Search Product Manager - Springfield

Photon$52K — $182K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years in Product Owner or Business Analyst roles focused on e-commerce and digital platforms.
  • Solid experience with user story creation and acceptance criteria, particularly in BDD format.
  • Strong knowledge of product listing and detail page dynamics, including pricing and catalog management.
  • Proficient in Agile/Scrum practices and ceremonies, facilitating efficient sprint cycles.
  • Collaborative experience with engineering teams, particularly on API integration and technical specifications.
  • Meticulous attention to detail for managing extensive backlogs and prioritization.

Responsibilities

  • Own and manage the sprint backlog focused on search and catalog discovery.
  • Break down features into clear, actionable user stories ready for development.
  • Facilitate backlog grooming sessions ensuring technical clarity before development sprints.
  • Track feature progress and escalate blockers proactively during the delivery pipeline.
  • Coordinate and manage JIRA for comprehensive release tracking and story status.
  • Engage stakeholders for timely feature reviews throughout the development process.
  • Support UAT preparation and ensure features meet integration requirements.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental benefits.
  • 401k retirement plan with company match.
  • Incentives based on performance metrics.
  • Generous paid time off and paid holidays for work-life balance.
  • Flexible work arrangements for independent contractors.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Job Title: Discovery Product Manager

Product Owner - Search

B2B Automotive Parts Platform

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Product Owner to support the delivery of search and catalog discovery capabilities on a B2B digital platform serving professional automotive repair shops and commercial buyers. This is an execution-focused role that sits within the delivery team, partnering with the Discovery PM, engineering architects, and internal product and QA teams to translate roadmap intent into sprint-ready stories, manage the backlog, and ensure high-quality delivery.

The Search PO is the day-to-day delivery anchor for the search and catalog workstream - owning backlog hygiene, story quality, sprint readiness, and stakeholder coordination at the feature level. The ideal candidate is a disciplined, detail-oriented PO who can bridge product intent and engineering execution in a fast-paced Agile environment.

Key Responsibilities

Backlog & Story Ownership
  • Own and manage the sprint backlog for the search and catalog discovery workstream - covering parts search, vehicle selection, catalog lookup, product listing pages, product detail pages, pricing and availability, part interchange, kits, and stock order workflows.
  • Break epics and features into well-structured, sprint-ready user stories with clear acceptance criteria, edge cases, and definition of ready and done.
  • Facilitate backlog grooming sessions with engineering (API and frontend tracks), architects, QA, and internal stakeholders - ensuring stories are technically unambiguous before sprint entry.
  • Maintain traceability from business requirements through to stories, test cases, and release notes.
  • Keep the backlog current, prioritized, and aligned to the Discovery PM's roadmap direction at all times.

Delivery Execution
  • Work within the team's Agile delivery model - supporting the end-to-end pipeline from story sign-off through technical design, development, integration, testing, and production release.
  • Track feature progress at the task level across API build, frontend build, integration, QA, and bug-fix cycles. Escalate blockers proactively and without delay.
  • Support sprint ceremonies - planning, daily standups, reviews, and retrospectives - ensuring the team maintains delivery velocity and transparency.
  • Coordinate stakeholder touchpoints per feature - ensuring the right reviewers and approvers are engaged at the right stages of the delivery pipeline.
  • Manage JIRA as the single source of truth - story status, acceptance criteria, defect linkage, and release tracking.
  • Search & Catalog Domain Execution
  • Translate Discovery PM direction into executable delivery items across search and catalog features - parts search, vehicle-based lookup, catalog enrichment, PLP and PDP attributes, pricing and availability, part interchange, kits, and stock order initiation.
  • Validate acceptance criteria against professional buyer workflows - ensuring stories correctly reflect shop, vehicle, fitment, pricing, and ordering scenarios.
  • Support data model design reviews and API specification walkthroughs as part of the technical design gate process.
  • Work with the search platform team to define and validate relevance, ranking, and catalog quality requirements at the story level.

Quality & Release Readiness
  • Coordinate UAT preparation - test data setup, test case review, and defect triage.
  • Ensure each feature meets integration and end-to-end gate requirements before advancing to regression and user acceptance testing.
  • Partner with QA to define test scenarios that cover edge cases, fitment logic, pricing rules, and catalog data quality.
  • Support post-launch monitoring - tracking defect resolution, feature adoption, and catalog quality metrics in the immediate post-release window.

