a prototype by the end of week. You'll own the product surface end-to-end — from strategy and roadmap through to UX decisions, feature specs, and implementation. You'll be the connective tissue between user insight, design, and the codebase. You will work closely with the founders and with the head of engineering.
WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON
- Own the product roadmap and make hard prioritisation calls in a resource-constrained environment
- Define and spec features across our citizen, representative, and closed community surfaces
- Work directly with engineers and designers to ship — not just write specs and hand them over
- Drive our AI-powered product features, including the intent and routing logic that sits at the core of the platform
- Own third-party integrations and data partnerships that expand State's reach and signal quality
- Keep the product knowledge base structured, current, and useful for the whole team
- Contribute to go-to-market materials and partnership conversations where product knowledge is essential
- Help hire and shape the product function as we grow
Core
- Strongly motivated by the State mission and working at the cutting edge of communications technology and politics
- Strong product instincts — you've shipped 0→1 products and made hard calls under ambiguity
- Enough engineering ability to review code, prototype features, and pressure-test technical decisions
- Comfortable with APIs, data pipelines, and integration work
- Excellent written communication — specs, pitches, and user-facing copy
- High EQ — able to work across engineers, designers, and external partners
- Ability to quickly prototype an idea into a non-working frontend end using vibe coding tools before handing it off to our full stack engineer
- Go beyond the role scope and use modern AI technologies to give engineering a helping hand, in things like data scraping pipelines
- Familiarity with Claude Code, Agentic Systems, and rapid prototyping eg. Lovable
- Experience building AI-powered product features or working with LLMs
Nice to Have
- Civic tech, govtech, or public sector background
- Early-stage startup experience (pre-seed / seed)
WHAT THIS ISN'T
This isn't a role for someone who wants to manage a backlog and attend standups. State is a small, ambitious team working on something that genuinely matters. You'll be expected to have opinions, own outcomes, and do things that don't have a playbook yet. If you need a lot of structure to operate well, this probably isn't the right fit. If you do your best work when the problem is hard and the stakes feel real — it might be.
Product Engineer in City of London employer: State
Contact Detail:
State Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Engineer in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research State's mission and values, and think about how your skills as a Product Engineer can contribute. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events where State might be present. Building relationships can give you insider info and potentially a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by thinking through real-world scenarios where you've had to make tough product decisions. Be ready to discuss your thought process and how you handle ambiguity—this role is all about navigating the unknown!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and contributing to something meaningful.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Engineer in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for State's mission shine through. We want to see that you genuinely care about empowering citizens and improving communication in democracy. A personal touch can make all the difference!
Tailor Your Specs: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your product instincts and engineering skills. We’re looking for someone who can bridge the gap between product and engineering, so showcase any relevant experience that demonstrates this unique blend.
Be Clear and Concise: Your written communication should be top-notch! Keep your application clear and to the point, especially when detailing your past experiences. We appreciate well-structured specs and pitches, so show us you can communicate effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at State
✨Understand the Mission
Before your interview, dive deep into State's mission and values. Familiarise yourself with how they aim to empower citizens and improve communication with decision-makers. This will not only help you align your answers with their goals but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Product Instincts
Be ready to discuss your past experiences with product development, especially any 0→1 products you've shipped. Prepare specific examples where you made tough prioritisation calls or navigated ambiguity. This will demonstrate your strong product instincts and ability to thrive in a dynamic environment.
✨Demonstrate Technical Savvy
Brush up on your engineering knowledge, particularly around APIs, data pipelines, and integration work. Be prepared to discuss how you've prototyped features or worked with engineers in the past. Showing that you can bridge the gap between product and engineering will be key.
✨Prepare for Collaborative Scenarios
Expect questions about how you work with cross-functional teams, including designers and engineers. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated to ship a product. Highlight your high emotional intelligence (EQ) and how it helps you navigate team dynamics effectively.