We’re a global team of over 400 people, working together to push the boundaries of open-source technology and multi-cloud solutions. Our vision is to become the trusted Data & AI Platform for everyone, leveraging the most popular open-source technologies like Apache Kafka®, Aiven for PostgreSQL®, Aiven for Clickhouse®, and Aiven for OpenSearch®. to help companies accelerate time-to-market, drive efficiency, and build innovative solutions across any cloud.
About this Team:
In our Product team at Aiven, we believe engineers can drive significant impact through coding and problem solving. Here, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to challenging projects that transcend the cloud provider limitations, work alongside exceptional engineers, and continuously expand your technical expertise. We strive to create an environment that encourages problem solving and results over following directions, so we make better decisions for our customers, our products and our employees.
Who we are:
So, how do we become the trusted open-source data platform for everyone? By listening closely to our customers and taking action to ensure they achieve their business goals. You see, the software we create is merely a means of delivering value. Our thinking is customer-first. That’s why our customers are at the front and center of all we do. And in the spirit of sideways thinking, we’re by their side as well. Actively helping them solve their challenges. Collaborating. Sharing. And innovating. In other words, it really isn’t just about who we are. It’s about who our customers are – and where they want to be.
Our Crabby Principles:
Aiveners use the V2MOM framework to set and align on business goals. In order to achieve those business goals we live by our ‘Crabby Principles’ which unite us in our ways of working, globally.
These principles are embedded in our business processes and support us in collaborating and role modelling positive and productive behaviours in our daily work, something you will have the opportunity to demonstrate throughout your interview journey with us.
The Role:
Architecting the Future of Product & Engineering Excellence at Aiven
At Aiven, we're not just building cloud data services; we're empowering developers worldwide to build the next generation of incredible applications. Our ambitious vision requires a strategic orchestrator - a Product Operations Lead- to be the catalyst that unlocks unprecedented efficiency and innovation within our Product and Engineering engine.
We need an influential change catalyst who can see beyond the day-to-day and architect a seamless, data-driven flow that empowers our teams to move faster, collaborate more effectively, and ultimately, deliver even greater value to our users.
As a Product Operations Lead, you won't just be managing processes; you'll be transforming the way we build. You'll be the architect of efficiency, the champion of data-informed decisions, and the bridge that connects our product vision with engineering execution. You'll have the unique opportunity to:
- Unleash the full potential of our Product Managers by equipping them with deep business understanding and streamlined feedback loops.
- Empower our Engineering teams with optimized workflows and clear visibility into their impact, turning them into a hyper-productive force.
- Instill a data-driven operating rhythm: Champion a culture of data-driven execution by establishing and leveraging KPIs across Product and Engineering to drive informed decisions and continuous improvement.
If you're a strategic thinker with a passion for operational excellence and a burning desire to empower world-class product and engineering teams to achieve their peak performance, this is your chance to leave a lasting impact on a company that's redefining the future of cloud data services. Join us and be the architect of our next chapter of innovation.
What you’ll do:
Architect product strategy success: Rhythm, Rollout, and Stakeholder Alignment:
Own the rhythm and rollout of Product Strategy, meticulously measuring its success and impact with every stakeholder to ensure shared understanding and collective progress. You'll establish a best-in-class communication architecture that ensures all voices are heard, decisions are made decisively, and every stakeholder is aligned on the product vision and execution. Your work will directly reduce friction, improve collaboration, and ensure that product strategy is understood and embraced at every level, maximizing our collective impact.
Fuel engineering productivity & business alignment:
You will establish clear frameworks and methodologies to translate engineering productivity metrics into compelling business impact narratives, demonstrating the direct link between engineering output and key business outcomes. By pinpointing engineering bottlenecks using data and collaborating with teams to implement improvements, you'll accelerate engineering delivery and align engineering as a hyper-productive force for Aiven's objectives.
Build the data-driven foundation for outside-in product strategy validation:
Leveraging your analytical rigor and proactive business development mindset, you will architect a dynamic "Market Intelligence Loop" that transforms Product Managers into true owners of their market. This involves driving their active engagement with prospects, customers, and industry leaders through sales engagements, events, user research, and networking.
You'll champion a robust, PM-owned idea management process, ensuring deep understanding of customer problems by rigorously connecting back with those who submit feature requests and proactively uncovering latent needs in new user segments.
To operationalize this, you'll design a centralized system for efficiently capturing, synthesizing, and sharing these market insights organization-wide, in close collaboration with Sales, to maximize impact on product strategy and prioritization.
What We're Looking For:
- Someone who thrives on solving complex operational challenges: You enjoy dissecting processes and building elegant, data-driven solutions.
- An influential communicator: You can articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to both technical and business audiences.
- A strong business acumen: You understand how product and operational decisions impact the bottom line.
- Passion for data and driving improvement: You believe in the power of data to inform decisions and continuously optimize performance.
- A thought provoker and influencer: You can leverage data insights to challenge conventional thinking and inspire leaders to look beyond their immediate scope, driving broader organizational impact and strategic alignment. In short: you have high-agency.
Our Offer:
If you ask us what’s the best thing about working for Aiven, many will probably say it’s the high concentration of talent from around the world that we have here. Enjoy the agile environment of a hyperscale scale-up where you can truly make an impact and have fun while at it.
We invest in you:
- Participate in Aiven’s equity plan.
- With Aiven locations spanning the globe, we want all of our crabs to find the right balance with our hybrid work policy.
- Get the equipment you need to set yourself up for success.
- Step up your career game with real employer support (use one of our learning platforms, annual learning budget, and more).
- Get holistic wellbeing support through our global Employee Assistance Program.
Make a difference at Aiven:
- Contribute to open-source projects that you find meaningful outside of work - and get paid for it! Our Plankton program recognizes extra work to the open source ecosystem for developers and non-developers alike.
- Use up to 5 days per year to volunteer for a good cause of your choice.
- Join one of our team member resource groups - empower yourself and others in missions that resonate with you.
What else:
- Your wellbeing matters: we provide extensive Occupational Health Care, Dental Care, as well as sports, culture, massage and lunch benefits.
- Love breakfast? So do we! Join us at our regular office breakfast.
- We also have you covered by statutory accident insurance.
Amazing! What’s next:
After you apply, you should hear from our Talent Experience Partnering team within five days regarding the status of your application. If you are selected to move forward you can generally expect four stages with us:
- 60-minute call with one of our Talent Experience Partners
- 60-minute Depth of Expertise Interview with the hiring manager
- 60-minute Skills Interview and/or Presentation
- 60-minute Crabby Principles Interview
How to Recognise and Avoid Employment Scams:
There has been a rise in fake job postings used by scammers to get personal information. Please familiarise yourself with the red flags of a potential scam.
Here at Aiven, all of our emails relating to recruitment come from an @aiven.io, @greenhouse.io or @eu.greenhouse.io domain and all of our interviews are conducted over video call or in person, our interviews will never occur over text or chat. If you’re unsure of the legitimacy of a job opportunity/offer pertaining to Aiven, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at recruitment@aiven.io.
Equal Opportunities:
Aiven provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, marital and family status or without regard to any other similar personal attributes. Aiven complies with applicable local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, training and any other terms and conditions related to employment.
At Aiven we are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities or special needs in our working environment and job application procedures. We make all reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or who otherwise need support to thrive in the workplace. We are committed to continuously improving workplace accessibility. There is an option to request a discussion in the application process but if you have any questions before applying please write to us at recruitment@aiven.io.
