Product Manager

About Ello

Ello is a public benefit corporation headquartered in San Francisco with an additional office in Nairobi, Kenya. Our mission is to unlock the full potential of every child worldwide by creating the first AI teacher. Our debut product, Read with Ello, listens as children read aloud, provides support during struggles, and crafts personalized stories that children enjoy. Now, we are expanding to create an all-encompassing AI teacher that assists children across learning areas like language, speech, and memory through an innovative interactive app.

Role Overview

We seek a Product Manager based in San Francisco to tackle challenging product tasks at the crossroads of engineering and design. This role requires working closely with engineers and designers to translate pioneering AI technology into intuitive and delightful experiences for children. You will shape vital segments of our product journey, from identifying user needs through testing with children and families, to delivering joyful, effective improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead significant product areas end-to-end, directly influencing how children engage with learning.
• Collaborate closely with top-tier machine learning engineers to develop frontier AI educational products.
• Focus on delivering a seamless user experience, improving interaction details that elevate features to favorites among children.
• Execute weekly product releases and gather user feedback through direct testing with children and families.
• Support scaling the product organization with increased clarity, capacity, and operational momentum.
• Work jointly with global teams in San Francisco and Nairobi, potentially strengthening cross-continental collaboration.

Required Qualifications

• 3–5+ years in product management or related disciplines such as engineering, design, or UX research; candidates with strong AI-related engineering backgrounds and less formal PM experience are also encouraged.
• Proven success in delivering complex product initiatives from idea through launch despite ambiguity.
• Hands-on proficiency using AI-driven prototyping tools to quickly create demos, test ideas, and enhance workflows.
• A keen eye for design and UX, working effectively with designers to produce simple, enjoyable experiences.
• Technical expertise to evaluate system tradeoffs and collaborate with machine learning and engineering teams.
• Skill in structuring ambiguous, fast-changing projects by aligning stakeholders and maintaining steady progress without unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Strong user empathy, gained from talking to users and observing behaviors to inform product direction.
• Clear, structured decision-making and tradeoff assessment to break down complex problems.
• Excellent communication that fosters team alignment and speeds execution.
• Proactive ownership mentality, accountability, and driven by outcomes.

Preferred Extras

• Background in software engineering or experience building technically intricate products.
• Direct collaboration experience with AI or ML teams on production features.
• Familiarity with data analytics tools such as A/B testing and query writing.
• Experience with consumer products serving children or education markets.
• Knowledge of game design elements and engagement strategies.
• Experience conducting UX research or playtesting with users, applying insights to guide product decisions.
• Comfortable designing prototypes in tools like Figma.

What We Value in Candidates

• Passion for crafting impactful, delightful products.
• Urgency in seizing unique opportunities.
• Self-driven ownership and initiative without waiting for direction.
• Dedication to product craft, ranging from interaction details to overarching strategies.
• Continuous experimentation leveraging AI to build future-facing workflows and products.
• A strong personal vision of excellent design and user experience.
• Excitement about creating engaging, educational experiences for children globally.
• Commitment to building honest, empathetic, and respectful working relationships.

Additional Details

We emphasize diversity and seek to create an inclusive culture representative of our communities. Our team comprises experts from domains including AI, K-12 education, and child development, with affiliations to prominent institutions and investors. We are committed to a fair interview process and encourage candidates to request accommodations if needed.

Compensation for this role ranges from 150000 to 210000 USD annually.