Engineering Manager, Product Engineering at TRM Labs

Job description

BUILD A SAFER WORLD. TRM Labs provides AI-powered intelligence solutions that help public and private sector agencies investigate and disrupt crime. TRM's platforms enable investigators to trace illicit activity, build cases, and construct operating pictures of threat networks. Leading agencies and businesses worldwide rely on TRM to make the world safer and more secure. As an Engineering Manager on the AI Product Engineering team, you will re-imagine from first principles how people interact with software — unencumbered by the legacy of traditional SaaS. You'll lead a multidisciplinary pod of frontend, backend, and full-stack engineers to build tooling that enables crime fighters to keep pace with the growing threat of AI-powered crime. That means shipping workflows that are more autonomous, auditable, and 10x more effective than current SaaS-based tools. This role blends people leadership, technical judgment, and end-to-end ownership — from 0→1 product bets through to scaled, reliable production systems. You'll partner closely with Product, Design, and AI-focused teams to translate ambiguous ideas into intuitive, scalable product experiences. This role is for you if… - You’re an Engineering Manager who still ships. You review code, jump into PRs when needed, and stay close to the architecture. - You’re obsessed with building at the frontier of AI and experimenting with LLMs, agents, and tools like Claude Code, and comfortable orchestrating multiple agents in parallel. - You don’t need heavy PM structure. You turn ambiguity into momentum and move fast without waiting for perfect specs. - You love talking to customers and use those conversations to shape what gets built. - You hire and inspire exceptional engineers, plus treat team quality as a product decision. - You want real ownership: 0→1 bets, scaled systems, and the culture that makes both possible. The impact you’ll have here: - Lead and develop a pod of engineers across frontend, backend, and full‑stack disciplines, setting a high bar for craftsmanship, pace, and ownership. - Own execution of key AI‑powered product initiatives end‑to‑end, from shaping problem statements and 0→1 prototypes to launch, iteration, and scale. - Partner closely with Product and Design on roadmap planning, tradeoffs, and prioritization, especially where AI can unlock step‑function improvements in user workflows. - Drive predictable delivery while maintaining high standards for quality, reliability, and maintainability in a fast‑moving environment. - Provide technical leadership through design reviews, architectural discussions, and unblocking engineers across the stack (FE + BE + integrations). - Collaborate cross‑functionally with other engineering teams (data, platform, AI/agents) to integrate advanced capabilities into clear, explainable user experiences. - Establish strong engineering fundamentals - clear ownership, documentation, observability, testing, and operational rigor - for AI‑infused product surfaces. - Foster a culture of high trust, high velocity, and candid communication, where hiring and developing exceptional talent is treated as a first‑class responsibility. What we’re looking for: - 5+ years of software engineering experience and 2–5+ years of people management experience, leading multidisciplinary product teams that ship user-facing software. - Strong product engineering background building workflow-heavy or data-rich applications end-to-end, from 0→1 through scale. - Experience building or integrating AI/LLM-powered features into production systems. You understand the practical realities of shipping AI — iteration, evaluation, reliability, and UX tradeoffs. - Proven ability to operate in ambiguous problem spaces, move quickly without heavy process, and turn early ideas into shipped product. - Technical depth to review code, guide architecture, and make sound tradeoffs across frontend, backend, and AI-integrated systems. - Experience partnering closely with Product and Design in fast-moving environments, balancing speed, quality, and user experience. - Strong communication skills and comfort engaging directly with customers to inform product direction. Nice to Have: - Experience scaling or evolving product engineering pods. - Background in B2B or enterprise software. - Experience with data-rich, workflow-heavy, or real-time products. - Familiarity with event-driven systems or complex integrations. U.S. Citizenship Required: This role requires U.S. citizenship due to the nature of the work and applicable customer and government requirements. Work Week Travel: This role requires participation in in-person R&D work weeks, typically 1–2 times per quarter, at a TRM hub or other designated location. Work weeks may be scheduled with as little as 14 days’ notice, and some roles may require additional travel based on team and cross-functional needs. TRM coordinates and covers approved travel, lodging, and workspace. Accommodations are available for legitimate caregiving, health, immigration, and similar constraints. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS If you’re interested in joining TRM, we encourage you to apply directly. Every application is reviewed by our Talent team. Before applying, review the job description carefully and highlight the experience and impact that best demonstrate the required qualifications. Please also provide thoughtful and accurate answers to the application questions, as these will be used to evaluate your skills and qualifications for the role. If you send your resume directly to someone at TRM, we can’t guarantee it will reach the appropriate hiring team. Applying directly is the best way to ensure your application will be considered. INTERVIEWING WITH TRM Our process is designed to understand how you think, solve problems, and deliver impact, while allowing you to evaluate TRM. Most interview processes include a case study, an AI skills assessment, and a Leadership Principles interview. - Recruiter Intro: Qualifications, motivations, and alignment with the role. - Hiring Manager: Deep dive into your relevant experience, skills, and impact. - First Round: 1–2 interviews