At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product development and collaborate with engineers to create impactful solutions.
- Company: Join a mission-driven team transforming citizen engagement through innovative technology.
- Benefits: Flexible work environment, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Dynamic startup culture where your ideas can shape the future.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in democracy by bridging technology and citizen voices.
- 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 employer: State
Contact Detail:
State Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research State's mission, values, and recent projects. This way, when you chat with them, you can show you're genuinely interested and aligned with what they're doing.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for your interview. Plus, it shows you're proactive and keen!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to showcase your skills! Think of examples from your past work where you've made tough decisions or driven projects from start to finish. Be ready to discuss how you can bring that experience to the Product Engineer role.
✨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 at State.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Mission: When 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. Share any personal experiences or insights that connect you to our goals!
Tailor Your Specs: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your product management and engineering skills. We’re looking for someone who can bridge the gap between these areas, so showcase your experience in both product specs and technical implementation. Be specific about your past projects!
Keep It Clear and Concise: We appreciate excellent written communication, so make your application easy to read. Use clear language and structure your thoughts logically. Avoid jargon unless it’s necessary, and remember: less is often more. We want to understand your ideas without wading through fluff!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! This helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at State!
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 public discourse. 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, as this role demands strong product instincts.
✨Demonstrate Technical Savvy
Brush up on your engineering knowledge, particularly around APIs, data pipelines, and integration work. Be prepared to discuss how you can prototype features and pressure-test technical decisions, as this role sits at the intersection of product management and engineering.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since excellent written communication is key for this position, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Whether it's discussing specs, pitches, or user-facing copy, being able to convey your ideas effectively will set you apart from other candidates.