Junior Product Manager [U of Waterloo Alumni Only]

At Mechanical Orchard, we specialize in safely rewriting the most critical and complex business applications—the software that runs the world as we know it today—so they’re ready to adapt quickly and easily to market challenges and opportunities. Our approach emerged from observing the decades-long failure patterns in modernization efforts and is designed to eliminate the risks and disruptions that characterize most projects. Our Generative AI platform, Imogen, harnesses this method using advanced data engineering, compiler and LLM based techniques to create something unique in the industry.

Our background in software development and the impact on the industry is well known: we've literally helped write the book on XP and other impactful Agile practices. We’re applying the same thoughtfulness and rigor in applying AI pragmatically where it helps. We believe in the durable principles behind Agile, and embrace the power of cross-functional teams, collective ownership, test driven development, short feedback loops, and continuous improvement.

We’re bringing joy to beleaguered IT teams everywhere. Together, we’re seeing how applying craft, expertise, and technologies we’re building can fundamentally transform the way companies operate, innovate, and win.

Our values are: Do the right thing. Do what works. Be kind.

• As a Junior Product Manager at Mechanical Orchard, you'll play a key role in helping your team define, prioritize, and deliver value to customers. Working closely with senior PMs and engineers, you'll contribute to shaping product direction, managing backlogs, and improving how we deliver modern software. We value curiosity and learning. This role is a great opportunity to deepen your skills across product, UX, and engineering.




You will be expected to:

• Manage and prioritize the backlog in collaboration with the team
• Understand and balance tradeoffs between customer needs, user needs, technical limitations, and security constraints while maintaining sustainable pace
• Maintain tight feedback loops within the project team and with internal stakeholders
• Maintain excellent stakeholder relationships, with alignment on priorities and progress




Typical activities include:

• Collaborate with the product team to define a vision, strategy, and roadmap 
• Help define product direction for projects that transform and modernize critical legacy systems using modern engineering practices
• Attend agile team ceremonies such as daily standup, weekly planning, and weekly retrospectives
• Partner with senior team members to maintain strong stakeholder relationships and ensure alignment on priorities




Basic Qualifications

• Have a Bachelor's, or Master's in Business, Marketing, Engineering or a related field
• Strategic thinking, technical skills, UX knowledge, attention to detail
• Ability to learn new software and technologies quickly




Preferred Qualifications

• 1 to 4 years of Product Management experience through previous internships or co-op programs, work experience or bootcamps
• Some experience contributing to the full product development lifecycle
• Previous experience in software and web development
• Strong communication and collaboration skills as well as empathy are essential for working closely with the development team, customers, and others at Mechanical Orchard.

Mechanical Orchard, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind. Mechanical Orchard, Inc. is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Mechanical Orchard, Inc. are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Mechanical Orchard, Inc. will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. Mechanical Orchard, Inc. encourages applicants of all ages. Mechanical Orchard, Inc. will provide reasonable accommodation to employees who have protected disabilities consistent with local law.

Please note: This job requisition is currently open so we can actively collect resumes for future opportunities that may come available. At this time, we are not actively hiring for this position but will contact any candidate(s) we’d like to move forward with when we do have opening(s) in the next coming weeks or months. Please do not be discouraged if you don't receive an immediate response to your application.

We look forward to reviewing your application. Thanks!