Technical Product Manager

Technical Product ManagerAI-Native Platform | Planning Pod | Raleigh, NC | Full-time, in-officeAbout Planning PodPlanning Pod is the operating system for the events industry. More than 1,200 event venuesand planners run their bookings, clients, contracts, payments, and day-to-day operations on ourplatform. We have a proven product, a loyal customer base, and a profitable business. We are now building something new: an AI-native version of Planning Pod, designed from the ground up around what large language models make possible. We believe the shift to AI is not an incremental upgrade — it is a chance to rebuild how event professionals work, and to set thestandard for our category for the next decade.We are backed by our own cash flow and a long term investment partner - That combination gives us something rare: the speed and ambition of a startup, paired with an existing customer base, deep domain knowledge, and the financial runway to build the right product without cutting corners.The RoleWe are hiring a Technical Product Manager to partner directly with our CTO to define, build, andlaunch the new AI-native Planning Pod. This is an early hire on the new product team – high-impact, end-to-end ownership, and a front-row seat to one of the most interesting productopportunities in vertical SaaS.You will lead the discovery work that shapes the product: primary research with our customers,structured teardowns of competitors, and pattern-matching from AI-native products in adjacentmarkets. From that foundation, you will define the feature set, build the roadmap, and driveexecution alongside engineering through launch and beyond. This is a hands-on, highly technical role. You will work closely with engineering on systems, integrations, data models, and AI workflows – not just user stories. You will be in the details, and you will be accountable for the outcome.This role is based in our Raleigh, NC office, full-time, in-person. We are building this teamtogether, in the same room, and that matters to us.What You'll OwnDiscovery and Research• Lead primary research with Planning Pod customers — interviews, workflow shadowing,jobs-to-be-done analysis• Build a clear, evidence-based view of where AI creates the most value in our operations• Run competitive teardowns across event tech and adjacent AI-native SaaS categories• Translate research into a sharp, prioritized product point of viewProduct Direction• Partner with the CTO to define the AI-native platform vision and strategy• Translate business and customer goals into a clear, sequenced product roadmapExecution• Own and prioritize the backlog end-to-end• Write technically accurate specs covering data models, APIs, AI workflows, and UX• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with engineering – remove ambiguity, unblock work, ship• Drive go-to-market in partnership with leadership: launch, positioning, rollout to existingcustomersQuality and Alignment• Validate features before release; defend the customer experience• Keep customer, internal, and leadership input flowing into structured product decisions• Set the bar for craft on the new platformWhat We're Looking For• 6+ years in product management, with significant SaaS experience• Strong technical background — comfortable defining APIs, integrations, data models,and AI-driven workflows with engineering• A track record of leading customer discovery and turning research into product direction• Demonstrated ability to ship — from blank page to launched product• Comfort building structure and process from scratch in a fast-moving environment• Clear, direct communicator who can move fluidly between executives, engineers, andcustomers• Driven, high-energy, positive, and optimistic — you bring momentum into every room• Based in Raleigh, NC (or willing to relocate) and excited to work in-person, full-time, withthe teamCompensation & Growth• Competitive salary + performance incentives• Opportunity to grow into a senior product leadership role as the team and platform scale