Techncial Product Manager
Role summary
The Technical Product Manager owns the execution and delivery of product features, translating user stories into technical specifications and acceptance criteria for engineering teams. This role involves managing the backlog, running agile ceremonies, and ensuring a consistent shipping cadence. The TPM will partner with Product and Engineering on scope tradeoffs, test features, verify acceptance criteria, and own UAT and bug triage. Key responsibilities include coordinating deployments and release notes, while also managing product analytics tools and data quality. The ideal candidate has 4+ years of experience in a technical PM role, with a strong track record of writing effective specifications and a deep understanding of software delivery lifecycles.
The Role
You own the how and when with a voice in the what and why. You figure out how to ship it: scoping work with engineers, breaking features into buildable pieces, and making sure things actually get done. Your job is shipping quality work on a predictable cadence and improving the product with every cycle. Predict, deliver, measure, repeat.
Stack Context
You don't need to write code. You need to understand how the pieces fit and have opinions about tradeoffs.
- Front-end: ReactJS, Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind
- Back-end: Go, Serverless and Containerized microservices, AWS, NoSQL
- Infrastructure: 100% IaC-managed Event-Driven Architecture atop Apache Kafka
Responsibilities
Primary (approx. 80% of time):
- Turn user stories into technical specs and acceptance criteria engineers can build from
- Run iteration planning, standups, retros, and keep work flowing
- Manage a groomed, estimated, and ready backlog
- Partner with Product and Engineering on scope tradeoffs, sequencing, and unblocking issues
- Test features, verify acceptance criteria, own UAT and bug triage, and determine release readiness
- Coordinate deployments, release notes, and production stability
Secondary (approx. 20% of time):
- Manage the CDP (Amplitude) for product analytics and event tracking
- Maintain specific datasets and data quality within the platform
- Translate product requirements into technical implementation
Key Competencies
- Specification Writing: Turn fuzzy requirements into specs engineers can build from without ambiguity
- Technical Fluency: Talk technical with engineers without writing the code; understand architectural tradeoffs, API design, and data flow
- Delivery Discipline: Maintain a clean backlog and a consistent shipping cadence
- Scope Judgment: Know when to push back and when to find a creative path forward
- Cross-Functional Communication: Bridge Product, Engineering, and UX
- Quality Eye: Catch edge cases and gaps before they reach production
Required Experience
- 4+ years as a TPM, Technical PM, or delivery-focused PM
- Track record of writing specs engineers liked working from
- Agile experience that goes beyond ceremonies and dogma
- Experience shipping with a small team where you wore multiple hats
- Comfortable in code reviews, PRs, and technical documentation
- Experience taking software from concept through launch
Nice to Have
- Serverless or event-driven architecture experience
- Web and mobile delivery experience
- Startup experience navigating ambiguity and delivering in a shifting landscape
- Product analytics or CDP management experience (Amplitude, Mixpanel, etc.)
- Experience with complex tabletop gaming systems or similar systems-heavy hobbies
Location & Work Environment
- In-office role, 4-5 days per week in Saint Paul, MN
- Standard business hours with flexibility; occasional evening work for release coordination
- Startup environment where priorities shift and most processes are still being built
About The Keep
The Keep is your home base for tabletop RPGs. One place to manage gaming schedules, discover events, and stay connected with your gaming friends and history. Built by a group of lifelong players, The Keyholders, The Keep was designed to solve the real-world frustrations we've all faced: campaigns that collapse, events that are hard to navigate, and connections that fade too quickly.
The Keep is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, marital status, familial status, receipt of public assistance, or any other status protected by applicable law, including the Minnesota Human Rights Act.