What is a Product Manager at Dataiku?

At Dataiku, a Product Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping the platform that thousands of organizations use to systematize the use of data and AI. Unlike consumer-facing product roles where the focus might be on simple user interfaces, this position requires you to build sophisticated tools for data scientists, data engineers, and business analysts. You are responsible for driving the development of features that democratize AI, making complex machine learning workflows accessible, collaborative, and scalable.

This role sits at the intersection of deep technology and user experience. You will work within the Dataiku DSS (Data Science Studio) ecosystem, defining how users interact with data pipelines, visual recipes, and model deployment strategies. Because Dataiku serves enterprise clients across industries—from finance to pharmaceuticals—your work directly impacts how these companies leverage data to solve their most critical business problems. You are not just managing a roadmap; you are empowering the "Everyday AI" revolution.

The environment at Dataiku is collaborative but technically rigorous. You will partner closely with highly skilled engineering teams and customer-facing units to translate complex technical capabilities into intuitive product features. Successful Product Managers here are strategic thinkers who can navigate the technical nuances of the modern data stack while maintaining a relentless focus on user value and business outcomes.

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparing for a Product Manager interview at Dataiku requires a shift in mindset. You are interviewing with a company that builds tools for technical users, so your preparation must balance standard product management frameworks with a solid grasp of data and software architecture.

Technical Fluency & Curiosity – 2–3 sentences describing: At Dataiku, "technical" doesn't just mean knowing how to code; it means understanding the data lifecycle, APIs, and web architecture. Interviewers assess your ability to have deep conversations with engineers and your understanding of how the internet and SaaS platforms function "under the hood."

Product Specification & Documentation – 2–3 sentences describing: A core part of the evaluation involves your ability to write clear, actionable technical specifications. You will be tested on your ability to take vague customer requests and translate them into detailed requirements that an engineering team can execute on without ambiguity.

Customer Empathy in a B2B Context – 2–3 sentences describing: You must demonstrate the ability to understand complex user personas, ranging from non-technical business analysts to hardcore data scientists. Interviewers look for candidates who can balance the conflicting needs of these different user groups within a single platform.

Adaptability & Learning Agility – 2–3 sentences describing: The Dataiku platform is vast. You are not expected to know everything on day one, but you are expected to demonstrate the ability to learn a new complex tool quickly. You may be asked to familiarize yourself with the product during the interview process itself.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for Product Managers at Dataiku has evolved to become more rigorous, reflecting the company's growth and the increasing complexity of the role. While some past candidates experienced a streamlined three-step process, recent data indicates a more comprehensive evaluation that tests both product sense and technical aptitude. You should expect a process that moves from a recruiter screen to practical assignments and final panel rounds.

A defining characteristic of the Dataiku process is the Recruiter Screen, which is often more substantive than at other companies. Candidates have reported that Talent Acquisition partners are knowledgeable about the product and may ask technical screening questions right away, rather than sticking solely to culture fit. Following this, you will likely encounter a Take-Home Assignment. This is a critical stage where you may be asked to learn a portion of the Dataiku product and produce a technical specification based on hypothetical customer requests. This tests your ability to self-start and your written communication skills.

The final stages typically involve deep dives with hiring managers and cross-functional partners. Be prepared for a mix of behavioral questions and unexpected technical drilling. Recent candidates have reported distinct shifts during these interviews where the conversation moves from high-level product strategy to foundational technical concepts (e.g., web protocols, security) to ensure you can hold your own with engineering stakeholders.

The timeline above represents a typical flow, though specific steps may vary by team. Use the gap between the assignment and the onsite to brush up on fundamental web technologies, as this is a common area where candidates are caught off guard.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

The evaluation at Dataiku is designed to find Product Managers who are "technically literate" and can thrive in an engineering-led environment. You should focus your preparation on the following areas.

Technical Specifications & Product Logic

This is the most practical part of the assessment. You will likely be evaluated on your ability to write a "Tech Spec" or a "Product Requirement Document" (PRD). This is not just about writing user stories; it is about defining the logic, edge cases, and technical constraints of a feature.

