Principal Product Manager

About Nettle

Nettle is a deep-tech company looking for a Fractional Principal Product Manager. We’re building an autonomous data processing engine that merges distributed systems, mathematics, and AI. Our platform is designed to solve a critical pain point for businesses: the reduction of time it takes to make data usable in the enterprise and to keep existing data managed and maintained. The team brings together expertise across software engineering, mathematics, and physics, united by the goal of redefining how data is represented and computed.

Our founding team brings deep expertise across mathematics, physics, and computer science and we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in data infrastructure. We operate on the Netflix model: a superb workplace is stunning colleagues.

About the Role

This role sits at the intersection of data systems, distributed computing, and applied mathematics, ideal for someone who can translate abstract technical capability into user-facing value and clear market positioning.

You’ll partner closely with our founders and technical leads to:

• Define the product
• Lead design-partner engagements
• Work together on the product build

This is a hands-on, early-stage role.

What You’ll Do

• Engage design partners: Identify, build, and manage relationships with early customers
• Bridge disciplines: Translate between physicists, data engineers, and users, ensuring that complex technical concepts map to customer and business needs. Resolve gaps in understanding and simplify domain-specific jargon for a broader audience.
• Shape the MVP: Work with engineering and mathematical modeling teams to convert a technical prototype to an MVP, focusing on demonstrable value, clear user outcomes, and technical feasibility.
• Author core product artifacts: PRDs, user stories, wireframes, and customer journeys that connect deep technical capabilities to real-world scenarios.
• Define metrics of success: Develop measurable indicators for prototype success, adoption readiness, and early product-market fit.
• Contribute to the GTM roadmap: Work with leadership on positioning, messaging, and demos that articulate the value of Nettle’s approach.
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What You Bring

• 7+ years of Product Management experience, with 3+ years focused on data infrastructure, analytics platforms, or ML systems.
• Proven track record building or launching data-centric products — e.g., ingestion, transformation, OLAP/OLTP, or query acceleration layers.
• Strong understanding of modern data stacks (Spark, Databricks, Snowflake, BigQuery, etc.) and familiarity with distributed systems concepts (indexing, caching, streaming, pipelines).
• Excellent storytelling and systems thinking can explain why something matters to both technical and business audiences.
• Comfort with ambiguity and iteration: you thrive in early-stage, “build-the-plane-as-we-fly-it” environments.
• Strong communication, influence, and leadership without formal authority.
• (Bonus) Academic background or strong curiosity in mathematics, physics, or computational theory.
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Why Join Nettle

• Join a founding-stage deep-tech team solving an important data problem that few have the courage to tackle.
• Collaborate directly with world-class engineers, mathematicians, and physicists.
• Be part of a team that values intellectual rigor, curiosity, and experimentation.
• Operate with autonomy, flexibility, and a voice in shaping both product and company trajectory.
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Engagement

• Part-time, remote role with flexible hours (overlap with U.S. Pacific Time Zone preferred).
• Long-term consulting engagement, with potential for increased commitment as the company scales.
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How We’ll Know It’s Working

Within 3–6 months, success means:

• You’ve helped translate our prototype into a clear MVP with measurable outcomes.
• You’ve created a repeatable PM/Eng workflow for future data-driven prototypes.
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How to Apply

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