Product Manager

Company Description

ChainSafe Systems is a blockchain R&D firm on a mission to realize the potential of Web3 infrastructure through sustainable, open-source development. Our vision is to create a world with organizations that empower people to build and innovate through blockchain agnostic tools and other distributed technologies.

We are global leaders in the industry, unique in our work across multiple blockchain ecosystems, and currently are pioneering Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Cosmos, Polkadot and Filecoin technology. We are actively pursuing the development of our own product suite, having recently released Files, which allows users to upload and store files on IPFS and Filecoin with the goal of furthering development to provide a decentralized alternative to cloud storage.

ChainSafe is a unique company in a unique space, growing quickly and building a global reputation in this nascent space. Beyond offering experience across every major blockchain space to our team, we provide an open, inclusive, and supportive environment where we help folks reach their full potential as a human and as a professional.

Here’s what you might want to know before reading on:

• Our stack is progressive and open-source and includes Go, Rust, and TypeScript.
• We spearhead ecosystem projects like Lodestar, Web3.js, Forest, Gossamer and Ethermint.
• We are global, remote-friendly, and open to contractors (who can commit to a minimum of 35 hours a week). For those local to Toronto, our casual, open-concept office in Chinatown has meeting rooms, lounge areas, and space to pull up a chair.

Culture fit and alignment to our core values are extremely important to us. We are fueled by an immense intellectual curiosity of what technology can do and the impact it can have. You will thrive here if you are intensely driven by tackling technical challenges that no one else has solved yet and are inspired by the possibility of building the next generation of web infrastructure and decentralized systems.

Job Description

Who we need

As a Product Manager, you will be responsible for maximizing the value delivered to the users of one of our products. In order to do this, you must deeply understand the the product, it’s users, the market, & blockchain technology. You will drive the product vision & help realize the vision by managing the product backlog. You will work closely with an Engineering Manager to ensure that the development team understands the product vision & the product backlog. Ultimately, you will be accountable for the overall success of your product. Every one of our projects is on the cutting-edge and quite often we’re figuring things out as we go, so continuous learning & teaching is the norm.

You will also have the opportunity to become a recognized leader in the blockchain industry. We are very active in blockchain communities and are often asked to give talks & workshops at conferences around the world.

Responsibilities

• Develop a deep understanding of the product, the market, users of the product, and relevant technology.
• Facilitate the entire product development lifecycle for new products or features, from developing early stage ideas, assessing opportunities to launching the product or feature.
• Drive the product vision and create corresponding product roadmap with prioritized features based on continuous market research, prototyping, user validation, and engineering input.
• Guide the development of the product by creating & prioritizing features on the product backlog.
• Work closely with the Engineering Manager to lead the project and participate in all team rituals such as stand ups, sprint planning, & retrospectives
• Determine key metrics to track for the product and set appropriate targets with stakeholders
• Proactively resolve or escalate any issues to minimize impact on the product
• Serve as primary point of contact for all stakeholders, clients, users, & the public for status updates, requirements, priorities, etc.
• Report progress to VP Product & Product Council
• Conduct lateral 1:1’s with Engineering Manager, informal 1:1’s with team members as needed
• Maintain a high level of transparency, thorough communication & documentation using tools such as Slack, Notion, GitHub, & ZenHub

Qualifications

Requirements

• Demonstrated understanding of the techniques and methods of modern product discovery and product delivery.
• 2 years working on technology-powered products as either a product manager, product designer, engineer, data analyst, data scientist, or user researcher.
• Demonstrated ability to figure out solutions to hard problems with many constraints, using sound judgment to assess risks, and to lay out your argument in a well-structured, data-informed, written narrative.
• Proven ability to engage with engineers, designers, and company leaders in a constructive and collaborative relationship.
• Demonstrated ability to independently & quickly learn about technical concepts
• Extremely organized, responsive, & accountable
• Excellent written & verbal communication
• High-level of emotional intelligence & empathy
• Excellent active listening skills

Bonus points

• Technical understanding of distributed systems and/or blockchain technology
• Software development experience or education
• An entrepreneurial mindset
• A passion for open-source software
• A passion for blockchain technology

Additional Information

Why join us

Founded by Developers for Developers, we foster an Agile environment where tasks are assigned based not just on what you know but what you want to learn. We offer fast opportunities for personal growth, mentorship, professional development funding, tons of autonomy and responsibility, a results-driven environment, close collaboration with an international team, exposure to a wide array of ecosystems and trailblazing technologies, and flexible work hours.

At ChainSafe, we are a compassionate group of builders and makers, working to bring our ideas to life. You’ll be part of a team that believes in the vital importance of community and contributing to advance humanity with open-source and decentralized technology.

We care deeply about our values and look for these in every team member: A dedication to self-improvement and professional development; a commitment to community and collaboration; a drive for accountability, diligence, and autonomy; and above fostering a place of acceptance, friendliness, and compassion.

Tell us who you are and learn more about us.

If you are ready to join us, assemble your highlights (GitHub, portfolio, LinkedIn) and show us your best work. Get ready to have incredible conversations with passionate developers like yourself. For our team’s project highlights, explore our Discord, GitHub, and website.

We welcome your fresh perspectives and ideas.

At ChainSafe, diversity and inclusion is more than a statement; equality and accessibility are guiding principles embedded in who we are - and why we do what we do. Our leadership is committed to continuously improving their own level of education to make the fairest and inclusive hiring and performance decisions from an informed perspective. We recognize the benefits of a diverse team and aspire to embed respect for all people into our culture, values, and day-to-day practices.

If at any time we can provide accommodations to facilitate your application and interview process, please let us know. We will strive to meet your needs.