At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product development for innovative biometric payment solutions using AI and hardware.
- Company: Exciting early-stage payments tech startup with strong funding and ambitious goals.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, and the chance to shape the future of payments.
- Other info: Work closely with founders and engineers in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Join as the first Product hire and make a real impact from day one.
- Qualifications: 2-5 years in Product Management or Software Engineering with strong technical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
We're partnering with a well-funded, early-stage payments technology startup that's building the next generation of biometric payment experiences. Combining AI, software and connected hardware, they're creating a seamless way for people to pay, identify themselves and interact with merchants. With a growing customer base and ambitious plans, it's an exciting opportunity to join as the first Product hire and help shape the future of the business.
The role involves working directly with the founders to define, build and launch products across software, hardware and AI-powered experiences. This isn't a traditional Product Manager role. You'll combine product thinking with technical execution, taking ideas from ambiguous problems through to working products that reach real customers.
You’ll be involved in:
- Owning the product roadmap, balancing customer needs, commercial priorities and technical considerations
- Taking products from 0-1, leading discovery, prototyping, validation and launch
- Working closely with founders, engineers and customers to shape product direction
- Using AI tools to prototype, build and iterate on new features and internal tools
- Collaborating with engineers on APIs, system architecture, integrations and technical trade-offs
- Writing clear product requirements, user stories and acceptance criteria to enable fast, high-quality delivery
- Managing priorities and driving delivery from concept through to launch
- Working with external partners, including payment providers and hardware vendors, to deliver seamless integrations
- Continuously learning from customer feedback, usage data and experimentation to improve the product and prioritise what to build next
We're looking for an ambitious Technical Product Manager who enjoys building as much as defining what should be built. This role is ideal for someone at an early stage in their Product career who is technically fluent, AI-native and excited by the opportunity to take on genuine ownership within a fast-moving startup.
Essential experience:
- Around 2-5 years' experience in Product Management, Product Ownership or Software Engineering
- Ideally started your career as a Full Stack Engineer before moving into Product, or have strong hands-on technical experience
- Experience building and launching products from 0-1 in a startup or fast-paced environment
- Strong technical understanding, including Python, SQL and JavaScript
- Confident working with APIs, databases, integrations and system architecture
- Experience using AI tools to prototype, build, iterate and ship products
- Strong product judgement, with the ability to balance customer needs, commercial priorities and technical constraints
- Comfortable working directly with founders, engineers and customers
- A proactive, hands-on mindset with a desire to take ownership and solve ambiguous problems
Desirable:
- Experience within payments, fintech, SaaS or other technology-led businesses
- Experience working across software and hardware products
- Knowledge of payment systems, merchant platforms or physical devices
- Side projects, GitHub repositories or other examples of products you've built outside of work
- Experience in an early-stage startup or founding team environment
Interview process:
- Introductory call
- Technical and product interview with the founders
- Final stage focused on product thinking, technical capability and cultural fit
If you're excited by the opportunity to build products from the ground up, work directly with founders and help shape the future of a fast-growing technology business, we'd love to hear from you.
Founding Technical Product Manager in London employer: Zebra People
As a Frontend Developer in London, you'll be part of a dynamic team dedicated to enhancing public sector services through innovative dashboard solutions. The company fosters a collaborative work culture that prioritises employee growth, offering opportunities to develop your skills in a meaningful project that impacts decision-making at all levels. With competitive compensation and a focus on accessibility and user needs, this role provides a rewarding environment for those looking to make a difference.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Technical Product Manager in London
✨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 Zebra People!
✨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 Zebra People 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 Zebra People through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Technical Product Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Founding Technical Product 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 Founding Technical Product Manager position at Zebra People. 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 Zebra People
✨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.
