Developer tools are different. Your users are technical, skeptical, and are quick to spot inauthenticity. Positioning that works for a business app falls flat here. We want someone who has internalized what it feels like to be a developer evaluating a product, who understands why “it just works” is both harder to achieve and more important than it sounds.
Have they developed taste for great products?
The best PMs we’ve encountered have a strong point of view on what good looks like and a track record of pushing for it. Not just identifying problems but caring enough to fight for the right solution. We want someone who has shipped things they’re genuinely proud of and holds a high bar for what that means.
Can they form independent views?
Convex is a rejection of industry norms and a belief there’s a better way of building apps. A good product manager here needs to think for themselves, to come in with their own read on what customers need, push back on the team’s assumptions, and bring perspective that isn’t just a reflection of what we already believe. We don’t need someone who validates decisions. We need someone who improves them.
Do they value simplicity and clarity?
The best product thinking is simple. Simple positioning, simple prioritization, simple explanations of hard problems. We have a bias toward doing fewer things better and want a PM who has that bias too. Someone who can make a complicated product decision feel obvious in retrospect.
Do they know how to work with founders?
Founders have to move fast, often hold strong opinions, and need to think ahead of the market. Working well in that environment means knowing when to push back, being direct without being difficult, and building trust through good judgment rather than process. This person will spend a lot of time with our founding team and needs to thrive in that dynamic. Although to be honest we’re a pretty friendly founder team.
Do they bring energy to the room?
Startups are hard. Building something from nothing is hard. Driving forward progress despite uncertainty is hard. Shitting on stuff is easy and just brings everyone else down. We have a high bar for quality but also a high bar for being constructive, positive, and excited about making things better. We’re meant to be having fun here.
*The salary range for this full-time position is >$240,000 + equity + benefits