Product Engineer

As a Product Engineer at Civic Marketplace, you will take charge of our low-code platform, ensuring that it evolves to meet the needs of procurement teams while integrating essential technologies like AI. You'll work hands-on with our tech stack, optimize API integrations, and collaborate with both product and commercial teams. Your leadership in shaping our technical architecture will be crucial for improving user experiences and driving the company forward.

To be considered for the Product Engineer role at Civic Marketplace, candidates should have a proven background in leading product teams, particularly in e-commerce, B2B SaaS, or marketplaces. Familiarity with low-code/no-code tools like Xano and Webflow is beneficial, along with a strong grasp of AI workflows and full-stack development skills, particularly with React, APIs, and databases.

Civic Marketplace is committed to the professional growth of its Product Engineers. The role provides significant autonomy and ownership over technical decisions, with the potential to advance into senior leadership roles, such as CTO, as the company continues to grow. This environment fosters both personal and professional development, allowing engineers to take on new challenges and shape their career paths.

At Civic Marketplace, the culture is mission-driven and focused on making a tangible impact. Product Engineers work in a collaborative environment where experimentation and transparency are encouraged. The emphasis on accountability ensures that every team member takes pride in their contributions, fostering a sense of ownership and teamwork that motivates everyone to excel.

As a Product Engineer at Civic Marketplace, you will work with a pragmatic tech stack that includes Webflow, Xano, Algolia, and various AI technologies. These tools allow for rapid development and integration, empowering you to create scalable and efficient solutions that meet real-world needs. Your work will revolve around optimizing these tools to enhance the customer experience and streamline procurement processes.

When discussing your experience with low-code and no-code development tools, emphasize how these platforms can accelerate development timelines, reduce technical debt, and empower teams to iterate quickly. Mention specific tools like Webflow and Xano, illustrating how you've successfully utilized them in past projects to streamline workflows and enhance user engagement.

In previous roles, I've approached prioritization by collaborating closely with both engineering and business teams. I advocate for a data-driven method, using analytics to inform decisions related to technical architecture, while keeping a keen eye on customer needs and market trends to ensure our technical direction aligns with broader business objectives.

In recounting such experiences, focus on your leadership approach. Explain the challenge, how you fostered open communication, encouraged experimentation among your team, and drove problem-solving efforts. Highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in overcoming obstacles and achieving a successful outcome.

I prioritize clear documentation and robust testing processes when working with API integrations. My approach involves ensuring thorough understanding of the third-party services we work with, maintaining flexibility in our platform, and employing tools for monitoring performance post-deployment to swiftly address any issues that arise.

AI should serve as an enabler for a more intuitive user experience by streamlining processes like search optimization and data retrieval. Discuss how AI can personalize user interactions, predict procurement needs, and automate repetitive tasks, ultimately allowing users to focus on strategic decisions rather than mundane operations.

Balancing speed with technical debt requires proactive measures. I advocate for regular code reviews, refactoring as part of sprint planning, and prioritizing clean, maintainable code. This allows the engineering team to move swiftly without accumulating debt that can slow down future development.

Staying current involves a mix of regular reading, attending workshops, and participating in community discussions. I follow industry leaders and trends through blogs, webinars, and forums. Engaging with peers helps me understand how to leverage new technologies effectively for improvements within our stack.

Building a culture of accountability starts with establishing clear expectations and fostering an environment that encourages open dialogue. I believe in recognizing and celebrating individual contributions while also being transparent about challenges. Continuous feedback loops, regular check-ins, and creating collaborative spaces help team members feel invested in their work.

Having a full-stack development background allows me to understand how all parts of the system interact, which is critical for a Product Engineer. I can optimize solutions across the stack, from front-end interfaces to back-end databases. This holistic perspective enables me to make informed decisions that enhance the overall functionality and user experience.

For this question, share a specific instance where you implemented AI in a project. Discuss the objectives, the technology stack you used, and the results achieved. Emphasize collaboration with cross-functional teams and how AI transformed the user experience or improved efficiencies. Highlight lessons learned and future implications for your work at Civic Marketplace.