Be ready to go over:

• Translating Customer Needs: How you take a raw request (e.g., "We need better security") and turn it into a specific feature set.
• Edge Case Identification: Spotting where a proposed solution might break or conflict with existing features.
• Product Familiarity: You may be asked to use the Dataiku free trial or training materials to solve a specific problem as part of an assignment.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Review these three customer requests and create a technical specification for a feature that addresses them."
• "How would you prioritize these conflicting requests from a large enterprise client versus a mid-market customer?"
• "Walk us through the trade-offs you made in your assignment design."

Fundamental Web & System Knowledge

Unlike generalist PM roles, Dataiku interviewers—often Engineering Managers—may probe your understanding of how software actually works. This is to ensure you can communicate effectively with the developers building the platform.

Be ready to go over:

• Web Protocols: Understanding HTTP/HTTPS, what happens during a browser request, and basic networking concepts.
• Security Basics: Understanding authentication, permissions, and security indicators (like the lock icon in a browser).
• APIs and Integrations: How different systems talk to each other, which is crucial for a data platform.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "What happens behind the scenes technically when you type a URL into a browser and hit enter?"
• "Explain what the lock icon in a browser address bar signifies regarding security."
• "How would you explain an API to a non-technical stakeholder?"

Product Strategy & Stakeholder Management

You will be tested on how you manage the "people" side of product management. This includes handling pushback from engineers, managing expectations with sales, and aligning the roadmap with company strategy.

Be ready to go over:

• Prioritization Frameworks: How you decide what to build next when resources are limited.
• Conflict Resolution: Specific examples of times you disagreed with engineering or leadership and how you resolved it.
• Rollout Strategy: How you manage the release of a feature to ensure adoption and minimize disruption.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you had to say 'no' to a major stakeholder. How did you handle it?"
• "How do you validate that a feature was successful after launch?"

Key Responsibilities

As a Product Manager at Dataiku, your day-to-day work is deeply embedded in the product development lifecycle. You are responsible for owning specific areas of the Dataiku DSS platform, which means you are constantly toggling between high-level strategy and low-level execution.

A primary responsibility is specification and documentation. You will spend a significant amount of time writing detailed technical specifications that engineering teams use to build features. This requires a high degree of precision; you must anticipate how a feature interacts with the rest of the complex data platform. You will also be responsible for validating these features, often getting your hands dirty with the product to ensure it meets the rigorous standards of data scientists and engineers.

Collaboration is central to the role. You will act as the bridge between the Engineering team (often based in France or distributed globally) and the customer-facing teams (Sales, Customer Success). You will interpret feedback from enterprise customers—who often have complex, bespoke requirements—and synthesize that into a coherent product roadmap that benefits the entire user base. You are also expected to be a product evangelist, helping internal teams understand the "why" and "how" of new features.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be competitive for this role, you must demonstrate a mix of product experience and technical aptitude.

• Technical Background – While a CS degree isn't strictly mandatory for all PM roles, a strong technical background is highly preferred. Candidates with experience in Computer Science, Engineering, or Data Science tend to perform better in the technical screening portions of the interview.
• Experience Level – Dataiku typically looks for candidates who have managed products through the full lifecycle. Experience in B2B SaaS, Enterprise Software, or Data/Analytics platforms is a significant differentiator.
• Communication Skills – You must be able to articulate complex concepts clearly. This includes written communication (specs, documentation) and verbal communication (presentations, stakeholder negotiation).
• Must-have skills – Proficiency in writing technical specifications, understanding of web architecture (HTTP, APIs), and experience working with Agile engineering teams.
• Nice-to-have skills – Hands-on experience with Dataiku DSS, familiarity with machine learning workflows, or background in cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP).

Common Interview Questions

The following questions are representative of what you might face. They are drawn from recent candidate experiences and reflect the company's focus on technical competence and practical product skills. Do not memorize answers; instead, use these to identify the types of conversations you need to be ready for.

