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Technical Product Manager

Company 

Navigating cancer is like embarking on a treacherous hike—without a map, gear, or guide. Manta Cares provides the most comprehensive self-advocacy toolkit available, empowering patients every step of the way. We are transforming the cancer journey.

Manta Cares is a digital health company founded and led by cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and oncologists. Our team brings over 50 years of combined healthcare experience, with backgrounds at McKinsey, Stanford, MIT, and ASCO, among others. Backed by top-tier venture funds—including Pear Ventures, Sozo Ventures, and 1843 Capital—we are generating revenue through partnerships with leading life sciences organizations.

Opportunity for Impact

At Manta Cares, every feature we build directly impacts patients, caregivers, and advocates navigating the challenges of cancer. In this capacity, you’ll bridge Product and Engineering, translating strategy into well-scoped, technically sound, and execution-ready tickets to drive seamless development and meaningful impact on day one.

With strong strategic product thinking in place, your role is to complement that strength with deep technical execution—owning feature readiness, technical refinement, and product analytics to keep development cycles smooth and engineering tightly aligned. If you thrive on turning complex ideas into actionable plans and optimizing processes in a fast-moving, early-stage environment, this role is for you.

Role & Responsibilities

Manta Cares is hiring a Founding Technical Product Manager to bridge Product and Engineering, ensuring seamless execution. You’ll translate product ideas into engineering-ready tickets, scope features, and refine technical requirements to streamline development and deliver high-impact tools for cancer patients and caregivers.

The Founding Technical Product Manager will:

  • Translate product ideas into clear, engineering-ready specs, ensuring all features are well-defined and technically feasible before development begins.

  • Work closely with engineers to scope and refine features, proactively identifying edge cases, dependencies, and technical challenges.

  • Own the creation of engineering-ready tickets, writing clear user stories, acceptance criteria, and technical considerations to ensure smooth execution.

  • Manage the product backlog, keeping it organized, prioritized, and up to date for efficient sprint planning.

  • Ensure proper instrumentation and data tracking, defining requirements to measure user behavior, feature adoption, and product performance.

  • Act as the first line of validation for tickets, ensuring all necessary technical details are included before development starts.

  • Facilitate backlog grooming and sprint planning, helping to align engineering and product teams for smooth execution.

  • Support sprint retrospectives, identifying areas where the scoping and handoff process can improve.

  • Identify process inefficiencies and recommend improvements, ensuring product and engineering collaboration runs smoothly.

  • Help unblock engineers by providing detailed product specs, reducing ambiguity and ensuring fast, effective execution.

Professional Qualifications

  • Strong technical understanding of how software is built, including APIs, databases, and system design.

  • Experience working directly with engineers to break down projects into well-scoped, actionable work.

  • Ability to write clear, detailed product specs and tickets, ensuring engineering can execute efficiently.

  • Proficiency in Jira, Shortcut, or similar tools for backlog management and technical documentation.

  • Strong analytical skills, with the ability to define and track key product metrics.

  • Excellent communication skills, able to bridge the gap between Product and Engineering.

  • Experience in a resource-constrained startup environment, ideally at the 0-1 or early-stage level (Seed to Series A).

  • Bonus: Prior experience as a software engineer or in a highly technical role.

Personal Characteristics

  • Mission-Driven & Impact-Oriented – Passionate about building products that improve the lives of patients and caregivers.

  • Highly Organized & Detail-Oriented – Thrives on clarity, structure, and process-driven execution.

  • Technically Fluent – Comfortable discussing engineering concepts and thinking through technical feasibility.

  • Problem-Solver – Able to anticipate risks, identify edge cases, and proactively resolve challenges.

  • Execution-Focused & Adaptable – Moves fast, iterates effectively, and thrives in an early-stage startup environment.

  • Resourceful & Comfortable with Ambiguity – Has worked in small teams, worn multiple hats, and knows how to operate with limited resources.

  • Collaborative & Communicative – Excels in cross-functional teamwork, ensuring alignment across Product and Engineering.

Average salary estimate

$105000 / YEARLY (est.)
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$90000K
$120000K

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What You Should Know About Technical Product Manager , Pear VC

Are you passionate about transforming the lives of cancer patients through innovative technology? Join Manta Cares as our Founding Technical Product Manager in sunny Palo Alto! At Manta Cares, we’re on a mission to provide the most comprehensive self-advocacy toolkit for patients, empowering them on their journey through cancer. As a key player in our team, you'll bridge the gap between Product and Engineering, translating visionary ideas into clear, actionable tasks that resonate with our mission. If you have a knack for breaking down complex concepts into easily understandable specifications and possess a strong technical background, this role is perfect for you! You will ensure every feature we develop is well-defined and executable, thereby having a direct impact on patients and caregivers alike from day one. With our experienced team, backed by top-tier investors, your input will be instrumental in shaping products that genuinely address the needs of our users. Your technical prowess and talent for organization will help keep our development cycles smooth while maintaining alignment between product and engineering teams. If you're ready to dive into a fast-paced, early-stage environment and leverage your skills to make a real difference in the healthcare industry, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s work together to change the cancer journey for the better!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Technical Product Manager Role at Pear VC
What responsibilities does a Technical Product Manager at Manta Cares have?

