Principal Product Manager, Search

ABOUT QUINCE Cobalt Streamworks is a destination for builders, creators, innovators, and operators who want to come together and challenge the status quo. Our mission is simple: make really high quality essentials for really low prices, fairly and sustainably. We deliver on that mission through a unique manufacturer-to-consumer (M2C) model eliminating the layers of traditional retail that add cost and result in consumers paying more than they need to. We find, build relationships with, and work directly with the manufacturing partners behind some of the world’s finest products. From there, our teams design smart, efficient operational processes and build and deploy proprietary technology, AI, and analytics to help us scale fast. What began with a small assortment of elevated basics has quickly grown into a cross-category brand spanning apparel, accessories, home goods, and more. Today, tens of millions of people across a growing number of countries come – and return – to Cobalt Streamworks because they trust us to deliver. OUR CULTURE Cobalt Streamworks is a culture built for builders by builders. Our way of working starts with a blank sheet of paper. We question conventional thinking, use technology and data to uncover new opportunities, and move quickly to turn ideas into reality. We aren’t interested in replicating how others do retail. We’re building a better way – at a speed and scale unlike anything that’s been done before. We dream big and chase the hard problems others shy away from. Rejecting long-held assumptions is part of our company's DNA. Where conventional wisdom says you have to choose – soft or durable, speed or rigor, quality or price – we ask why that trade-off has to exist in the first place. Our pace is fast and the bar is high because our customers expect a lot from us and we refuse to let them down. We believe the best results come from challenging ourselves, learning from one another, and building on each other's strengths. Here, responsibility is not determined by role, tenure, or seniority. Every team member - no matter their level - has the opportunity to drive our business and shape our trajectory. If you’re someone who likes to imagine new possibilities and build better systems rather than plug-in to outdated ones, Cobalt Streamworks is the place for you. THE ROLE Director of Product, Search We're looking for a Product Lead to join our growing team. In this role, you will be responsible for transforming onsite search from a keyword-based utility into an intelligent, personalized discovery engine. In the near term, this role will focus on strengthening data platforms, experimentation, and incremental improvements on top of Algolia. Over time, this person will drive the evolution of search toward semantic, AI-powered, and personalized experiences that differentiate our brand and delight customers. This role plays a critical part in advancing both our team's goals and Cobalt Streamworks's broader mission. Responsibilities Define and execute the search strategy balancing immediate platform improvements with long-term innovation Lead data platform and experimentation efforts (data pipelines, dashboards, A/B testing) to enable rapid iteration and insight-driven decision making Manage and improve current Algolia-based search, focusing on relevance tuning, query handling, and performance optimization Build roadmap for AI/semantic search evolution (vector-based retrieval, personalized ranking, LLM-assisted discovery) Partner cross-functionally with data science, data engineering, and ML engineering to deliver next-gen search models and pipelines Oversee QA, UAT, and signoff for new algorithms, features, and experimentation frameworks before production launch Champion voice of the customer by translating insights into actionable improvements across search relevance, usability, and speed Act as an internal thought leader on how AI and semantic technologies can reshape product discovery Qualifications Required: 10+ years of product management experience, with at least 7 years working closely with data science, ML, or search/information retrieval teams Proven track record of shipping and scaling customer-facing data science or search products with measurable business impact Strong foundation in experimentation (A/B testing, statistical methods, KPI definition) and ability to translate insights into product decisions Knowledge of machine learning productization: feature stores, inference platforms, model monitoring, and A/B testing of ML-driven systems Familiarity with search platforms and technologies (e.g., Algolia, Elasticsearch, Solr, OpenSearch) and understanding of their strengths/limitations Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to influence cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders without formal authority Strong analytical mindset; comfortable digging into data and collaborating with engineers/data scientists to answer product questions with evidence Demonstrated success in defining roadmaps, prioritizing tradeoffs, and delivering high-quality product experiences Preferred: Hands-on experience implementing or product managing semantic search, LLM agent-powered features Track record of personalization initiatives (customer-specific ranking, context-aware search, lifecycle-based recommendations) Excited by a super-IC role with broad scope and impact, acting as the connective tissue between engineering, data, and business All posted ranges are reflective of base salary and may vary depending upon experience level and location. Bonus and equity may also be provided for eligible roles. Pay Range $200,000 — $280,000 USD WHY QUINCE? Joining Cobalt Streamworks means being part of a mission-driven team reshaping retail. You will work alongside talented colleagues, tackle meaningful challenges, and contribute to building a more sustainable, accessible future for customers and partners alike. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & HIRING INTEGRITY Cobalt Streamworks provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applications for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Cobalt Streamworks is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete your application or to perform the essential functions of a role at Cobalt Streamworks, please let us know by completing this accommodation form . We review all requests individually and will work with you to determine appropriate accommodations on a case-by-case basis. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Cobalt Streamworks will conduct background checks in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Security Advisory: Beware of Frauds At Cobalt Streamworks, we're dedicated to recruiting top talent who share our drive for innovation. To safeguard candidates, Cobalt Streamworks emphasizes legitimate recruitment practices. Initial communication is primarily via official Cobalt Streamworks email addresses and LinkedIn; beware of deviations. Personal data and sensitive information will not be solicited during the application phase. Interviews are conducted via phone, in person, or through the approved platforms Google Meets or Zoom—never via messaging apps or other calling services. Offers are merit-based, communicated verbally, and followed up in writing. If personal information is requested to initiate the hiring process, rest assured it will be through secure and protected means.