Technical & Architectural Understanding

These questions test whether you have the fundamental knowledge to work with the engineering team.

• "What happens behind the scenes when you search for a website in your browser?"
• "Explain what the lock icon in the browser URL bar means. How does HTTPS work?"
• "How would you design a feature that requires data ingestion from a third-party API?"
• "Explain a complex technical concept to someone without a technical background."

Product Execution & Case Studies

These questions assess your ability to do the actual work of a PM at Dataiku.

• "Here is a set of customer requests. Create a technical spec that addresses these needs."
• "How would you prioritize a feature request from a large strategic customer that doesn't fit the current roadmap?"
• "Walk me through a product you launched. What were the technical challenges you faced?"
• "How do you handle feature bloat in a complex enterprise product?"

Behavioral & Situational

These questions focus on your fit within the Dataiku culture and your leadership style.

• "Tell me about a time you had a conflict with an engineering manager. How did you resolve it?"
• "Describe a situation where you had to manage a project with ambiguous requirements."
• "Why do you want to work in the AI/Data space specifically?"

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is there a take-home assignment for the Product Manager role? Yes, it is highly likely. Recent candidates report being asked to complete a written assignment that involves learning a part of the Dataiku product and writing a technical specification. This assignment can take several hours to complete properly.

Q: How technical do I need to be? You should be "technically fluent." You do not need to write production code, but you must understand web fundamentals (DNS, HTTP, Security) and data concepts. Expect technical questions that might feel closer to a Technical Product Manager (TPM) interview than a standard business-focused PM interview.

Q: What is the feedback culture like during the interview process? Experiences vary. Some candidates report receiving detailed feedback and even feedback calls, while others have noted slower communication or generic responses after the assignment stage. It is best to proactively ask for timelines at the end of each round.

Q: Does Dataiku hire remotely? Dataiku generally supports a hybrid or remote-friendly culture depending on the specific team and location. However, many engineering and product teams have hubs (e.g., Paris, New York, London), so alignment with those time zones is often critical.

Q: How much time should I set aside for the assignment? Candidates have reported that the assignment requires product training (30–60 minutes) plus the actual work of creating the spec. You should budget at least one or two evenings or a weekend block to do high-quality work, as the depth of your spec is a key evaluation metric.

Other General Tips

Get hands-on with the product immediately. Dataiku offers a free trial or "Free Edition" of their software. Download it or sign up before your first interview. Being able to mention that you have actually played with the flow of creating a "Recipe" or a "Pipeline" will set you apart from 90% of candidates.

Brush up on CS Fundamentals. Even if you are applying for a general PM role, review the basics of how the internet works. Concepts like DNS, HTTPS, Latency, and Client-Server architecture are fair game. Do not be caught off guard by "basic" technical questions.

Treat the assignment like a real work deliverable. If you receive the technical spec assignment, do not treat it casually. The quality, clarity, and formatting of this document are used to judge how you would communicate with the internal engineering team. Ask clarifying questions early if the prompt is vague.

Be ready to discuss "Everyday AI." Understand Dataiku's mission. They are not just building AI for researchers; they are building it for everyone in an enterprise. Frame your answers around collaboration, democratization of data, and enabling non-experts to use powerful tools.

Summary & Next Steps

Becoming a Product Manager at Dataiku is an opportunity to work at the forefront of the enterprise AI wave. This role offers high impact, allowing you to shape the tools that data scientists and analysts rely on daily. However, the bar is high. You will need to demonstrate not just product vision, but the technical rigor to earn the respect of a world-class engineering team.

To succeed, focus your preparation on technical fundamentals and written communication. Don't underestimate the "back-to-basics" technical questions, and put serious effort into the take-home assignment if you reach that stage. Show them that you can bridge the gap between complex data technologies and user-friendly product experiences.

The compensation data above provides a general baseline. Actual offers at Dataiku will depend heavily on your location, seniority, and specific technical expertise. Be prepared to discuss your expectations transparently with the recruiter early in the process.

You have the roadmap—now it’s time to execute. Good luck with your preparation!