Entrepreneur in Residence/Product Lead Project Thinkrail

Entrepreneur in Residence/Product Lead Project Thinkrail Overview

JetBrains is seeking an experienced Entrepreneur in Residence and Product Lead for their innovative Project Thinkrail, which is focused on developing a declarative programming language tailored specifically for AI-driven development. This role is based in multiple locations including London, Amsterdam, Belgrade, Berlin, Limassol, Madrid, Munich, Prague, Warsaw, or fully remote within Germany, offering flexibility for candidates across Europe. JetBrains has a long-standing reputation for creating powerful developer tools that streamline workflows and accelerate software production, and Thinkrail represents a cutting-edge initiative at the intersection of programming languages and artificial intelligence.

About Project Thinkrail

Thinkrail is currently in its alpha phase and has been made open source. The project aims to develop an infrastructure that enables the efficient creation of complex AI systems while maintaining user trust and flexibility. As the product moves into its next development stage, the focus is on real-world application and turning the prototype into a robust, production-ready system. The role involves significant influence over the productâ??s evolution, working closely with the technical founder and the engineering team.

Role Overview

The Entrepreneur in Residence/Product Lead will be responsible for defining and owning the strategic direction of Thinkrail. This is not a traditional product management position; instead, it emphasizes understanding developer workflows deeply, identifying pain points, and translating these insights into actionable product requirements. The candidate will prioritize features, validate hypotheses, and help shape the productâ??s initial scope and market approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Define the productâ??s strategic vision, validate core assumptions, and determine what features or capabilities to develop first.
• Engage continuously with developers and customers to understand their workflows, frustrations, and opportunities for improvement.
• Translate user insights into detailed product specifications and prioritize development efforts accordingly.
• Assist in crafting the go-to-market strategy, including positioning, messaging, and launch plans.
• Stay informed about the competitive landscape, emerging AI technologies, and related tools to guide product positioning and innovation.
• Work closely with a small engineering team to ensure alignment, focus, and rapid progress in a highly ambiguous environment.
• Identify the initial scope of the product, focusing on zero-to-one development efforts that establish a solid foundation for future growth.

Candidate Profile

• At least 8 years of comprehensive product management experience, with a proven track record of end-to-end ownership from discovery to delivery.
• Startup experience is essential, especially within small teams, with demonstrated success in building and launching new products from scratch.
• Experience working with developer tools or AI products is required.
• High level of autonomy, decision-making speed, and comfort working with limited information.
• Strong technical understanding and ability to collaborate closely with engineering teams; coding experience is a plus.
• Experience as a founder, co-founder, or in executive roles such as C-level is highly advantageous.
• Additional skills in go-to-market strategies, marketing, product launches, developer advocacy, or public speaking are beneficial.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of defining a new frontier in developer tools, combining programming languages and AI.
• Work on complex, technical challenges involving language design, formal specifications, tooling, and AI agents.
• Own the productâ??s strategic direction, functioning in a role that offers significant ownership akin to that of a founder.
• Enjoy the autonomy of a startup environment supported by JetBrainsâ?? long-term engineering culture.

Additional Information

JetBrains is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes individuals regardless of background, identity, religion, age, accessibility needs, or orientation. The company processes applicant data in accordance with its Recruitment Privacy Policy. Interested candidates can apply through the provided application form, which includes fields for personal details, resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and questions about experience with developer tools or AI products and startup experience.

Degree Requirement: Not Specified

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