As a Founding Technical Product Manager at Manta Cares, you will translate product ideas into detailed, engineering-ready specifications. Your roles include managing the product backlog, writing clear user stories, and working closely with engineers to refine features. This position is all about facilitating seamless development and ensuring that every ticket is packed with the necessary technical information for a smooth execution.

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What qualifications are required for the Technical Product Manager position at Manta Cares?

Qualified candidates for the Technical Product Manager role at Manta Cares typically have a strong technical understanding of software development, including familiarity with APIs and databases. It's essential to possess experience working closely with engineers and breaking down projects into actionable tasks. Additionally, proficiency in tools like Jira and a resourceful mindset to thrive in a startup setting are also significant assets.

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How does the Technical Product Manager contribute to Manta Cares’ mission?

At Manta Cares, the Technical Product Manager plays a pivotal role in bridging product strategy and technical execution. By ensuring that all development aligns with our mission of empowering cancer patients, the manager is instrumental in creating impactful tools and solutions, ultimately enhancing the patient experience and providing meaningful support during their cancer journey.

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What is the work environment like for a Technical Product Manager at Manta Cares?

The work environment at Manta Cares is fast-paced and dynamic, reflecting the nature of an early-stage startup. As a Technical Product Manager, you'll be collaborating closely with a small, mission-driven team, emphasizing cross-functional communication and adaptability. You'll be encouraged to take initiative and suggest improvements, making it an engaging and rewarding atmosphere where your contributions are valued.

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What personal characteristics are important for a Technical Product Manager at Manta Cares?

For a Technical Product Manager at Manta Cares, personal characteristics such as being mission-driven, highly organized, and detail-oriented are essential. The ideal candidate should be technically fluent, a collaborative communicator, and a proficient problem-solver who can thrive amidst ambiguity and limited resources while executing effectively in a startup environment.

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Common Interview Questions for Technical Product Manager
Can you explain your experience with translating product ideas into engineering-ready specifications?

In your response, emphasize your previous roles where you've taken abstract concepts and detailed them into clear documentation. Explain the importance of defining user stories and acceptance criteria, and give an example of a successful project where your specifications led to a streamlined development process.

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How have you managed a product backlog in a previous position?

Discuss your methods for backlog management, such as prioritizing tasks based on user feedback and project goals. Provide specific examples of tools you’ve used to maintain an organized backlog and how this has improved development efficiency in your previous roles.

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Give an example of how you successfully worked with engineers to scope a feature.

Be sure to detail a specific instance where you collaborated with engineers. Talk about any challenges faced, how you clarified requirements, and the ultimate outcome that validated your approach. Highlight the importance of team collaboration in achieving project objectives.

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How do you ensure effective communication between Product and Engineering teams?

Mention your communication strategies, such as regular check-ins, sprint planning meetings, and using collaboration tools. Explain how fostering an open-dialogue environment can lead to greater alignment and efficiency between teams, ensuring everyone is on the same page with project goals.

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What analytical skills do you bring to the role of Technical Product Manager?

Discuss your experience in defining key product metrics and how you have used them to track performance over time. Provide examples of how your analysis has led to impactful decisions in product direction and improvements, showcasing your analytical prowess.

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Describe how you approach the sprint planning process.

Talk about your structured approach to sprint planning, from backlog grooming to setting sprint goals. Present how you facilitate discussions on feature prioritization and ensure that the team is aligned with time management for successful sprints.

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How do you handle ambiguity in product development?

Emphasize your adaptability and problem-solving skills, showcasing examples where you thrived in uncertain situations. Discuss your experience working with small teams and how you navigate challenges through resourcefulness and effective decision-making.

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What role does user feedback play in your product development process?

Clarify the importance of user feedback in shaping product features and improvements. Provide specific instances where user input has influenced product decisions in your past experiences, demonstrating your commitment to user-centered design.

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Can you discuss a time when you identified a process inefficiency?

Share a concrete example of a time you identified an issue in the product development process. Discuss the steps you took to analyze the situation, your recommendations for improvement, and the outcome that followed your initiatives.

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What excites you about working in healthcare technology?

Express your passion for making an impact in the healthcare sector, particularly in helping patients and caregivers. Share experiences, both personal and professional, that resonate with you and explain how they align with your desire to work at Manta Cares.

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DATE POSTED
March 26, 2025

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