We’re not just building better tech. We’re rewriting how data moves and what the world can do with it. With Confluent, data doesn’t sit still. Our platform puts information in motion, streaming in near real-time so companies can react faster, build smarter, and deliver experiences as dynamic as the world around them.
It takes a certain kind of person to join this team. Those who ask hard questions, give honest feedback, and show up for each other. No egos, no solo acts. Just smart, curious humans pushing toward something bigger, together.
One Confluent. One Team. One Data Streaming Platform.
About the Role:This Principal Product Manager role is a high-leverage Individual Contributor position responsible for the complete product strategy and execution for Apache Flink across Confluent Cloud and Platform. This is an ambiguous and technical domain that requires a seasoned leader who can build durable platform capabilities, translate complex systems into clear strategy, and operate independently.
What You Will Do:Define and drive the multi-year product strategy and roadmap for Apache Flink across cloud and on-prem products.
Establish structured processes to align product, engineering, GTM, and executive stakeholders.
Identify high-leverage, 0-to-1 product opportunities for Flink and in adjacent areas like AI, data engineering, data warehousing, and event-driven applications.
Define how Confluent Flink offerings will work across Confluent and IBM product portfolio.
Proven ability to own and deliver product strategy for complex cloud data products for customers ranging from data engineers to software developers.
Deep technical expertise in distributed systems, data engineering, and cloud. Domain expertise in streaming technologies such as Kafka, Flink, or Spark is a plus but not required.
Experience leading product development across the entire lifecycle, scaling businesses from early product-market fit to substantial revenue.
10+ years of experience in product management for a technical software or cloud service product.
Hands-on engineering or technical background, including comfort with systems design, API design, and several languages (e.g., Python, Java, Scala, SQL, etc.).
Experience with open-source software and determining commercialization strategy while building the community.
Track record in data infrastructure, analytics, AI/ML platforms, real-time systems, or streaming systems, especially where the product serves customers with a diversity of technical depth.
Belonging isn’t a perk here. It’s the baseline. We work across time zones and backgrounds, knowing the best ideas come from different perspectives. And we make space for everyone to lead, grow, and challenge what’s possible.
We’re proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Employment decisions are based on job-related criteria, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other classification protected by law.
Privacy StatementConfluent is an IBM subsidiary which has been acquired by IBM and will be integrated into the IBM organization. By proceeding with this application, you understand that Confluent will share your personal information with other IBM affiliates involved in your recruitment process, wherever these are located. More Information on how IBM protects your personal information, including the safeguards in case of cross-border data transfer, are available here.
Skills Required
- 10+ years of product management experience for technical software or cloud service products.
- Proven ability to own and deliver product strategy for complex cloud data products.
- Deep technical expertise in distributed systems, data engineering, and cloud.
- Experience leading product development across the entire lifecycle and scaling products to substantial revenue.
- Domain expertise in streaming technologies (e.g., Flink, Kafka, Spark).
- Hands-on engineering or technical background; comfort with systems design, API design, and languages such as Python, Java, Scala, SQL.
- Experience with open-source software and commercialization strategy while building community.
- Track record in data infrastructure, analytics, AI/ML platforms, or real-time/streaming systems.
Confluent Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Confluent and has not been reviewed or approved by Confluent.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is positioned as competitive to market-leading for engineering, product, and senior go-to-market roles, with broad satisfaction signals across much of the company. Compensation is framed as a structured package spanning base salary plus variable pay and equity components.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity participation via RSUs is repeatedly described as a meaningful part of total rewards, often cited as a generous contributor to overall package strength. Refresher grants and ongoing equity awards are also highlighted as part of the ownership proposition.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-away programs are presented as comprehensive, including flexible/unlimited PTO, volunteer time off, and periodic company-wide recharge days. Philanthropy programs such as donation matching further broaden the non-cash rewards experience.
Confluent Insights
What We Do
Your data shouldn’t be a problem to manage. It should be your superpower. The Confluent data streaming platform transforms organizations with trustworthy, real-time data that seamlessly spans your entire environment and powers innovation across every use case. Create smarter, deploy faster, and maximize efficiency with a true data streaming platform from the pioneers in data streaming. Learn more at confluent.io.
Why Work With Us
At Confluent, we’re not just building better tech, we’re rewriting how data moves. No egos, no solo acts - just smart, curious people pushing toward something bigger, together. Belonging isn’t a perk here. It’s the baseline. Work from anywhere. Build with everyone. One Confluent. One team. whole new way of making data flow.
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