Director of Product Management

💼 Product & Strategy Leader – AI Materials Science
📍 San Francisco HQ
🌍 Remote US
💻$1B+ Funded AI Materials Science Start-up
💰 >$700k TC
**Strong Individual Contributors are also welcome to apply**
About the Company
This leading AI firm offers chemical simulation, an advanced chem platform leveraging LLMs to merge AI with physics-based simulations for rapid chemical and materials innovation. It outperforms conventional trial-and-error by accurately forecasting reactivity, synthesizability, kinetics, toxicity, and key properties like strength and conductivity, enabling massive quantum chemistry computations in the cloud. Applications span energy (e.g., batteries, alloys), healthcare (drug discovery), automotive, oil/gas, and sustainable materials, bolstered by strategic acquisitions that integrate tools like quantum-enhanced cloud simulators.
Role Overview
The Product & Strategy Lead will own the strategy, roadmap, and commercial trajectory of the companies' AI-driven materials discovery platform. This role sits at the intersection of deep scientific domain expertise and enterprise software product leadership, working directly with engineers and scientists to shape offerings across catalysis, battery design, PFAS-free chemicals, and rare-earth magnets. The scope extends well beyond a typical PM function, with significant autonomy to define direction under executive leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Own the product strategy and roadmap, translating deep materials science and chemistry insight into a coherent, commercially viable platform direction.
Work hands-on with engineers and scientists to shape features and capabilities, ensuring technical credibility and rigor in every product decision.
Drive commercial strategy across pricing, packaging, distribution, and procurement, working closely with sales and business development to bring ChemSim to market effectively.
Think cross-vertical rather than siloed — connect insights across catalysis, battery chemistry, PFAS alternatives, and rare-earth magnets, and identify adjacent applications (e.g. linking battery chemistry work to automotive use cases).
Represent the product vision externally and internally, including key strategic stakeholders tied to major program milestones (including a major federal Chips grant worth $500m).
Continuously refine product strategy, positioning, and go-to-market materials based on customer and market feedback.
Build a high performing team.
Requirements
Significant enterprise software product experience, having shipped real products to market, ideally including experience at a large technology company (e.g. Amazon or similar).
Deep domain expertise in materials science, inorganic chemistry, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated commercial acumen — experience with pricing, packaging, distribution, procurement, or GTM strategy for a technical product.
Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Materials Science, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical/Computational Chemistry, or Chemical Engineering.
Comfort operating at both a technical depth (able to work directly with engineers and scientists) and a commercial/strategic altitude.
Desired Skills and Attributes
Startup experience alongside big-tech pedigree — comfortable with fast-paced, ambiguous, high-growth environments.
Outstanding communication skills, able to translate complex scientific concepts for both technical and commercial audiences.
Self-driven, organized, and adaptable, with a strong sense of ownership over outcomes.
Proven ability to work cross-functionally across science, engineering, and commercial teams.
A builder's mindset — comfortable defining scope and strategy rather than executing against a fixed brief.
Working Environment & Benefits
Competitive salary and equity-based compensation.
Comprehensive healthcare benefits, including dental and vision.
Significant growth opportunities in a rapidly scaling division tied to a $500M federal R&D award.
Supportive, mission-driven team culture.
** If you are interested please apply above or reach out directly with your resume to: a.benhsain@strativgroup.com. Please note that due to large number of applicants there may be a delay in feedback. **

Work arrangement
No