Principal AI Product Manager Itasca, Illinois, Research and Development

Job Description

We are seeking a Principal AI Product Manager to define and drive the long-term product strategy for AI-powered agents and intelligent workflows across IFS Nexus Black.

This role operates at company-wide scope. You will shape the AI product vision, define platform strategy, prioritize high-impact investments, and ensure that AI capabilities become a durable competitive advantage. You will partner deeply with engineering, data science, design, sales, and executive leadership to translate AI potential into measurable business outcomes.

You are equally comfortable discussing model evaluation frameworks, monetization strategy, and enterprise adoption barriers.

Own the multi-year roadmap for AI agents, orchestration systems, and AI-enabled workflows.

Identify platform-level opportunities across verticals and prioritize investments.

Define product principles for responsible, scalable, enterprise-grade AI.

Partner with executive leadership to align AI strategy with company goals.

2. Lead AI Platform & Capability Development

Define core AI capabilities (retrieval, agent frameworks, evaluation systems, safety layers) as reusable platform primitives.

Balance experimentation velocity with enterprise reliability and compliance.

Establish success metrics for AI quality, safety, adoption, and ROI.

Guide build-vs-buy decisions for models, infrastructure, and tooling.

3. Translate AI Potential into Market Impact

Identify cross-industry AI use cases with scalable product potential.

Develop monetization and packaging strategies for AI features.

Partner with GTM teams to define positioning and competitive differentiation.

Drive enterprise adoption and value realization.

4. Drive Cross-Functional Execution

Lead cross-functional initiatives spanning engineering, data, design, and sales.

Ensure product discovery, experimentation, and validation are structured and measurable.

Oversee product lifecycle from concept to scaled deployment.

Set standards for AI experimentation, evaluation, and iteration.

6. Elevate Product Discipline Across the Organization

Mentor senior PMs and establish AI product best practices.

Shape hiring and team structure for AI product capability.

Act as a thought partner to Principal Engineers and AI leadership.

• Salary Range: $175,000-$200,000, plus bonus
• Flexible paid time off, including sick and holiday
• 401K with Company contribution
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life insurance and disability benefits
• Tuition assistance
• Community involvement and volunteering events

10+ years in product management, with significant experience in AI/ML-driven products.

Track record of leading 0→1 and 1→scale AI products.

Experience defining platform strategy across multiple product lines.

Demonstrated impact at company or portfolio level.

Strong understanding of:

LLMs and agent systems

Retrieval-augmented generation

Ability to engage deeply with engineering on architecture and tradeoffs.

Proven executive influence and strategic thinking.

Experience owning revenue-impacting product lines.

Strong commercial acumen and enterprise pricing strategy experience.

Ability to operate at ambiguity and define structure for others.

We embrace flexibility and hybrid work opportunities to support diverse needs and lifestyles, while also valuing inclusive workplace experiences. By fostering a sense of community, we drive innovation, strengthen connections, and nurture belonging. Our commitment ensures you can work in a way that suits you best, while also engaging with colleagues to share ideas and build meaningful relationships.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Equal Opportunity Employer