Required Qualifications
  • 5+ years of Product Owner or Business Analyst experience in e-commerce, enterprise SaaS, or digital platform delivery.
  • Hands-on experience writing user stories and acceptance criteria (BDD format) for complex, API-integrated product features in JIRA and Confluence.
  • Strong understanding of product listing and detail page experiences - attribute management, pricing display, availability logic, and catalog data requirements.
  • Experience in Agile/Scrum environments - sprint planning, grooming, standups, reviews, and retrospectives.
  • Ability to collaborate directly with API and frontend engineering teams on technical requirements, integration specifications, and defect resolution.
  • Strong attention to detail - ability to manage large backlogs across multiple epics concurrently without losing story quality or prioritization clarity.
  • Excellent communication skills - able to manage stakeholder expectations, surface blockers clearly, and keep delivery moving.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in B2B e-commerce, automotive aftermarket, parts commerce, or procurement platforms - familiarity with vehicle selection, fitment logic, part interchange, catalog complexity, and B2B buyer workflows is a strong plus.
  • Working knowledge of search and catalog platforms (Apache Solr, Elasticsearch, or similar) - understanding of indexing, relevance tuning, faceted search, and query pipelines from a product and delivery perspective.
  • Familiarity with pricing and availability services in a commerce context - real-time P&A integration, tiered pricing, and inventory visibility.
  • Experience with headless commerce, MFE (Micro Frontend) architectures, and API-first platform delivery.
  • Exposure to cloud-based platform infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and release management tooling.
  • Experience coordinating analytics instrumentation and working with QA and data teams on test coverage and product dashboards.
  • CSPO, PSPO, SAFe PO/PM, or equivalent Agile certification.

Core Skills
  • Product Backlog Management & Story Writing
  • Acceptance Criteria Definition (BDD Format)
  • Search & Catalog Delivery Coordination
  • Vehicle-Based Navigation & Fitment Requirements
  • Pricing & Availability Story Definition
  • Part Interchange & Kits Delivery
  • Sprint Planning & Agile Ceremonies
  • JIRA Backlog & Release Tracking
  • API & Frontend Delivery Coordination
  • UAT Coordination & Defect Triage
  • Stakeholder Communication & Escalation
  • Cross-functional Delivery Execution

Compensation, Benefits and Duration

Minimum Compensation: USD 52,000
Maximum Compensation: USD 182,000
Compensation is based on actual experience and qualifications of the candidate. The above is a reasonable and a good faith estimate for the role.
Medical, vision, and dental benefits, 401k retirement plan, variable pay/incentives, paid time off, and paid holidays are available for full-time employees.
This position is available for independent contractors
No applications will be considered if received more than 120 days after the date of this post

About Photon

Photon Careers

Joining Photon presents an unparalleled opportunity to advance one's career with a leader in digital innovation. Photon is actively seeking talented individuals to join its diverse team of professionals, dedicated to reshaping industries through technology and creativity.

Explore Job Opportunities

Photon offers a variety of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and interests. Each position at Photon is designed to challenge team members while providing meaningful pathways for professional and personal growth.

Experience the Culture and Benefits

Photon is committed to fostering a workplace culture that promotes diversity and inclusion. The company provides comprehensive benefits designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of each team member. At Photon, every professional enjoys access to career development programs and diversity training, ensuring they are equipped for leadership roles in an evolving marketplace.

Engage in Professional Growth

Photon believes in the power of innovation and leadership to drive success. The company supports its team members with resources for continuous learning and growth, including advanced training sessions and leadership workshops. Networking within Photon’s industry-leading community allows for unparalleled career advancement and skill enhancement.

Internship Programs

For those beginning their professional journey, Photon offers internship programs that provide a robust foundation in digital solutions. Internships at Photon are characterized by immersive projects and hands-on learning, guided by experts in various fields. These programs are a gateway to full-time employment and a promising career path.

Join the Team

Photon is hiring! Explore open positions that match your skills and interests. Photon looks for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Whether you are starting your career or looking to make a significant impact in your professional journey, Photon has a place for you.

Prepare for Your Interview

Photon values a thorough selection process. Prospective team members are encouraged to prepare by understanding the company’s mission and values. Tailoring your resume to highlight relevant experience and skills will make a significant difference. Engage actively during your interview, demonstrating your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role you are applying for.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest from Photon by following the company’s career blog. Gain insights from insiders, learn about new job openings, and get tips on preparing your resume and acing your interview.

Career Development at Photon

Photon is dedicated to the professional development of its team members. The company offers various tools and resources, including career coaching and performance feedback, to help individuals reach their full potential. With Photon, career aspirations are nurtured, encouraging every team member to excel and innovate in their respective roles.

Networking and Career Opportunities

Photon encourages its team members to engage in networking within the company and the broader industry. These connections can lead to myriad opportunities, from collaborative projects to mentorship. Networking at Photon is not just about building professional relationships; it's about fostering a community of innovation and mutual growth.

Conclusion

Photon is not just a company; it is a community of driven professionals committed to making a difference. With a focus on innovation, leadership, and diversity, Photon offers a dynamic environment where ambitious individuals can thrive. Explore the possibilities and join Photon’s team of leaders, innovators, and visionaries.
Learn more about Photon

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