focused on the skills most critical to the role. - Final Round: Hands-on case study. This is usually a panel-style session where we go deeper into your craft, problem-solving, and alignment with TRM. - References: Former colleagues who can provide insight into your work and impact. - Offer: Congrats! Your recruiter will present the offer and compensation details. - Welcome to TRM: We're excited to build a safer world with you! Your recruiter will share your specific interview plan and preparation guidance along the way. AI FLUENCY AT TRM AI fluency is a baseline expectation at TRM. We believe AI meaningfully changes how top performers operate. We expect every team member to use AI to accelerate and reimagine their craft, not just automate surface tasks. At TRM, AI fluency means you are among the top 10 percent of operators in your function in how you apply AI to: - Accelerate repeatable workflows - Structure and solve problems - Improve output quality - Increase speed and leverage You will be evaluated on applied AI fluency during the interview process. LIFE AT TRM We are building a safer world. That promise shows up in how we work every day. TRM moves FAST. We are a high-velocity, high-ownership team that expects clarity, follow-through, and impact. People who thrive here are energized by hard problems, experimentation, and continuous feedback. If something takes months elsewhere, it will ship here in days. Our work sits at the intersection of AI, national security, and fighting crime. The problems are complex, the stakes are real, and the environment evolves quickly. The pace and intensity of the work reflect the importance of the mission. As a result, the way we operate requires a high level of ownership, adaptability, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. At TRM, you should expect: - Priorities and targets to change quickly - Operating with a high degree of ambiguity - A high level of personal ownership and accountability - Close collaboration across teams and functions - Frequent, high-touch communication - Creative problem-solving and out-of-the-box thinking - A pace that rewards urgency, adaptability, and outcomes This environment is energizing for people who enjoy building, solving hard problems, and making progress in situations that are not always fully defined. It also requires thriving in ambiguity, adjusting course as new information emerges, and maintaining focus and positivity in a fast-moving and intense environment. We also recognize that this style of operating is not for everyone. If you are primarily optimizing for predictability or a consistently balanced workload, we encourage you to use the interview process to pressure-test whether this environment is truly the right fit. We want teammates who thrive here, not just survive here. If you are excited by meaningful problems, motivated by ambitious goals, and energized by working alongside mission-driven colleagues, there is a good chance you will find TRM to be an exceptional place to grow and contribute. LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES We hire and grow against three leadership principles. They’re the standards for how we operate, treat each other, and make decisions. - Impact-Oriented Trailblazer: We put customers first and move with speed, focus, and adaptability. We treat every plan like an experiment – test, ship, measure, and iterate quickly. - Master Craftsperson: We care deeply about our craft. We balance speed with high standards, own outcomes end‑to‑end, and invest in getting better everyday. - Inspiring Colleague: We add clarity and energy, not noise. We bring humility, candor, and a one‑team mindset — giving and receiving feedback to make the team stronger. JOIN OUR MISSION At TRM, we care deeply about our craft. We are looking for individuals who want their work to matter, who experiment with speed and rigor, and who take pride in building a safer world for billions of people. If you’re excited by TRM’s mission but don’t check every box, we encourage you to apply — we hire for slope, judgment, and the will to learn fast. TRM is a Series C company with $220M in total funding, backed by Goldman Sachs, Bessemer, Y Combinator, Thoma Bravo, and others. Headquartered in San Francisco, TRM operates as a distributed-first company with hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., London, and Singapore. PRIVACY POLICY AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION By submitting your application, you agree to allow TRM Labs to process your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy trmlabs.com. We collect the information you provide (such as your resume, work history, and contact details) solely for the purpose of evaluating your candidacy for current and future roles at TRM. Because our hiring cycles for certain positions may span 24 to 36 months, we retain your personal information for up to 36 months from the date of your application. After that period, your data is deleted unless a different retention period is required or permitted by law. If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or another jurisdiction with applicable data protection laws, you have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data at any time before that period ends. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@trmlabs.com. To notify TRM Labs that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form docs.google.com. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance. The use of AI tools of any kind (including but not limited to notetakers, interview assistants, and real-time coaching tools such as Otter.ai, Fireflies, Fathom, Cluey, or similar) during TRM interviews is not permitted without prior approval from TRM. TRM uses its own internal tools for note-taking to ensure a consistent and confidential experience for all candidates. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this form docs.google.com. RECRUITMENT AGENCIES TRM Labs does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to TRM employees. TRM Labs is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes and will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company without a signed agreement.

