Staff Product Manager Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois

About The Team

Grindr is an AI-native platform powering how millions of gay people connect globally. With 15M+ monthly users, 130B+ annual messages, and a team of fewer than 200, we move fast, stay lean, and tackle technical problems at a scale few companies ever see. Our Core product is the foundation of that Gayborhood — the systems, surfaces, and experiences that power connection at scale. We're growing the Core product team with multiple PM hires as we modernize our systems, elevate product quality, and unlock the next phase of growth. AI is central to how we build — from how we develop products to the experiences we ship — and we expect our PMs to operate that way from day one. As a Staff Product Manager, you will define and evolve the heart of the Grindr experience, shaping the infrastructure and user journeys that millions rely on every day. This role sits at the center of the product organization, operating across teams to drive strategy, execution, and long-term platform evolution. At Grindr, we operate in Grindr Mode. Moderately hardcore day to day, truly hardcore when it counts. It's about doing great work without burning out. Outcomes over outputs. Smart, driven people who raise your bar, with room to live full lives. This is a hybrid role based in our SF, New York, Chicago or LA offices and will require you to be in person Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Role Requirements

- Define and drive multi-quarter product strategy for critical Core surfaces and systems that power engagement, identity, communication, and monetization.
- Own complex, high-impact problem spaces that span multiple teams and require deep cross-functional alignment.
- Actively leverage AI tools and thinking across your workflow — from discovery and spec writing to data analysis and prototyping — and push the team to do the same.
- Partner closely with Engineering, Design, Data, Ecosystem Health, Marketing, and Legal to deliver scalable, reliable, and intuitive user experiences.
- Lead product discovery and execution from concept through launch and iteration, balancing immediate user needs with long-term architectural investments.
- Use data, experimentation, and qualitative research to inform decisions, measure impact, and continuously improve the Core experience.
- Drive clarity in ambiguous environments — aligning stakeholders around priorities, tradeoffs, and measurable outcomes.
- Influence technical direction in partnership with Engineering leadership to ensure our platform scales with user growth and product ambition.
- Mentor and elevate other product managers through thought partnership, feedback, and modeling high standards of craft.

You May Thrive In This Role If You

- 8+ years of product management experience, with significant ownership of complex, consumer-facing mobile or web platforms at scale.
- Fluent in AI-assisted product development — you actively use AI tools in your day-to-day work and can distinguish meaningful AI applications from hype. You think critically about where AI creates real product value in consumer experiences.
- Proven ability to define strategy and deliver impact across multi-team initiatives.
- Strong systems thinker — comfortable working on platform-level problems, technical constraints, and long-term scalability.
- An exceptional eye for product craft — you are deeply obsessed with user experience and design, and care about making interaction, visual design, performance, and technical execution feel seamless and authentic. You push for harmony between product thinking and design excellence, and raise the bar for quality across teams.
- Track record of using experimentation and data to drive measurable improvements in engagement, retention, or monetization.
- Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across disciplines.
- Comfort operating with autonomy in high-ambiguity, high-visibility environments.
- Passion for building products that meaningfully serve the LGBTQ+ community.

Nice To Have's

- Experience working on global consumer social, marketplace, or communication platforms.
- Familiarity with feed, messaging, identity, subscription, or trust & safety systems.
- Experience modernizing legacy systems or leading platform evolution efforts.
- Strong collaboration with design and research partners to deliver polished user experiences.

Benefits And Perks

- Health, Dental & Vision Full premium coverage for you. Partial coverage for dependents.
- Family Formation Up to $300,000 in fertility and family-building support, covering IVF, surrogacy, egg freezing, and adoption.
- Retirement: 401(k) with 6% match and immediate vesting.
- Compensation: Industry-competitive compensation, company bonus, and equity for every employee.
- Gender-Affirming Care: Industry-leading gender-affirming offerings with up to 90% cost coverage, access to Included Health, monthly stipends for HRT, and more.
- Time Off & Rest Flexible vacation policy. Two company-wide rest weeks per year.
- Other Benefits: Monthly stipends for cell phone, internet, wellness, food, and commuting, breakfast/lunch.

About Grindr

Grindr is building the Global Gayborhood in your Pocket. With more than 15 million monthly active users, Grindr has become a fundamental part of the gay community and is charting a path to make the world more free, equal, and just. As a public company, we're moving into the next chapter: becoming an AI-native organization that's redefining what's possible for our community. We're embedding AI into our product and operations, moving with startup speed while operating at scale. Everything we do is rooted in impact for our users and outcomes for the business. This isn't social work, it’s impact through excellence. Business success is what gives us the power to serve our community and the seat at tables others can't reach. How we work is defined by Grindr Mode, our operating model that's moderately hardcore day-to-day and truly hardcore when it counts. We think like owners, drive real outcomes, create clarity through action, and push each other to go further than we thought possible. We’re headquartered in West Hollywood with offices in the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York. Our work extends beyond the product through Grindr for Equality, our nonprofit that's partnered with 100+ community organizations globally to advance safety, health, and human rights for LGBTQ+ people worldwide. We're profitable, growing, and building a team of smart, driven people who bring different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to the work. Want to build technology at a massive scale that serves millions? Come join us!

Grindr is an equal-opportunity employer.

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