NRG Energy

Director, Beta Programs & Customer Validations

NRG Energy$177K — $292K *
US-AnywhereRemote in Washington, US
Consumer Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7-10 years in product operations, management, or related roles ideally in tech or energy sectors.
  • 2-4 years of team leadership experience guiding complex validation frameworks.
  • Expertise in developing beta testing roadmaps and validation methodologies.
  • Strong analytical skills with ability to synthesize data into actionable metrics.
  • B.S. or M.S. in a Business or Technical Field; MBA preferred.
  • History of cross-functional collaboration with various stakeholders.

Responsibilities

  • Own the end-to-end sandbox phase of the product lifecycle.
  • Build and execute a comprehensive beta testing roadmap for new features and hardware.
  • Manage tools and methodologies to ensure high-quality beta testing and customer validation.
  • Standardize data measurement and reporting for product readiness assessments.
  • Design operational infrastructure for capturing and incorporating user feedback in validations.
  • Ensure products achieve target PSAT scores through rigorous validation processes.
  • Lead cross-functional coordination for business readiness ahead of product launch.

Benefits

  • Medical, vision, and dental insurance options.
  • 401K plan with employer contributions.
  • Flexible spending accounts available.
  • Potential for annual bonuses and incentives.
  • Hybrid work schedule with remote options.
Full Job Description
Position Overview

The Director of Beta Programs & Customer Validations will lead the strategic infrastructure, framework design, and satisfaction validation of Vivint's core portfolio and emerging offers. Reporting directly to the Sr. Director of Product Lifecycle, this role is a key leadership position within the Product Lifecycle team, bridging the gap between high-level executive vision and flawless tactical execution. You will manage a dedicated team of product professionals to ensure that every hardware and software product undergoes rigorous, data-driven validation before scaling to millions of users.

In this role, you will own the critical "sandbox" phase where new features and hardware are tested with early cohorts. Your primary mandate is to build a quantifiable case for value-specifically ensuring products meet strict Product Satisfaction (PSAT) scores during beta-and ensuring those standards hold firmly when graduating the product to the full population. Acting as a core operational bridge, you will ensure the business is operationally ready for launch and that any post-launch performance regressions are aggressively root-caused and addressed.

Key Responsibilities
  • Sandbox Phase & Cohort Testing: Own the end-to-end "sandbox" phase of the lifecycle. Directly own and build the comprehensive beta testing roadmap, driving the strategic sequencing and execution of testing new features and hardware with early user cohorts to build a quantifiable case for product value.
  • Beta Methodologies & Program Management: Manage the specialized tools, testing pools, and operational mechanisms required to run best-in-class beta testing and customer validation programs. Define, implement, and scale standardized testing methodologies across all product lines to ensure consistency and rigor.
  • Data Standardization, reporting, & Readiness: Standardize how quantitative and qualitative data is used across the organization to objectively measure product readiness. Own the regular synthesis and reporting out of beta results, insights, and key performance metrics to leadership, establishing clear execution milestones before general market launch.
  • Feedback Infrastructure & Loops: Design and scale the operational infrastructure for customer feedback loops, partnering deeply with teams including UX Research and Customer Service to capture, synthesize, and incorporate qualitative user insights as a critical data stream during validations.
  • PSAT Ownership & Validation: Guard product quality by ensuring all products achieve target PSAT scores during the validation phase, and actively monitor these metrics post-launch to ensure standards hold when graduating products to the full population.
  • Cross-Functional Launch Readiness: Coordinate cross-functionally across Sales, Supply Chain, Product, and Engineering to ensure the broader business is operationally ready for launch. If a product fails to maintain its validation PSAT score during general launch, lead cross-org mechanisms to root cause and resolve the variance.
  • Team Leadership & Coaching: Direct, mentor, and develop a core team of product operations and validation professionals, fostering a culture of technical excellence, data-driven decision-making, and deep customer-centricity.


Requirements & Qualifications
  • Experience: 7-10 years of experience in product operations, product management, beta program management, launch & experimentation, or product strategy roles (ideally within high-growth tech, smart home, or energy ecosystems).
  • Leadership: 2-4 years of direct people management experience, with a proven track record of guiding a team to deliver complex, multi-phase validation and launch frameworks.
  • Framework Mastery: Strong experience establishing cross-organizational mechanisms, managing continuous deployment/experimentation sandboxes, and using structured prioritization frameworks. Proven capability in designing end-to-end beta testing roadmaps and establishing rigorous validation methodologies.
  • Analytical & Qualitative Skills: Demonstrated ability to work with complex data sets and qualitative research, refining them into core metrics (like PSAT or CSAT) and clear execution milestones for leadership review.
  • Education: B.S. or M.S. in a Business or Technical Field; MBA preferred.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven track record of working across broad sets of stakeholders, including UX research, product, design, engineering, QA, operations, and data teams to drive velocity and unblock dependencies.


