Founding Product Manager
Clera · San Francisco, California, United States · €80K–€100K/yr
Technology, Information and Internet · 2-10 employees
About the role
You will own the end-to-end product direction, from identifying user problems to shipping AI-powered solutions. You will also collaborate closely with engineering to define product priorities and scale product processes as the company grows.
What they look for
Requirements
The role requires fluency in both German and English, along with hands-on experience in AI-native product development. Candidates must have a strong background in early-stage startups and the ability to make strategic decisions in fast-paced environments.
Benefits
Full description
About the Role
A fast-moving, seed-stage B2B SaaS company building software and AI-powered tools for the home services and trades sector in Germany is looking for a Founding Product Manager to join their tight, ambitious early-stage team in Berlin-Mitte.
This is a true founding-team role — you will own product direction end-to-end, ship features alongside engineering, and directly shape how product work scales at the company. If you thrive in high-velocity, low-ceremony environments with real ownership and direct feedback, this is for you.
Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Fluent German and English are both required.
What You'll Do
- Own product direction from understanding user problems to shaping solutions and shipping them.
- Translate company goals into clear product bets, priorities, and tradeoffs — including AI-first considerations.
- Work closely with engineering to scope, design, and ship features quickly.
- Make product decisions with incomplete data and course-correct as needed.
- Develop a deep understanding of users, workflows, and real-world constraints in the trades/home services space.
- Bring clarity to the team on what is being built, why, and what "done" means.
- Help define how product work is structured and scaled as the company grows.
- Operate in a fast, low-ceremony environment with direct feedback and minimal management layers.
- Be present in-office daily in central Berlin.
What We're Looking For
Must-haves:
- Fluent German (spoken and written) — required for product interface and partner communications.
- Fluent English — required for internal communication.
- An AI-native mindset with hands-on experience applying AI-first product patterns and tools in product development.
- End-to-end product ownership experience: from problem discovery through to shipping.
- Comfortable making decisions under uncertainty and correcting course quickly.
- Experience collaborating closely with engineers to scope, design, and iterate on features; ability to reason about systems and technical constraints.
- Experience in fast-paced, early-stage startup environments.
- Domain experience building products for crafts, trades, home services SMBs and/or similar environments.
- Experience translating company goals into product priorities and strategic tradeoffs.
- High agency — you take ownership, push things forward, and do not wait for permission.
Nice-to-haves:
- Strong UX sensibility and attention to UI/UX details, even without formal design training.
- Personal side projects or things you have built independently.
- Good product taste and a clear point of view on what makes a product great.
This is a mindset-focused hire. The team cares more about how you think and act than years of PM experience on a CV.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: €80,000 – €100,000 per year
- Founding team equity opportunity at an early-stage, venture-backed company
- Direct impact on product strategy and company direction from day one
- Modern, light-filled office workspace in central Berlin
Location
- Berlin-Mitte, Germany — on-site, daily presence expected
- Remote work is not available for this role
- Visa sponsorship is not available
