Technical Product Manager of Artificial Intelligence Systems - AI, Systems
About the job
- Hands-on exposure to artificial intelligence-powered products, including large language model-based systems.
- Experience with artificial intelligence is required.
- Experience with model evaluation, prompt or pipeline iteration, and feedback loops.
- Strong intuition for model limitations, hallucinations, bias, and drift.
- Strong grounding in computer science fundamentals, including algorithms, data structures, and system design.
- Solid understanding of machine learning fundamentals and how modern artificial intelligence systems behave in production.
- Comfort reading, reviewing, and discussing technical design documents.
- Significant experience owning complex, technical products end-to-end.
- Proven ability to work closely with senior engineers and machine learning teams.
- Strong judgment and decision-making ability in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
- Ability to balance ambition with technical and operational reality.
- Willingness to complete a 60-minute coding assessment.
- Research and define end-to-end artificial intelligence system requirements from capability to behavior to user impact.
- Translate model capabilities, data constraints, and evaluation results into clear product and system decisions.
- Make trade-offs across quality, latency, cost, reliability, and user experience.
- Work closely with machine learning, backend, and mobile engineers on system design, evaluation, and iteration.
- Define and evolve evaluation frameworks across offline metrics, online experiments, and human feedback.
- Drive execution with clear specifications, strong judgment, and disciplined prioritization.
- Ensure systems ship quickly, safely, and reliably with strong feedback loops.
- Own product quality end-to-end, including correctness, predictability, and user trust.
- Experience shipping artificial intelligence-heavy consumer products.
- Background as an engineer or highly technical product manager.
- Experience defining evaluation metrics for machine learning systems.
- Strong intuition for artificial intelligence user experience patterns and failure handling.
- Prior experience in zero-to-one product environments.
About the company
Next Step Systems focuses on matching information technology professionals with permanent, full-time jobs across the United States. It covers a wide range of IT areas including software, hardware, networking, storage, database, web, sales, and IT management, and handles roles at all levels. The process involves recruiting, screening, and placing qualified candidates with employer clients, providing end-to-end staffing support. The firm differentiates itself through a long track record (since 1995) and strategic growth, notably the 2014 acquisition of Parallel Partners to broaden its ability to serve both company clients and job seekers. Its goal is to deliver quality, professional service that connects employers with top IT talent and helps candidates find lasting careers.
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
null
Founded
1995
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- The website was updated October 1, 2026, signaling active business development.
- Its August 3, 2026 blog celebrated 31 years, showing durable market presence.
- Recent July 2026 posts advertised AI, NetSuite, and engineering roles across multiple geographies.
What critics are saying
- LinkedIn lists only 1-10 employees, making revenue dependent on a tiny team.
- The firm still relies on recruiting fees, so client hiring freezes hit immediately.
- If enterprise clients internalize AI sourcing, Next Step Systems loses its core fee stream.
What makes Next Step Systems unique
- Since 1995, Next Step Systems has specialized solely in permanent IT recruiting.
- Its 2026 website markets AI, cloud, data, and cybersecurity placements nationwide.
- The firm spans Chicago, Cleveland, and other metro pages for hyperlocal candidate sourcing.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- 401(k) Company Match
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Holidays
- Remote Work Options
- Hybrid Work Options
- Flexible Work Hours
- Phone/Internet Stipend
- Tuition Reimbursement