Director of Product Management

6 : Competitive :  15% performance-based, discretionary

Hybrid - work in our Cambridge, MA office up to 3x / wk

At Automata , to transform how scientists work by making automation accessible to every lab in the world. We believe that by giving labs the power to automate, we can unlock discoveries that will shape the future of life sciences—from diagnostics and drug discovery to synthetic biology.

But we’re more than just a company disrupting the industry—we're a team of innovators, problem-solvers, and creators passionate about empowering scientists. Our platform combines hardware and software to streamline workflows, making lab automation fast, flexible, and affordable. This means our customers can focus on groundbreaking research, while we take care of the rest.

Why Work at Automata?

• Impact : Your work will directly contribute to advancements in science and medicine, supporting labs around the globe as they push boundaries in research and innovation.
• Innovation : You’ll be part of a team solving complex problems (seriously, no one else has figured out how to do this yet), using cutting-edge technology (we have robots).
• Growth : We invest in our people. Whether through hands-on experience, professional development, or collaborative projects, you’ll grow both professionally and personally.
• Community : Join a diverse, passionate team that values collaboration (golf on a Thursday, Soccer once a month, movie nights whenever we fancy it).

Why This Role Matters

We are seeking a Director of Product Management who thrives on ownership, operational excellence, and leading product managers to high-impact execution. This isn’t a strategy-only seat — it’s for someone who can roll up their sleeves, bring clarity to complexity, and build strong delivery habits across a growing product org.

You’ll lead a team of PMs responsible for mission-critical product lines, help them prioritize ruthlessly, and ensure products are shipped predictably and effectively. You’ll bring structure to the day-to-day, unblock teams, and set the operational rhythm that keeps engineering, design, and business stakeholders aligned and delivering.

What You’ll Do :

Lead and Elevate the Product Team

Manage and mentor a team of product managers across multiple product lines.

Set clear goals, drive accountability, and provide hands-on coaching to develop PM talent.

Foster a delivery-first culture grounded in focus, transparency, and real progress.

Drive Operational Execution

Own the rhythms and processes that keep teams shipping : sprint planning, roadmap reviews, go-to-market coordination, retros, etc.

Standardize how work gets prioritized, documented, and delivered — no micromanaging, just smart systems.

Identify blockers early, help resolve cross-team dependencies, and ensure consistent forward motion.

Be Deep in the Work, When It Counts

Step into details when needed — whether it’s a roadmap prioritization challenge, helping triage scope, or aligning stakeholders.

Balance “air cover” with hands-on support. You’re not above Jira or a product spec when the moment calls for it.

Align Product with Engineering & Business

Be the connective tissue between product managers, engineers, designers, GTM, and leadership.

Drive clarity in what we’re building, why it matters, and what success looks like — for internal teams and customers alike.

Partner with engineering leadership to continuously improve the product development process.

What We’re Looking For

Experience :

8–10 years in product management, including 3–5 years managing PMs.

You’ve owned delivery of complex products and helped scale product operations in high-growth SaaS environments.

Strong track record leading individual product lines — from roadmap to release — and getting real things shipped.

Skills :

Technically fluent — you come from an engineering or technical background and can go deep when needed, but you’ve grown into product and there you became a strong people and process leader.

Operationally sharp — you think in timelines, blockers, team capacity, and delivery velocity. You love systems that help teams move smarter with no bureaucracy.

Hands-on mindset — you’ll jump into the weeds when necessary, whether it’s grooming a backlog or resolving an execution snag.

Solution-oriented — you flag risks and issues early, but always with a proposed path forward.

Clear communicator — you simplify complexity and can rally cross-functional teams around shared goals.

You’ve worked in startups and scale-ups — and know how to adjust your style to both.

You’re thoughtful but action-biased. No endless debating, just structured, focused decision-making.

You care about team health, not just business outcomes. You build with people, not over them.

Healthcare

Competitive healthcare for you and your family

401k

We offer a 401(k) retirement savings plan

Well-being budget ️

Invest in your own well-being, personal growth, and hobbies

Holiday

30 days + 12 public holidays

Additional leave days ️

Time off for dependents, 'Me days', birthdays and volunteering days off

Birthday trees

Planting a tree for every employee on their birthday, every year

Paid sick leave

10 days paid sick leave to stay home and focus on rest and recovery

Mental health support

Access the therapy for you and your family through

Career progression frameworks

Each department & discipline has a progression framework

We are an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Discrimination of any kind based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status is strictly prohibited.