Product Manager

ACTIVE SECRET OR TS CLEARANCES ONLY.

Rhombus is building technology for some of the hardest problems in national security. We work directly with government and defense customers to turn complex operational problems into deployed capabilities—and then make those capabilities better, faster, and more useful in the field. We're looking for an early-career, super motivated, Product Manager who understands how the US Air Force actually resources, acquires, and deploys capability.

This is not a traditional SaaS product management role.

You will not spend your days managing a backlog, writing Jira tickets, or optimizing a commercial software funnel within a large dstributed team. Instead , you'll operate at the intersection of defense mission requirements, Air Force resourcing and PPBE,software, data, and relentless execution. You will sit directly with customers, understand what they are trying to accomplish, translate that into technical and operational solutions, and personally drive those solutions from concept to deployment, owning every part of the process. 

This role is for someone who wants to learn fast, take ownership early, and build a career at the intersection of technology and national security. You need to be comfortable walking into a problem that is poorly defined, figuring out what matters, getting deep into the technical details, and making something happen day in day out. 

What you'll do

We need your help in taking Rhombus capabilities from zero to one—and from one to deployed, adopted, and operationally valuable.

Your work will span product, technology, customer engagement, and defense program execution. In a typical week, you might be working with an Air Force stakeholder to understand a complex resourcing challenge, writing Python to analyze a dataset, translating a customer need into product requirements, troubleshooting a deployment with an engineer, preparing for a senior government meeting, and figuring out why something that worked in the lab is not working in the field. All the while, keeping internal colleagues updated on progress. (including senior leaders and executive team members) Expect that most of your days per week will be spent in the Pentagon. 

Specifically, you will:

• Work directly with defense customers to understand mission needs, operational constraints, resourcing challenges, and opportunities to improve how capabilities are delivered.
• Translate ambiguous mission problems into executable solutions, working across product, engineering, data, SMEs, deployment, QA, and customer-facing teams.
• Drive execution relentlessly. When something is blocking a customer or mission, you own getting it unstuck—even when the solution falls outside a traditional product manager's job description.
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of Air Force resourcing, PPBE, programming, budgeting, requirements, acquisition, and capability delivery.
• Turn customer and operational requirements into clear product requirements, workflows, technical specifications, and implementation plans.
• Use Python and data directly to investigate problems, analyze operational information, automate tasks, and develop a working understanding of the systems you are helping build. Resolve deployment issues.
• Work closely with engineers and technical teams throughout the software development lifecycle, from requirements through deployment and troubleshooting.
• Go to the field and stay close to users, building trust that we can deliver on goal. Understand how Rhombus products are actually being used, identify friction, and rapidly turn feedback into improvements. You have a particular knack for documentation!
• Prepare for and participate in meetings with government and defense leaders, communicating clearly and credibly about both mission needs and technical solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve documentation, processes, product operations, and program execution—and then build the solution rather than simply recommending it.
• Help Rhombus scale the way we deliver technology to defense customers while maintaining a high bar for technical rigor, customer trust, and mission impact.

What we're looking for:

We are looking for high-potential, early-career operators, not finished products. You may have a few years of experience and still have a lot to learn. That's expected. What matters is that you learn quickly, take ownership, and have the judgment and technical foundation to contribute immediately.

Required

• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance REQUIRED
• U.S. citizenship.
• Approximately2–5 years of relevant professional experience in defense, national security, the military, government technology, defense technology, software, or a similarly demanding technical environment.
• Working knowledge of Air Force or DoD resourcing and PPBE, including an understanding of how requirements, programming, budgeting, acquisition, and funding decisions translate into actual capabilities.
• Ability to read and write Python. You do not need to be a software engineer, but you should be comfortable getting into code, manipulating data, writing scripts, and troubleshooting technical problems yourself.
• Experience working with technical teams and a working understanding of thesoftware development lifecycle.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate credibly with both engineers and government customers.
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently in ambiguous, fast-moving environments where the answer is not obvious and there is no established playbook.
• A bias toward action and a track record of personally driving things to completion.

Particularly valuable experience

You will stand out if you have experience with:

• Department of the Air Force or broader DoD PPBE and resource allocation.
• Air Force programming, budgeting, requirements, acquisition, or capability development.
• Working in or alongside AFMC, SAF/MR, HAF, MAJCOMs, PEOs, program offices, A5/A8/AQ organizations, or similar DoD organizations.
• Defense technology startups or small defense contractors.
• Government software deployment, implementation, integration, or operational support.
• Operational military experience, particularly in roles involving planning, requirements, resources, technology, or mission execution.
• Python, SQL, APIs, data analysis, cloud environments, or other hands-on technical work.
• Translating government or operational requirements into technical products or capabilities.
• Direct experience presenting to or working with senior government stakeholders.

Education

A bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant technical, analytical, national security, or mission-oriented discipline is preferred.

Relevant backgrounds may include:

• Computer Science or Software Engineering
• Electrical, Systems, Aerospace, or other Engineering
• Operations Research
• Data Science or Applied Mathematics
• Economics
• Public Policy or Public Administration
• National Security / Security Studies
• Defense and Strategic Studies
• Acquisition, Logistics, or Supply Chain
• Military or Service Academy education

We care more about what you can do than the name on your diploma. Exceptional candidates with non-traditional educational backgrounds, military training, or highly relevant professional experience are encouraged to apply.

The person who will thrive here

You will probably do well at Rhombus if you:

• Want your work to have a direct impact on national security and military capability.
• Are energized rather than intimidated by problems that are messy, ambiguous, and consequential.
• Would rather build something than wait for someone else to tell you how.
• Can move comfortably between a government customer, an engineer, a spreadsheet, a Python script, and an executive briefing.
• Are intellectually curious and have the humility to say “I don't know”—followed immediately by“I'll figure it out.”
• Take personal ownership when something is broken or stuck.
• Care about details without losing sight of the mission.
• Want significant responsibility early in your career and are excited to grow into a larger role over time.

You should probably not apply if you are looking for a narrowly scoped product role with clearly defined responsibilities, established processes, and a large team supporting every function.

Why Rhombus?

At Rhombus, you will have the opportunity to work on problems where the stakes are real and the feedback loop is short. You will work directly with the people responsible for missions, resources, and capabilities—not several layers removed from the customer.

You will be given meaningful responsibility early, surrounded by people who expect you to learn quickly, and challenged to develop expertise across defense, technology, product, and execution.

We are not looking for someone who has already done everything.

We're looking for someone with the potential to do a lot—and the drive to prove it.

If you want to build technology that matters, work directly with the defense community, and grow into a mission-driven technology leader, we'd like to meet you.

Salary Range

• The estimated base salary range for this position is $120,000/year to $170,000/year.

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, vision coverage for employee and dependents 
• 401k matching program 
• PTO and Holidays 
• Bonus and other incentive programs
• Access to mental health program
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts for Health Care, Dependent and Commuter

About Rhombus 

Rhombus Power Inc. (Rhombus) is a startup located in the heart of Silicon Valley at Stanford Research Park in Palo Alto.  We use cutting-edge cross-disciplinary approaches to solve pressing Big Data and Sensing problems in security, energy, and healthcare. Our advisory board includes two Nobel Laureates and a Draper Prize winner. 

Rhombus compensates, motivates, and develops employees, who are trusted, empowered, and involved. Employees have clear roles and expectations – and their roles are flexible enough to move at the speed of innovation in order to meet and exceed client expectations. We have a unique culture of global purpose, rooted in the innovation and progress of Silicon Valley.

Rhombus knows that diversity is a condition for success. We are committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.