Requirements

Must-haves

BUILD A SAFER WORLD.
This role is for you if…
You’re an Engineering Manager who still ships. You review code, jump into PRs when needed, and stay close to the architecture.
You’re obsessed with building at the frontier of AI and experimenting with LLMs, agents, and tools like Claude Code, and comfortable orchestrating multiple agents in parallel.
You don’t need heavy PM structure. You turn ambiguity into momentum and move fast without waiting for perfect specs.
You love talking to customers and use those conversations to shape what gets built.
You hire and inspire exceptional engineers, plus treat team quality as a product decision.
You want real ownership: 0→1 bets, scaled systems, and the culture that makes both possible.
Lead and develop a pod of engineers across frontend, backend, and full‑stack disciplines, setting a high bar for craftsmanship, pace, and ownership.
Own execution of key AI‑powered product initiatives end‑to‑end, from shaping problem statements and 0→1 prototypes to launch, iteration, and scale.
Partner closely with Product and Design on roadmap planning, tradeoffs, and prioritization, especially where AI can unlock step‑function improvements in user workflows.
Drive predictable delivery while maintaining high standards for quality, reliability, and maintainability in a fast‑moving environment.
Provide technical leadership through design reviews, architectural discussions, and unblocking engineers across the stack (FE + BE + integrations).
Collaborate cross‑functionally with other engineering teams (data, platform, AI/agents) to integrate advanced capabilities into clear, explainable user experiences.
Establish strong engineering fundamentals - clear ownership, documentation, observability, testing, and operational rigor - for AI‑infused product surfaces.
Foster a culture of high trust, high velocity, and candid communication, where hiring and developing exceptional talent is treated as a first‑class responsibility.
5+ years of software engineering experience and 2–5+ years of people management experience, leading multidisciplinary product teams that ship user-facing software.
Strong product engineering background building workflow-heavy or data-rich applications end-to-end, from 0→1 through scale.
Experience building or integrating AI/LLM-powered features into production systems. You understand the practical realities of shipping AI — iteration, evaluation, reliability, and UX tradeoffs.
Proven ability to operate in ambiguous problem spaces, move quickly without heavy process, and turn early ideas into shipped product.

Nice-to-haves

Experience scaling or evolving product engineering pods.
Background in B2B or enterprise software.
Experience with data-rich, workflow-heavy, or real-time products.
Familiarity with event-driven systems or complex integrations.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

aillmgo

Platform: ashby
Effort: quick