Principal Product Manager, AI Search

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.

Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.

Our Next-Gen Product Search team is not just about pushing technological boundaries; it's about solving real-world problems and shaping the future of work. We believe in the power of collaboration across disciplines, and we're seeking an exceptional Principal Product Manager to lead the charge.

In this role, you'll be at the intersection of technology and user experience, leveraging your expertise in product management to identify the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the realm of AI/ML-driven search and recommendation systems. With a deep understanding of AI algorithms, search technologies, and relevance metrics, you'll guide our team in prioritizing projects that have the greatest impact on our mission: creating the most efficient and rewarding work marketplace.

You'll collaborate closely with our multi-disciplinary teams, bridging the gap between technical innovation and user needs. Your ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear product requirements will be essential as we develop cutting-edge solutions that elevate the search experience for our users. 

Your Responsibilities:

• Spearhead the development of our next-generation AI-powered search and recommendation systems, focusing on creating seamless matches between talent and hiring managers.
• Lead the crafting and execution of our AI/ML product strategies and roadmap
• Use cutting edge AI technologies to solve impactful customer problems, including but not limited to:
• Enhanced NLP for superior user intent understanding
• Neural-based retrieval methods for deeper contextual understanding
• Personalized ranking
• Real-time indexing for faster, up-to-date result
• Work closely with cross-functional teams—designers, engineers, MLE, data scientists, analysts, ontologists, and marketers—to ensure successful cross-product initiatives.
• Define and oversee key product metrics to monitor and inform success.
• Continually update your knowledge on AI advancements, positioning Upwork as a leader in next-gen search and recommendation capabilities.
• Guide junior product managers, fostering their growth in product management skills.

What it Takes to Catch Our Eye:

• 7+ years in Product Management, with a proven history of delivering AI-driven products that have significantly impacted business at scale in a consumer company.
• Deep understanding of AI/ML, personalization, search, and recommendation systems, with a track record of solving customer needs using this expertise
• Demonstrated ability to devise strategies for a large scope, with strong, data-driven decision-making skills.
• Exceptional ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, align diverse stakeholder groups, and exhibit strong executive presence.
• Experience mentoring or leading PMs.
• Experience working with globally distributed teams.

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals.  While we have physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also support hiring of corporate full-time employees in 19 states in the United States. Please speak with a member of our recruitment team to determine whether you are located in a state in which we are hiring corporate full-time employees. 

Our vibrant culture is built on shared values and our mission to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster amazing teams, put our community first, and have a bias toward action. We encourage everyone to bring their whole selves to work and grow together through development opportunities, mentorship, and employee resource groups. And oh yeah, we've also got amazing benefits - including medical insurance for you and your family, unlimited PTO, 401(k) with matching, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and a generous Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Check out our Life at Upwork page to learn more about our benefits and the employee experience.

Check out our Life at Upwork page to learn more about the employee experience.   

Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.