Job Description
Category-defining tech. Career-defining work.
Lots of tech companies disrupt. But, many fail when they try to scale. We're different. CockroachDB makes it easier for companies to build and scale apps. This is how and why we're helping some of the most innovative companies on the planet. We tackle problems head-on and focus on solutions that create lasting impact.
Because when our customers win, we all win.
The Role
We are looking for a seasoned Product Manager to own the end-to-end multi-modal and AI workload user journey for our customers. You will define the strategy, product direction, and measurable outcomes that expand CockroachDB beyond traditional use cases into new paradigms, including vector search, full-text search, document-alike, and time-series.
This is a highly technical, deeply customer-centric role that requires systems thinking, sharp problem definition, and strong cross-functional leadership. You will leverage both qualitative and quantitative data (vector workload adoption, performance and latency) to guide prioritization, validate hypotheses, and drive data-backed decisions that position CockroachDB as the foundational data layer for AI-driven applications.
You Will
Own the end-to-end journey. Lead the full lifecycle of AI-native features, from awareness and activation (e.g., positioning CockroachDB for AI workloads) through ongoing use and renewal. Use metrics to surface gaps and drive continuous improvement in how developers operationalize intelligence.
Build a problem-first, data-driven strategy. Understand customer needs across key personas (AI Engineers, data scientists, platform engineers, architect). Define a multi-year roadmap balancing vector search, hybrid transactional-semantic queries, context management (MCP), rich JSON support, AI ecosystem integrations and CockroachDB AI assistant. Prioritize using qualitative and quantitative signals.
Deliver measurable outcomes. Set and track success metrics (vector workload expansion for CockroachDB, AI Copilot usage and evaluations). Ensure customers reliably use CockroachDB for AI and agentic workloads. Validate that product changes deliver real value and iterate when they don’t.
Lead with clarity and customer centricity. Act as the customer’s voice in strategic decisions. Communicate complex technical concepts – like bridging operational and intelligent data – clearly across engineering, PMM, Sales, and executives, aligning teams around the success of AI workloads.
Apply an AI-first mindset. Use AI to accelerate insights, improve product quality, and increase the efficiency of delivering customer value.
The Expectations
In the first 30-60 days, you will go through PM onboarding with your onboarding mentor (Roachmate). You will familiarize yourself with the current state of our AI and vector capabilities and how they address customers’ journey toward building AI-native applications. You will create Cloud clusters, and try out the core features like vector search, to get a sense of the end-to-end experience for yourself. You’ll review our current backlog, get up to speed on in-flight features, and understand today's most pressing customer problems.
After 90 days, you will be fully integrated into the team. You will conduct customer calls and work with our internal account teams to understand core customer problems in the AI space. There are countless opportunities for us to invest in. You will prioritize the ones that exceed our customers’ expectations and allow them to seamlessly integrate CockroachDB into their AI applications without worrying about data silos. As the owner of an integral part of our customer and product growth, you will be an important advisor to senior members of our team as we determine how AI workloads can support and accelerate our growth. You will also be expected to partner with our Sales team and meet with our most important customers and their operating teams.
You Have
A computer science degree and/or first-hand experience building products focused on AI infrastructure, vector databases, search engines, or distributed systems
5+ years of total work experience with enterprise or SaaS products
Proven experience in improving user journeys while leveraging data
Delivered successful customer-facing products or features by partnering with senior Engineering teams
Background working directly with medium-sized to large enterprises to understand and address problems, set proper timelines and expectations around feature delivery to internal stakeholders and external teams
Experience driving business results through influential communication and cross-functional stakeholder management
A collaborative approach and an eagerness to partner with other product teams and all other functions in the company, such as Legal, Finance, Marketing, and Sales
Nice to Have
An MBA and/or experience working with business stakeholders (e.g., Finance, Revenue)
Experience building AI products, agentic workloads, AI ecosystem and framework fluency
The Team
Reporting to Lakshmi Kannan - Sr. Director, Product Management
Cockroach Labs is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer building a diverse and inclusive workforce. If you need additional accommodations to feel comfortable during your interview process, please email us at accessibility@cockroachlabs.com.
Cockroach Labs has a hybrid work model, with Roachers that are local to one of our offices coming in on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and working flexibly the rest of the week. While we’ve learned valuable lessons working remotely, nothing can replace the connection, creativity, and fun that occurs when Roachers get together and we are committed to fostering a workplace that encourages collaboration and allows us all to do our best work.
Benefits
Stock Options
Medical Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life and Disability Insurance
Professional Development Funds
Flexible Time Off
Paid Holidays
Paid Sick Days
Paid Parental Leave
Retirement Benefits
Mental Wellbeing Benefits
And more!
The annual anticipated base salary range for U.S. candidates for this role is listed in USD below. Salary is one component of the Cockroach Labs’ Total Rewards package, which also includes, for each employee: stock options, medical insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, life and disability insurance, funds towards professional development resources, flexible paid time off, 11 paid holidays a year, 10 paid sick days a year, paid parental leave, a 401(k) plan, and wellbeing benefits.
We set standard ranges for all U.S.-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. Actual salaries may vary and fall outside of this range depending on factors such as a candidate’s qualifications, geographic location, skills, experience, and competencies. In addition, we are often open to a wide variety of profiles, and recognize that the person we hire may be less experienced (or more senior) than this job description as posted.
Salaries for candidates outside the U.S. will vary based on local compensation structures.
This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our Careers Page.
Annual Anticipated Base Salary Range (U.S)
$175,000—$203,950 USD