Product Manager, Hardware

As a Product Manager, Hardware at Sesame, your main responsibilities will revolve around developing and executing comprehensive product strategies that align with our vision for lifelike, consumer-focused AI experiences. You'll manage the full product lifecycle—from ideation through market research, launch, and post-launch optimization—ensuring seamless integration between software and hardware. Additionally, you will lead cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration with engineering, design, and marketing to drive innovative solutions.

To qualify for the Product Manager, Hardware position at Sesame, you should have a Bachelor’s degree in fields like Computer Science, Engineering, or Business, with an advanced degree preferred. Moreover, candidates should possess over a decade of product management experience in consumer-facing technology, have a proven track record of executing product roadmaps, and outstanding analytical and communication skills to interact effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

The Product Manager, Hardware plays a critical role in driving innovation at Sesame by defining product vision and steering the creation of breakthrough experiences. You will transform insights into actionable strategies and lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver cutting-edge solutions that enhance human-computer interactions. Your ownership of the product roadmap will directly influence our ability to pioneer advancements in voice technology and AI experiences.

At Sesame, we are committed to fostering a workplace where diversity and inclusion are paramount. As a Product Manager, Hardware, you can expect a collaborative and innovative environment that values the contributions of every employee. We provide excellent employee benefits including health insurance, unlimited paid time off, and a supportive culture that embraces creativity and diverse perspectives.

As a Product Manager, Hardware at Sesame, you will have numerous opportunities for career growth. You will work alongside experienced leaders and innovators in the tech industry, broadening your expertise in product management, AI, and hardware solutions. Your work will position you for future leadership roles as our company expands, allowing you to take on more significant responsibilities in shaping groundbreaking technologies.

Talk about specific projects where you managed hardware products, highlighting the lifecycle from conception to launch. Emphasize your role in cross-functional teams and the methodologies used to ensure that both hardware and software components work together seamlessly.

To answer, discuss your approach to gathering user feedback, analyzing market trends, and using data-driven insights to prioritize features. Mention how you ensure product alignment with company vision and customer needs, while also considering technical feasibility.

Highlight the product management tools you've utilized, like Jira or Aha!, and explain how you leverage these tools to create strategic roadmaps that align with business goals and track progress over time.

Explain your strategies for facilitating communication and collaboration among teams. Emphasize the importance of understanding different perspectives, fostering a collaborative environment, and finding win-win solutions to conflicts.

Share your methods for setting up user testing phases, gathering qualitative and quantitative feedback, and the iterative process of refining the product based on user insights. Discuss how this feedback loop informs development cycles.

Provide an overview of a successful product launch you've led, detailing your approach to market research, collaboration with marketing for the go-to-market strategy, and how you measure success post-launch.

Emphasize your data-driven approach, detailing specific examples of how you use market data, user feedback, and analytics to inform product strategies and decisions.

Discuss current trends that align with Sesame’s vision, such as advancements in AI and machine learning, conversational interfaces, and how these trends can shape the future of hardware products.

Discuss your approach to leadership, emphasizing collaboration, empowerment, and how you motivate teams to innovate and work towards common goals, particularly in fast-paced environments.

Recognize the challenges in aligning hardware and software teams, adapting to rapidly changing technologies, and managing user expectations while striving for innovation. Discuss your strategies for addressing these challenges proactively.