Working Conditions

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

We support the use of AI tools to help you prepare for your interview (e.g., practicing responses, researching the role, or refining your resume). However, during interviews and assessments, we expect responses to reflect your own thinking, experience, and communication. Use of AI to generate or read answers in real time, complete assessments, or misrepresent your qualifications is not permitted and may impact your candidacy.

Job Functions

Position requires in-office presence in Seattle, WA on a hybrid schedule for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with a work from home day on Friday. The position will start remote and then will move into the hybrid schedule.

The base salary range for this position is: $177,520 - $292,920* *The base salary range above represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonus, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition the position may be eligible to participate in the benefits program which include, but are not limited to, medical, vision, dental, 401K, and flexible spending accounts.

Official description on file with Talent.

About NRG Energy

NRG is at the forefront of changing how people think about and use energy. Whether as the largest solar power developer in the country or by giving customers the latest tools to better manage their energy use, NRG is a pioneer in developing smarter energy choices. Our diverse power generating facilities have a capacity of about 52,000 megawatts, capable of supporting almost 42 million homes. Our retail electricity providers — Reliant and Energy Plus — and thermal energy division serve nearly 3 million residential, business, commercial and industrial customers. A Fortune 250 company, NRG supports clean energy resources and technologies critical to our transition to a sustainable, low carbon society. We built the nation's first privately-funded electric vehicle charging infrastructure and continue to create new, clean energy solutions for our customers. In addition to our environmental efforts, we actively contribute to the local communities where NRG employees live and work. Since 2004, our Global Giving program has provided millions of dollars to organizations and charities that have a direct impact on the lives of the people in our communities, including food banks and those that foster self-sufficiency, improve housing and provide supplemental education to people in need. NRG has also organized special responses for victims of extreme catastrophe, such as the Haitian earthquake and the Japanese tsunami in 2010. Employee donations were tripled to maximize the contributions. NRG has won numerous awards for industry leadership and many of its nationwide econrg initiatives, which are targeted toward meeting the challenges of climate change, clean air and natural resources protection.

NRG Energy Careers

Join the vibrant team at NRG Energy, a leader in the power and energy sector, and contribute to a sustainable future while advancing your career. At NRG Energy, we are committed to innovation, leadership, and diversity, ensuring a dynamic workplace where growth and opportunity are at the forefront.

Work You’ll Do

At NRG Energy, you’ll engage in meaningful work that powers communities and fosters environmental stewardship. Our team of professionals is dedicated to leading the energy sector through cutting-edge innovation and sustainable practices. By joining us, you help shape the future of energy, leveraging your skills to make a significant impact.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, NRG Energy offers a range of job opportunities and internships that will harness your potential and polish your skills. Our positions span from technical roles in energy management to leadership tracks in corporate functions. Each role is crucial in driving our mission of a sustainable energy future.

Career Development and Benefits

NRG Energy is deeply invested in the professional growth of its employees. We offer robust career development programs, including leadership training, professional networking opportunities, and diversity training. Our benefits package is designed to support the well-being and financial security of our team members and their families, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Culture of Innovation and Diversity

Our company culture celebrates diversity, encourages innovation, and fosters a collaborative environment. At NRG Energy, you’ll work alongside a diverse team of experts, each bringing unique perspectives that drive our success. We believe that inclusive teamwork and innovative thinking are the keys to our continued growth and leadership in the energy sector.

Join Our Team

Embark on a rewarding career path at NRG Energy by exploring our current hiring opportunities. Tailor your job search to match your career aspirations and skills. Prepare your resume, ace the interview, and join a team that’s committed to making a difference.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest from NRG Energy: - **Career Insights**: Gain industry-leading insights and read about the latest trends in the energy sector on our careers blog. - **Job Alert Emails**: Customize your subscription to receive job alerts and insider tips that align with your career preferences. At NRG Energy, your career is more than a job—it’s a journey of growth, learning, and leadership. Join us in powering the world’s energy future while building a promising career for yourself. Explore opportunities, embrace our culture, and be part of our mission to lead the energy transition.

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Learn more about NRG Energy
Size
6,635 employees
Market Cap
$7.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
$510 million
Founded
1989
5 Year Trend
+24.8%
Revenue
$9 billion
NASDAQ

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